I've been so busy enjoying my summer that I've had almost no time to slow down and write about it! So even though there is lots of good stuff to share this will probably be a quickie F-O-G or it may never get sent.

So what have we been so busy doing? Can you believe that we've been booked for at least part of every weekend since May?! We still go to have brunch with my family every other Sunday. Grandma F and I attended a play (her Christmas present) and Jim and I saw another in July. Jim and I took a trip to San Diego without kids for four whole days!! Ethan and I went camping with the Moores and I went once with Jim. We've celebrated Mother's Day, Father's Day, fourth of July, my niece Larissa's first birthday and my dad's 65th birthday since I last wrote. And lastly, Ethan and I spend an extended weekend with my family at Lake Thunderbird (and sorry to all the people I forgot to take pictures of!!). All this AND working full-time AND mothering full time... it's a miracle that we've got any clean clothes or food in the house at all! It's been wonderful to have had so many opportunities to spend time with friends and family. I have occasionally gotten just too warn out to do one more thing but for the most part we are busy with the best of things and are enjoying every minute.

Ethan has spent the days of summer in the park district camp. He met up with some of the kids he knew last year and has really been enjoying himself. He's in Junior Camp this year - that's second and third graders. They swim every day in Crystal Lake, make crafts, play games, sing songs, and do, well, campy stuff! They take some of the coolest field trips (usually on Thursdays) and I'm very jealous of his time at the water park or bowling or the jelly belly factory. I want to go to camp! He was very sad to start school again but the transition has been fairly painless. He knows several of the kids in his class from baseball and from camp. Plus a new boy moved in down the street (also second grade!) and we walk to school every day with him. Next to all the fun and play of camp, school must seem very dry. But I'm heartened that he will occasionally come home with stories of things he's enjoying.

I guess I should have known that as soon as I announced that Daddy was back in the picture, something would change. With about a week's notice, Ethan's father announced in June that they were leaving for Vermont again. I was told that they were moving but Ethan heard that that they were on vacation with plans to come back in the fall. It was OK for a while but has started to be really hard for Ethan. He just misses time with his father and doesn't get much in the way of connection while they live in separate states. The good news for Ethan is that he got to fly out to visit for 10 days at the end of August. It was really great for everyone - Ethan got some quality time with his father and I got a much needed break from mothering 24/7. I don't know what the future holds (obviously!) but am hopeful that Matt and Heather will make a more permanent return to Chicagoland in the near future.

I love the way that Ethan talks these days. His occasional turn of phrase is just hilarious. Upon finding a quarter on the ground on our way into a store he looked up at me and proclaimed "DUDE! FREE CASH!" (and yes - he does call me DUDE on occasion). He sounds more and more like me all the time - the good and the bad. I love hear him say things like "nicely done" or how he tells me he loves me about 300 times a day or calls me "my sweet". He also does the scary music that I do along with various and sundry other routines. I loved the day that he came home to tell me that he knew all the swear words. He made me promise that he wouldn't get in trouble if he repeated them. Then, with my assurances, he told me that he knew the "S" word (shut up) and the "F" word (freakin'). He actually did know a couple of the biggies but in general I'm very pleased the he doesn't know them all and is intimately aware that that their general usage is "highly frowned upon". To put it lightly.

With all of that being said, Ethan has been extremely challenging for me these days. I don't know if it's just coming up to the end of summer or anxiety about starting at a new school or his feelings about me being in a relationship or his reaction to his absent father. Whatever it is, it's not all that easy to work with. He's got such a strong will and I struggle sometimes to keep my cool when he goes off. I know that having him just about every minute of every day doesn't help me get any perspective. But there are days when I put my head on the pillow at night and think that we're lucky to both still be alive and in one piece. He has balked at any routine and has rejected any reward system that I've tried put in place. I've made note of some of his most memorable quotes from the summer:

You hate me. You always have.

I liked this morning better than now. This is worse than getting screamed at.

This is like slavery. Do you know what that is? This is slavery!

I wish I had a new mom. I hope the police come and take you away.

I'll admit that I easily forget how long ago seven really was and how hard tasks that seem so easy these days actually were. But holy cow. Just go put your freakin' shoes on already!!! I will continue to practice patience (and consistent discipline!) in hopes that we will look back on some of these more trying times together and laugh.

One of the big reasons that I've enjoyed the summer so much has been the continued companionship of my now not-so-new boyfriend Jim. At the risk of completely gushing, I'll tell you that I've never known anyone that I've enjoyed as much. We are a great match in temperament, intellect and humor. We very rarely have an off day and that makes all the time together so wonderful. We rarely fight - in fact, I think we had one and were through it in 24 hours. And the rest of our time together is just great - comfortable and connected and fun. We laugh an amazing amount of time. He totally gets my jokes (AND thinks that they are funny!) and vice versa. We enjoy doing a lot of the same things (both loving seafood such a huge plus) and make a really good team when it comes to things like building a fire or planning a trip. He's the ideas guy of the pair, great at the research. And I am the details person who always knows where the drivers' licenses are or what time our flight leaves.

We tested our skills in our first ever trip to San Diego in June and it was fabulous. The purpose of the trip was to 1) relax 2) not go to work 3) travel together and oh yeah 4) for me to meet his parents. It was so very comfortable - Jim's folks were warm and welcoming hosts and I really enjoyed getting to know them. I also met his brother, sister-in-law and nephew. It was a great time and Jim was an ideal travelling partner.

The future looks very bright with Jim in it but we both agree that slow is best. He has two girls (5 & 3) and I have Ethan (7) to think about so we are considering what is best for everyone as things progress. The five of us have spent some time together and it has gone pretty well. The girls are wonderful and Ethan is slowly getting used to having to be around Jim's youngest. She thinks he's great and wants to follow him everywhere which drives Ethan crazy!

All in all, it's a great relationship and I'm happier than I have been in a very long time! Let's hear it for www.OKCupid.com :)

Until next time...