Our Week - The One with Summer, Week 9 (Dance Intensive, Learner’s Permit Testing, Driving, and Jacob’s Birthday)

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Week nine of summer break was great!  We got to celebrate Jacob turning 15 and that’s the event that stole the show!

Monday, July 20

Monday morning, I was up at 7:45 AM, and I had breakfast and did all my morning things.  Brian had jury duty (again) last week, but he was home by 10 AM Monday.  He did have to go back Tuesday but was ultimately dismissed. 

After breakfast, I did six loads of laundry and got everything put away the same day, and in between loads, I finished two blog posts, I ordered another leotard for Olivia since the first one didn’t work out, I got an Amazon return ready, and I got dinner in the slow cooker.  I also stopped to admire my flowers that Olivia had brought home Friday evening.

Late in the morning, I got showered and ready, and then we all ate a quick lunch together before I had to get Olivia to her July dance intensive.  This dance camp was only four days (Monday-Thursday), but it was five hours per day.  She had pre-pointe intensive from 1-2 PM each day, and then she went immediately to dance boot camp from 2-6 PM so they were some long days for her.

While she was gone, I quizzed Jacob on his chemistry elements, we ordered a new cotton pullover for his school uniform since the school changed the dress code this year (school hoodies are only allowed on Fridays now), and then I did my devotional and a Bible study. 

Once that was done, I put away the last of the laundry, and then it was time to get dinner ready.  I had to steam some broccoli and warm some garlic cheese bread to go with the main course – ranch chicken pasta.

Brian picked up Olivia from dance, and then we all ate dinner together.  Olivia talked our ears off about dance, and she said that she’d had a great time, although, some of her muscles were sore.

After the kitchen was clean, I lay on the bed for about 15 minutes to rest my neck, and then I went out for my evening walk.  When I got back inside, I grabbed some weights and did an 8-minute arms workout, and then I lay on my neck pillow and vibration plate to meditate.

I got showered and into my pjs after all that was done, and then we popped some popcorn and watched a few more episodes of Friends with the kids.  This has truly been the best summer… our lazy evenings with popcorn and Friends have been my favorite.  And I love that both our kids are completely and utterly obsessed with Friends just like I am.  It’s all they want to watch, and they’re always begging for more when we finally turn it off and tell them to go to bed.  Haha.

After they were in bed, Brian and I watched one more episode of Running Point, and then we both decided to throw in the towel again.  Neither of us can get into it.  And I was so sad about that because I have loved pretty much everything Kate Hudson has been in since she was in Almost Famous.  

 

Tuesday, July 21

Tuesday morning, I got up at 8 AM, I had breakfast, and Brian went off to jury duty for day two.  He ended up getting selected to go into the courtroom for interviews, but ultimately he was not selected to sit on the jury.

The morning was spent doing some blog housekeeping, sending a few emails, writing Jacob’s birthday blog post, tidying the house, and sitting with Olivia as she tried on some new clothes that had been delivered.

I showered late in the morning and got ready for the day, and then we all had lunch together.  I dropped Olivia off for day two of her dance intensive, and then I swung by UPS to drop a return, I finally dropped all the plastic bags in the recycling bin at Publix, and then I grabbed a few grocery items while I was there.

While I was gone, Jacob had studied and done some more summer homework and then I sat with him while he took a practice test for his learner’s permit online.  He only missed three out of 50, so he aced it, and he felt confident about taking the test on his birthday.  We also discussed several of the questions and answers so I could give him some additional information on several points.

He went to play video games after all that, and I put the finishing touches on his birthday blog post.  I also hung some new hooks on the back of the kids’ bathroom door so Olivia can have a place for her new spa towel and hair wrap, I bought some new laces for my OnClouds, I started my last Colorado blog post, and Jacob and I ordered his birthday cakes for his party and the celebration at my parents’ house.

After that, I lay for ten minutes to rest my neck, and then I did my devotional and read my Bible and Bible study for the day.

While Brian was out picking up Olivia for dance, Jacob and I made mini pizzas for dinner, and then we all ate together when they got home.

After dinner, I watered all the indoor plant babies, I handwashed a couple of dishes, and then I headed out for my walk... aaaand I almost stepped on a snake on my walk.  It was about two feet long, but it was SO skinny.

On the way back inside, I took the trash out and up to the curb only to have Brian remind me that it was only Tuesday and trash day wasn’t until Thursday.  Whoops.  All day Tuesday I kept thinking it was Wednesday for some reason.

I watered the outdoor plants and then went to shower and meditate/vibration plate/neck pillow while Brian finished up mowing.

We all watched a few minutes of AGT and then a few episodes of Friends.  Brian and I then started Every Year After.  I read the book Every Summer After by Carley Fortune that the show is based on and I really loved it, so I was hoping the show would be good.  So far, so good!

 

Wednesday, July 22

Wednesday morning, I was up at 7:45 AM.  I had breakfast, unloaded the dishwasher, took my vitamins, etc. and then I headed to my office to work on my last Colorado blog recap, catch up on some blog reading, and call the school office about Jacob’s ADAP certificate since he wanted to take the test to get his learner’s permit on Thursday.

We were on call to help distribute all the school supplies boxes to the classrooms at the school when they delivered, so I got showered after that.  I read for a bit while I waited to get the text that they had delivered, but instead, I got a text saying they were going to be later than expected, and the ETA was going to interfere with Olivia’s dance dropoff time, so it was likely we wouldn’t be able to help.

The kids and I had lunch together, and then Olivia had to get ready for dance.  Jacob and I dropped her off and drove to the school with the hope that we could still help out, but when we arrived, they’d just finished.  They were able to recruit some of the softball team to help, so it was done in record time this year.

Jacob and I picked up his ADAP certificate while we were there, and then we swung by the library to drop off some books. 

When we got home, I helped Jacob make labels for his binders and he got his pencil bag and other supplies ready.

After that, he settled in to play video games for a bit, and I filled out the online application for him to get his learner’s permit.  I also gathered all the documents needed for the DMV and that took some time because they require pretty much everything but the kitchen sink.  ;o)  I have all our important documents in one place in a safe, but the DMV also required two documents for proof of residency, and I wasn’t sure if they had to have Jacob’s name on them or mine, so I had to rack my brain to find something official that would have his name and address on them since he doesn’t pay any bills. 

Once that was done, I worked on my final Colorado post some more and then I wrapped Jacob’s birthday gifts.  I did my devotional for the day and then did a Bible study, and then I read some more.

For dinner, we had leftover ranch chicken pasta that I’d made Monday, so all I had to do was reheat that and stream some fresh broccoli to go with it.  I also warmed some more garlic cheese bread. 

Jacob took some more practice tests online and the ones he’d found Wednesday had some ridiculous questions on them… stuff that Brian and I didn’t even know the answers to… for example, what is a “gore?”  (It’s the triangular-shaped neutral area where a highway and an exit or entrance ramp separate.)  If any of you knew the answer to that, then I am impressed because I sure didn’t know what it was.  Those weird questions like that made him a little apprehensive about the test, but thankfully, the test ended up being straightforward and it didn’t have any of those weird, non-important questions.

We all ate dinner together when Brian and Olivia got home from dance and then Olivia wanted to show me the combo she’d been working on in dance all week. 

After that, I went out for my walk, I did another 8-minute arms workout, I lay on my vibration plate and neck pillow to meditate, and then I showered and got into pjs.

We watched a few more minutes of AGT before switching over to Friends, and then Brian and I picked up Every Year After once the kids were in bed.

 

Thursday, July 23

Thursday morning, I was up at 7:45 AM and I went straight to see Jacob because it was his birthdaaaayyyy!  He wanted cinnamon rolls for breakfast, so I baked some of those, and then he and I spent some time together since Brian was at work and Olivia was sleeping.

He played video games and Olivia joined him after she woke up, and I spent a few minutes in my office getting a few things done.

Before lunch, Jacob studied for his learner’s permit test some more, and then I made meatballs for lunch along with some sides per his request.  He and I dropped Olivia off at dance for her last day of intensive, and then he and I drove straight to the DMV so he could take his test!

When we pulled up, we saw a vehicle that looked a whole lot like Brian’s and we realized right away that it was Brian, surprising us so he could be there for Jacob.  The initial line was long and slow-going since they only had one person checking everyone in, so Brian ended up having to leave to get back to work before Jacob ever took the test. 

Once we were checked in initially, we received a number, and they called our number right as I was sitting down.  We had to show all our documents again at the second window, and then Jacob was photographed and signed his name for his permit.  After we’d paid the fee, he was told to go into a separate room and get started on his test, and I waited in the main waiting area for him to finish.  I don’t know how long it took him to take the test, but it was SUPER fast, and he passed it easily, which I knew he would!

We had to go to the counter again to let them know he was done, and then they printed his temporary permit that he can use until the real one comes in the mail.  While we were there, the lady working at the counter asked me if I wanted to have my digital license set up, so she got me all set up for that, and now I won’t have to carry my license with me anymore if I don’t want to because it’s now on my phone.  She said right now only airports and a couple of other venues recognize them, but starting next year, they will be recognized everywhere, and nobody will have to carry a physical Georgia license if they have the digital one on their phone.

When we were done with that, we had to take the obligatory photo of Jacob in front of the building, and then as we were leaving, several people cheered and gave him the thumbs up.  It was so great!

We called Brian and then my parents so Jacob could share his good news when we got back in the car, and then he asked if we could go drive somewhere – OMG.  I obliged, of course, because it was his birthday, but whew, I was not ready for that.  I drove straight to an elementary school near our house because I knew it had a large parking lot that should be empty, but it was teacher in service already, so there were cars parked randomly throughout the lot. 

We did manage to find a big enough area for him to try it out, though.  I showed him how to adjust his seat and his mirrors and then I showed him how the turning indicators and windshield wipers, and several other things worked.  Then, I walked him through accelerating and braking, and then he went for it. 

The first time he braked, he didn’t realize how sensitive the pedals were, so even though we were going, like, 3 mph I almost hit the dashboard.  Hahahaha.  After realizing how sensitive the pedals were, his confidence waned a bit, but he wanted to try again.  We tried to find another parking lot nearby, but all the schools’ lots had cars in them, so he only practiced a little bit more in the high school parking lot nearest our house. 

That was enough for him for day one.  Haha.  And it was definitely enough for me because I’ve been saying all along that Brian is going to have to be the one to teach him since I have enough driving anxiety on my own.  Hahahaha.

We had a few minutes before music lessons started, so we headed home and Jacob and I hung out together until it was time to go.  Then, he and I ran inside Publix to grab a couple of things before his lesson.  Since Olivia was at dance, we had moved her lesson, and it just so happened that her guitar teacher was out of town anyway, so she didn’t miss anything. 

When we got home, I read for a bit while I lay down to rest since I wasn’t feeling great all day, and then when Brian got home from work, the three of us went to pick Olivia up from dance.

Jacob wanted Culver’s for his birthday dinner, so we had planned to go there right after dance and then we headed home so he could open presents. 

The gift he wanted the most this year was a piece of art for his bedroom.  He loves math and specifically, he loves The Mandelbrot Set (fractals), so he wanted a piece of artwork that he’d found online to go over his bed.  Brian and I got that for him along with a couple of other small gifts.  He was so excited to get it, and he wanted to hang it in his room immediately. 

I helped him take down the other stuff above his bed and then I hung the new painting, and he was a happy camper.  I wish we’d gone with a slightly bigger canvas, though, because it’s a little small for that space, but he ended up lining up a bunch of his Palm Pals along the top of the headboard after I took this picture, so it looks much better now since some of the space is filled in.

Before

After

After that was done, I did a stair stepper workout and then I meditated and lay on my neck pillow and vibration plate while the kids showered and got ready for bed.  We all went downstairs to watch a few more episodes of Friends together after that, and I did a quick arms workout while we watched. 

Once the kids were in bed, Brian and I made old fashioneds and then we watched some more of Every Year After before hitting the hay.

 

Friday, July 24

Friday, I was up at 7:45 AM and I woke up feeling bad.  That rarely happens as I usually feel good when I first wake up, but Friday, I had been clenching my teeth horribly when I woke up, so I think it just messed everything up.  I had a massive headache, my jaw ached, my chest felt heavy and I was short of breath (I’ve been having sinus issues recently, so I’m thinking that was why), and I was dizzy as I am most days.

I’d felt bad Thursday, too, but I was determined not to let it get me down on Friday, so I popped a couple of Ibuprofen and I chugged a ton of water, and it did help a bit!

After eating breakfast, unloading the dishwasher, taking my vitamins and all that, Brian and I drove over to the dealership to drop his car for service, and then we drove back home.  We got back home around 9:15 AM just as Olivia was waking up. 

The kids played video games for a bit, and I worked on my blog post for Colorado some more.  Then, mid-morning, Olivia and I cleaned out the kids’ bathroom.  The cabinets under her sink were stuffed to the brim with crap, and so was her drawer.  It was just horrible.  We ended up throwing away two small bags of trash + her old spa set that took up a ton of room.

Once that was done, their bathroom was officially DONE – new shower curtain, new liner, freshly cleaned shower and tub, fully restocked toiletries, organized cabinets and drawers – SO NICE.

We all had lunch together, including Brian since he works from home on Fridays, and then I opened a few packages that had arrived. 

I decided to walk Friday afternoon, but it ended up being sunny most of the walk and it was so, so hot.  Since it was Friday, I wanted to go ahead and get the walk out of the way instead of waiting until after dinner, but I regretted it, like, five minutes into it because the sun was beating down and it was just awful. 

While I cooled off after my walk, Olivia tried on some clothes that had been delivered and she finally decided, once and for all, to keep these jeans and send the rest back.

I got the returns ready after she was done and then I showered and got into fresh pjs… at, like, 4 PM.  Haha.

After that, I finished my last Colorado recap and then I helped Olivia get all the sticky residue off her laptop case.  She wanted to redo all her stickers for the new school year, but she was left with a thick layer of goo when she peeled off all the stickers.  The very best thing for that – lemon oil, y’all!  Just add a few drops to the goo, rub it around for a few seconds, and then wipe clean with a damp cloth.  Comes right off like magic!

I went to lay on my neck pillow and vibration plate and meditate after that, and Brian headed out to pick up Jacob’s cakes for the weekend and then pick up dinner from Olive Garden since all of us were craving it.  We love some OG! 

After dinner, I did my daily devotional and a Bible study while Brian worked out, and then when he was done, we made popcorn and then settled in for an evening of Friends… just the best! 

The kids went to bed around 10:30 PM and then Brian and I made toasted marshmallow old fashioneds and caught up on Silo and watched a little more of Every Year After before heading to bed way too late.

 

Saturday, July 25

Saturday, we were all up by 8 AM because it was birthday party day for Jacob!  Brian got up earlier than all of us to pick up some birthday donuts for breakfast, and then after we ate, I gulped down my cup of tea while doing some blog housekeeping for a few minutes, and then it was time to get showered and ready.

Jacob wanted to have his party at the same arcade/bowling alley here in town that he’s had his birthday for the last few years, but this year he wanted to bowl and play arcade games.  He invited several of his school friends + his friends Mack, Buckley, and Noah, and almost everyone was able to make it.  One of his best friends was in Canada for the summer so he didn’t come, and another one of his friends also couldn’t make it.

We had the bowling lane for an hour and a half, but with six kids bowling (one came late so he just watched), it was slow going, so they were only able to bowl one game before time was almost up. 

After that, we all sang happy birthday to Jacob and the kids all enjoyed cupcakes and watched Jacob open his gifts, and then we turned them all loose in the arcade.  When Mack and Buckley arrived, they had brought a gift for me from my friend, Jeannine, and I was so confused.  But when I opened it, I understood immediately, and I cackled so loudly when I pulled everything out.  I could not stop laughing.  I just love her.  She is so creative and thoughtful, and she always knows how to make me smile.  I guess that’s what happens when you’ve been friends with someone for 30 years.  Jeannine, I know you’re reading this, and I just realized this year marks our 30th BFF-iversary!!!!  Forever grateful we had nearly identical schedules freshman year of high school including gym class first period that forever sealed our friendship.  <3

Jeannine came early to pick up her boys, so she hung out with us for a bit, and then once everyone was picked up, we wrapped up the party and left.  We had to go pick up Brian’s car from the dealership since it was serviced and ready, and then the kids and I swung by Target to pick up an order.

We all had lunch together when we got home, and then the kids did their laundry and showered.  Olivia also set up the new lava lamp she’d gotten with all her tickets at the arcade.  It’s SO similar to the one I had when I was her age! 

Meanwhile, I checked a few things off my list for the day:

 

-       Washed towels

-       Tidied the house

-       Tidied my office

-       Tried on a new item that had finally arrived

-       Washed my new hand towels from Target

-       Caught up on planner stuff

-       Did some more blog housekeeping

-       Finally caught up on blog comments (nearly 50)

 

Later in the afternoon, Brian went to hang out with his friends because one of his old friends from high school was in town.  They all met up at a local restaurant to grab some beers and catch up, and I was so proud of him because they actually took a picture together!

While he was off with friends, the kids and I went to church and then Brian met up with us + my parents, Mama Cass, and Aunt Joy and Uncle Greg at the local pub that we love. 

After dinner, we all headed home and we all settled in for several episodes of Friends.  Then, after the kids went to bed, Brian and I watched some more of Every Year After.

 

Sunday, July 26

Sunday morning, I slept in until 8:45 AM and it was glorious.  We had leftover donuts for breakfast, and then I did my blog post for Tuesday from start to finish, I started this blog post, I got my planner ready for the week ahead, and I enrolled Olivia for her new season of dance.

Late in the morning, it was time to shower and get ready for the day, and then we all headed to my mother-in-law’s and step-father-in-law's house to celebrate Jacob’s birthday with them.  We all ate lunch, enjoyed cookie cake per his request, and then he opened his presents.  Well, he and Olivia opened his presents.  Haha.  He’s such a good big brother to let her help.  Oh, and Olivia also got a gift from Nana and Poppie's cat, Lunar.  Haha.

On the way home, Brian put gas in his car, and then the kids played video games for the next couple of hours until it was time to go to my parents’ house.

I settled in with My Best Friend’s Wedding as my happy background noise, and I tackled some more stuff on my list:

 

-       Watered the outdoor plants

-       Got my planner ready for August

-       Finished planning the week ahead

-       Transferred my photos from my phone to my computer

-       Organized all the photos

-       Got my meal plan ready for the next two weeks (and actually selected a couple of new recipes to try) *pats self on back*

-       Read my devotional for the day

 

The evening was spent over at my parents’ house celebrating Jacob’s birthday one last time, and my Momma made spaghetti and a side of rice (per Jacob’s request – his two favorite foods she makes) and then we had cake and he opened his gifts. 

My parents’ next-door neighbors brought their coton de tulear over again and we all had the best time playing with her.  She is the sweetest girl and she’s just a little ball of fur!

When we got home, we watched some more episodes of Friends (we’re rolling right along through season three already as I type this) and I lifted some weights and started going through the four massive bags of old school uniforms my sister-in-law gave us while we watched.

The kids went to bed around 10 PM and then Brian and I finished the week with some more of Every Year After.  Oh, and I had to admire my flowers yet again because they had bloomed even more beautifully!

And now for some current things…

Currently Reading

In July, I read 4 books – Last Seen by J.T. Ellison (4 stars).  Then, I read This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum (4 stars).  I read The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren, and I really enjoyed it (4 stars).  And The Divorce by Frieda McFadden (3 stars).  That one definitely wasn’t one of her strongest ones.  The writing in it was pretty terrible.  Very basic.

I’m also still reading my new devotional for the year – Called by Name: 365 Daily Devotions for Catholic Women by Kelly M. Wahlquist and I’m still reading my Bible along with The Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz. 

 

Currently Watching

With B: In July, Brian and I made our way through the newest season of The Four Seasons, and we blew through I Will Find You.  We are also making our way through the newest season of Silo and we’re making our way through Every Year After.  And we watched Office Romance on Netflix and then started and gave up Running Point.

With the Kids: In July, we watched The Hunger Games, we continued the newest season of America’s Got Talent, and we started and have been binging Friends… I’ve been waiting my whole life to watch this show with my kids!  Oh, and we saw Toy Story 5 at the movie theater!

Alone: Just the occasional viewing of My Best Friend’s Wedding on Sunday afternoons while I work.

 

Currently Listening To

I’m still listening to the podcast The Swiftie and the Scholar as new episodes come out.  And I’ve been listening to the new Gracie Abrams album on repeat on walks and when I’m in the car alone (which isn’t much during the summer when the kids are out of school).

Happy Wednesday, y’all!

Opalite - Creating My Own Joy (June 2026 Recap)

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I chose the word Opalite for 2026 because I love the meaning so much.  The word is the title of a song by Taylor Swift, and it means creating your own joy or happiness even when things aren’t going your way.  Life is full of ups and downs, so I thought this would be the perfect word to keep at the forefront of my mind as a constant reminder that there’s always something I can do to lift my own spirits.  And this manufactured joy doesn’t have to come from grand gestures or big events… most of the time it’s made in the small, everyday details. 

June was FULL of travel and so many other good things + the kids were out of school, so I feel like joy was abounding which made my job easy for the month because there wasn’t much I had to do to create my own.  The joy was just baked right in.  :o)  That said, here are a few of the things I did to keep myself on track for my word of the year.

 

-       One morning in June, I had to get up early, which is not my favorite thing, so I treated myself to a little siesta when I found myself feeling drowsy later that afternoon.

-       Our mimosa trees were in full bloom in June, so one evening as the sun was setting, I walked out and admired them up close.  They’re at the very back of our yard (and our yard is very large) so we don’t have the best view from the house.  And those are most beautiful up close.

-       There were some gorgeous sunsets in June during what little time we were at home, so you better believe I stepped outside to see them.

-       We had to fly unexpectedly, so I treated myself to a new travel set to wear on the flight since it was on super sale for Amazon Prime Day.  I love it so much, and when I recently wore it to the movie theater and then to my parents’ house for Sunday dinner, I think my dad alone complimented me on that outfit no less than three times.  It was a great purchase.

-       I picked up another big stack of books from the library in June.  New books to read = so much joy!

-       I also purchased a book stand for my office.  It is sleek and beautiful, and it doesn’t overwhelm my already full craft table in the middle of my office.  It’s fully adjustable in height and angle, it swivels 360 degrees, and it has retractable arms that hold pages in place if necessary.  It’s one of my favorite purchases all year.  I’ve used it nearly every day since it arrived.

-       I got lots of use out of my icon glasses.  I love a fun glass or mug, and I’ve been rotating through all of ours.

-       For my cousin, Zoe’s celebration of life, my extended family decided to learn a dance so we could do a flash mob for her (she was a dancer her whole life, so she loves stuff like that).  We only had three days to learn it so at first, I was daunted by the thought of having to learn an entire dance + do all the other things I needed to do (unpack from one trip, do all the laundry and things, pack for the next trip, etc.), but instead of feeling overwhelmed by it, I just decided to go for it.  My personal trainer (Olivia) picked up the dance in, like, five minutes since she dances all the time, and she was able to teach it to me in 20-ish minutes.  We both had it down in just one session and we had so much fun doing it together!  I think we’re ready for TikTok!  Haha.

-       I purchased a cute new mug to add to my collection when we were in Denver.  I’ve wanted to go to Red Rocks for as long as I can remember, and since I finally got to see it in person, I had to get a mug to commemorate the moment.  And it was designed by a local creator in Denver, so that makes it even more special.  It makes me smile every time I use it.

-       When we found out the celebration of life for my cousin was going to be in June, we ultimately decided to all go and to turn it into a family trip.  Instead of flying out, doing the really hard thing, and then flying home, we decided to add a couple of extra days and see as much of Colorado as we could.  It ended up being a wonderful trip, and it turned a very sad situation into something I’ll look back on fondly.

-       After my cousin’s celebration of life, I came home and immediately tacked the white satin sash that we’d gotten (more on that in the recaps) on my bulletin board so I’ll always have a little reminder of her with me always. 

 

Happy Tuesday, y’all!