Reading Agony Hill and really enjoying it. I would recommend it for fans of literary crime novels a la Tana French and Jane Harper.

Listening to Whistler and loving it. I don’t have as much time for audiobooks lately but when I do this book is such a nice place to dwell. I am ever-impressed at how Ann Patchett can weave such interesting stories from a situation you wouldn’t think would make a compelling story. And along the way she writes so beautifully about relationships and life.

Excited that both boys are playing on a rec soccer team together and that Chris is assistant coaching. Dash has played rec soccer since kindergarten and Cedric has played on Dash’s team for a season here or there and they played on a team together this summer. I love how encouraging they are to each other on the field and I love so many things about team sports for kids.

Planning for Maeve and Mama Tuesday and Thursday evenings while the guys are at soccer. Cedric was a late addition to the team and practice just started this week so suddenly I’m realizing that soccer practice evenings will be a little slower and a great time for Maeve and I to have some extra connection.

Watching Texas football. On a recent episode of Girl Next Door, How to Football Fan, Erica gave me lots of tips and even homework for my quest to get back into Texas football. Last weekend was a great time to start my endeavor as Texas came from behind in the last 30 seconds to win the game by one point. I ordered Texas shirts for Maeve and myself (she would like to see more Bevo during the game, please) and I’m putting the rest of the games on my calendar to watch. Hook ’em Horns!

Thinking about two quotes I read in the novel Like Family (which I loved and would recommend if you love character-driven novels in the “coming-of-middle-age” genre):

“Woe to those who get what they desire,” wrote Laurie Colwin in her magnificent short story The Lone Pilgrim. “Fulfillment leaves an empty space where your old self used to be…. You furnish a dream house in your imagination, but how startling and final when that dream house is your own address. What is left to you?”

“…but a best friend was a lifeline. A best friend was hope. A best friend was how you got through the day, how you stayed married, stayed sane.”

I find the first quote so pointed and haunting in a way. To me, it speaks caution to getting caught up in chasing material or superficial things that don’t align with our values. It’s the “keep up with the Joneses” and letting influencers tell us how we should be living. I love an opportunity to be reminded to interrogate my values and recommit to living them. Chris and I have been having great conversations about how we want to live aligned with our values (along the lines of: spend more on travel and quality family time and experiences over material things) and this quote fit perfectly. And speaking of travel…

Planning two big international trips! We decided that we’d like to give each of our kids the opportunity for a big trip when they turn 13. So Chris and Dash will heading across the pond to England in January!

Then, as a family we’ll be traveling to Ireland in October 2027! This is a big surprise that I’ve been planning for Chris for a while to celebrate his 50th birthday (next September). But I wanted Chris to be involved in the planning and anticipation so I revealed the trip to him just before his birthday this year. We have a few ideas of what we’d like to do in Ireland but I welcome all recommendations, especially for families with teens/young kids (the kids will be 14, 12 and 7) and less touristy things.

Thankful to have spent time with my Dad’s side of the family over Labor Day weekend. Sadly, we were together to celebrate the life of my cousin who passed away unexpectedly this summer. I wish we had been together, all together, under happier circumstances, but I am so glad to have been together and to have brought Dash with me. He got to hang out with many of his (second??) cousins and be part of an important ritual of mourning. Plus, he’s just a delight to travel with.

Loving listening to Maeve read and watching her writing blossom. Two of my favorite sounds right now are Maeve reading a Biscuit book and saying, “Woof, woof!” as Bicsuit often does. And, to hear her sound out words, with the first sound strong in the way that I’m sure she’s been taught at school: “BUH…ed.” My heart!

Delighting in the fall glory that is Trader Joe’s. And have I mentioned that my Trader Joe’s got quite the glow-up with an expansion over the summer?! Now it’s so roomy which makes for even more enjoyable shopping. I’m adding the La Colombe Pumpkin Spice Latte to my cart along with the best “treat” weekday working lunch: the butternut squash mac and cheese (add parm and red pepper flakes!).

So proud of Dash for being inducted to National Junior Honor Society and taking initiative to get volunteer service hours.

Laughing over Cedric being Cedric.

Wishing you a lovely Wednesday!

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