Early June- or, Summer in the City, for like a weekend

Happy Summer break!  Started this vacation off with a bang by leaving the country on June 5th (hello, solo trip to Costa Rica)... so I fit in as much summer-in-Cleveland as I could before going.  

Last day of school... It was a doozy of a year but I'm still going to miss my sweet kiddos.  Here's Ian fixing my old guitar for me.

And a Paige and Sophia, a couple of my favorites from last year, at their clap out to head to Orchard. It's mind-blowing to watch these kids grow and change over the years at the elementary level. 

Spirit wear for field day!

Perfect timing that night for a Hiram mini-reunion at Majeed's house.  He always pulls out all the stops for us.

Random sleepy kitten picture.

Ivy's last day of school on June 2nd.  Off to 8th grade for this beauty.  Jack had finals the last week so no traditonal "last day" for him. High school is a crazy thing and it's only going to get crazier next year with his 5 AP classes and starting the college search.

Saturday the 3rd we took these cuties to Pride!

It was an amazing festival on a perfect summer day.  And these kids as cool af.  They are brave and kind and fun and full of radical love, and they are my heroes.

 

Dropped L and N off at home where Will was having his retirement party (!) and got to hold this 3 week old baby so that was pretty great. 

Then straight to Hiram for Alumni weekend. Or Alumni Saturday night, as the case may be, but we pretty much packed a whole weekend's worth of fun into our one evening. 

Christiane was there from Germany and she brought so much enthusiasm and joy.  Our friendship with her is definitely one of the positives to come out of the pandemic.  Thank you Hiram Happy Hour!

Our adventures included breaking into the pool (a few more drinks and we would have been swimming for sure) and going on the roof in two different locations.

Also lots of dancing and catching up with friends under the Arch.

We just love this place.

Early morning the day after to kayak with Amanda and Alex at Mentor Lagoons, which was just lovely.

One last trip to the dog beach to round out a lovely weekend...next up, a 5 am flight to San Jose!  But that's getting it's own post, never fear.
 

May days, part two

Welcome to summer:  that most photogenic of seasons when life is so full and beautiful that you can't seem to pause long enough to write about it.  

Now that we're two full weeks into June, I thought maybe I'd catch up on May, sound good? 

Here are some things of note:

* This boy has his temps!  He took a minute to think it over and then at about 11:00 pm one night decided he was ready to take the online test and a week later he had his paperwork in hand. 

(And also the steering wheel.)

  I think he's going to be a really good driver, actually.  He's such a naturally cautious rule follower of a kid at heart. 

* Jen was in town!  She stayed with us both before and after a trip to the US Virgin Islands with a friend, and it was so wonderful to have her here (even if she reorganized my fridge). 

A new kayaking venture:  the up and then back down a bit of the Cuyahoga in the CVNP, with Nat and Will.  It was a cloudy day with a bit of rain and we ran into a few challenging, shallow spots-- but it was perfect just like kayaking always is. 

Then we went to Melinda and Will's place where Jen had created a gourmet sandwich bar from their leftovers and we ate and drank and laughed uproariously and it was grand.

When Jen stays with you, to-do lists get better.

Mother's Day- sweet kayak-related gifts from my loves helped to mediate the first mother's day that I was not "double booked."

As did a trip to Stan Hywet with the crew.

Tuesday of that week-- why not drive to Columbus to see the Amy Ray Band on a school night?  Nat and I had a blast in the front row at the cutest little venue, and Amy rocked the house like always.

Ivy's final band concert of the year.  So proud of this kid and her tuba playing!   Crossing all my fingers that she sticks with band through high school because I really want to see her march with a sousaphone. 

Edgewater sunset.

Cocktail Choir!  We are now regulars here- Kevin and Nate greet us with hugs, the bartenders know our names, and we have a little set of new friends that we sit with. The evolution of community in life is really something.  And this little community of people who love to drink and sing with strangers makes me so very happy. 

Spent some time with my boy doing what he loves... he tried his heart out to teach me to hit a golf ball better-- and I actually think I made some improvements under his surprisingly patient tutelage.

Here's Ivy, building her own bookshelves for her new lofted bookshelf-bed.  She's hard core. 

Also, cats are cute. 

Porch coffee in the late spring-- doesn't get much better. 

Except maybe when you're kayaking in the late spring. 

Look who was inducted into National Honor Society!  This boy, and this whole gang of ruffians (who I love!)

The bookshelf project continues.  This girl loves her power tools. 

And her horses!

And bookstores!  Took her along on the way to my COC tour in Cincinatti and had a lunch/ shopping break in the sweetest neighborhood...

... then handed the kid off to her Auntie for some summer fun in Tennessee. Bec kept her though memorial day and they had a blast, riding and kayaking and swimming.

Had a blast myself, singing the Mahler 8 as a part of a 250 voice choir in this gorgeous space...

... then going out on the town for Karaoke with some of my favorite people. 

Rounding out the month with more kayaking!  Several of my friends have obtained their own boats since the fall (I'm one helluva proselytizer for the things I love) and it was a treat to explore Euclid creek and a bit of Lake Erie with my friend Amanda.