Let's catch up on the cusp of a busy weekend

 I am writing this on the cusp of ZONES!! for Cooper (in Iowa City) and dance recital weekend for Dorothy and Minnie. Ben and Coop are in Iowa right now getting ready for the competition. Cooper needs to place in the TOP THREE in his categories to qualify for USA Diving Nationals in West Virginia at the beginning of August. I know that he is super nervous, which. makes me super nervous, and I do not have any chill on a day that I am not nervous, so that's why I'm not the dive parent.

I am lying in bed listening to the rain, wondering when the heck I am going to be able to go for a run, and placing a couple of grocery orders so I can pack some backstage snackle boxes, make cupcakes and brownies, and throw together a post-recital Sunday lunch, plus a Saturday night dinner for visiting recital-goers. (Metro Market, Target, and Whole Foods, plus an in-person Aldi run--phew!)

Minnie reads to me during adult swims, and it's the cutest.

I took this picture and immediately worried that Annabel has ticks even though she only goes outside with me to run and walk and never plays in the grass (see: not chill ever, above).

Chaperoning the all-school splash park field trip was not the best idea I've ever had.

Things I do to remember my shopping list (the Aldi run I have mentioned above is my second since my big Sunday shop last week **eye roll**)

Instead of ditching his old grill, Ben turned it into a planter. Next summer, I am going to make it a burger topping mini-garden (onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber).

Kindergarten forever, please ("S" for summer birthdays for the end of school alphabet countdown)

Dorothy made her stage debut in her middle school production of Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion. The play had 2 casts, and she got to be a different role in each, so it was fun to see the show twice in a row! It will surprise no one to hear she is fabulous onstage.

Cooper as a baby at the pool and Cooper working his first shift at the pool (he works the front desk and has to take out the trash at the end of the night).

Minnie's school had a family night with a traveling petting zoo-- OMG THOSE POOR ANIMALS THO

Dorothy's hip hop supergroup performed at Madison's third tier pro-soccer team's game-- so fun!

OK-- that's it. Everything we've done lately. Excuse me while I spend the rest of the day obsessively refreshing the dive app and texting Ben-- see you on the other side of a HUGE weekend.