Summer Wrap Up

It seems as the chaos of summer winds down, I have time to sit and sort through the events of the last several months.

It is amazing how much we can pack into 12 short weeks.

With the end of a relationship that was quickly going nowhere, I was able to dig deeper and evaluate feelings for my ex-fiance' turned best friend of the last three years. I've learned that it is impossible to move on when your heart is still stuck on what might have been. Deny it as much as you like, and try to put three years between your heart and the relationship, if it's love, and it's real, it's not going to go away.

In 3 short weeks, the man I had once thought I would spend my life with will be moving back to the great state of Minnesota so we can spend the rest of our lives figuring life out - together. Our relationship is a long story that had a big "The End" only to find us at the beginning once again. And I am excited.

This summer, my kids and I also met my late husband's family for the very first time.

In the years I knew my husband, he was estranged from his mom and dad. They weren't at our wedding, they had never seen our children. I am pretty sure that my longest conversation with his mother was upon his death, simply to let her know.

Fast forward 10 long years...

My children and I went to Seattle on the Big Fat Family Road Trip this year. Somewhere deep in my memory banks, I recalled that his parents - divorced - lived in the Seattle area. Having never met them and never having been in contact with them, I wasn't sure how to find them. But I decided I was going to find them. At 10 and 12, my children should finally be able to meet their grandparents and learn about their father's side of the family.

After countless Google and Facebook searches, I was able to locate his dad, who in turn got me in touch with his mom. On our last day in Washington, my children met their paternal grandparents  for the very first time.

Late husband circa 1992

I had mixed feelings about the people who could go a decade without reaching out to the children of their late son. However, I was glad to have the chance to meet them.

His mother had lunch with us and brough pictures of him in his youth. It was astonishing how much my son really looks like his dad. It made him happy to hear his grandma gush about the resemblance. My daughter beamed as she heard stories about the man she's always dreamed of calling Daddy.

We were invited to dinner by his dad and his dad's wife. They were both such warm and kind people. We spent the evening just getting to know one another. My kids were so excited to learn about their dad's side of the family.

I had an amazing experience at BlogHer in August. It was my first ever blogging convention, and it was everything I hoped and more. I was honored to be a part of #OperationGlory - the now legendary BlogHer flash mob, and had the pleasure of finally meeting some amazing people I talk to almost daily via Twitter and text messaging.




#OperationGlory Team

 

Me & @MeSoRandy

The Lovely SurferWife

My Darling Roomie, @QuesoBonito

@SurferWife, @MeSoRandy, @QuesoBonito, & @Kristin_OPC

@TheBlueZoo, @PrettyPinkMomma, & Me!

Reflecting on fond memories always brings a smile to my face. I look forward to this next chapter in life with eager anticipation, and I feel completely blessed to have you to share it with!

In Between Trips

I'm sure you have all been waiting with baited breath for my return (or not). We arrived home a week ago from the Big Fat Family Road Trip. It was a great and thoroughly overwhelmong experience, and it may be the last BIG family vacation for a while... For a number of reasons.

The last week has had me running around like the proverbial chicken with the head cut off. The day prior to leaving, the last floor board for my floors being installed was laid. I returned home to my house still in disarray from the install, my baseboards and transition strips not yet installed.

As I mentioned in a brief Post It Note, my dog sitter neglected to care for my dog. I returned home to several piles of dog poo in the bedrooms, my new mattress and bed linens covered in dog urine, and a pool of dog urine on my living room floor - warping my newly installed laminate.

My flooring guy was unable to get out last week to finish up installing the base boards and transition strips, but I still got my furniture put mostly back into place. I am loving my new floors, despite four boards already being moderately damaged.

I have also spent the last week catching up on 10 days of missed work and preparing work to be without me for another two days. On Wednesday after work, I will be boarding a plane to #BlogHer11 in San Diego!

I am so excited! In addition to the amazing seminars, parties, and the chance to interact with brands in the expo center, I will be meeting a few of my oldest bloggy friends - Alicia from It Ain't Easy Being Cheesy (my roomie), Steph from The Blue Zoo, and SurferWife!!! That's only the beginning of the long list of exciting women I get to meet! I have already exchanged numbers with Patty at A Day in My NYC.

If anyone attending would like to meet-up, shoot me a message over Twitter @Kristin_OPC. I would love to make it work!

Stay tuned this week for some really informative posts from some incredibly smart guest bloggers!

Also, once I am home, I will definitely be sharing stories from the Big Fat Family Road Trip, exciting happenings in my life, and highlights from #BlogHer11!!

For now - here are a couple of quick pics of me not trying to throw my kids into a world famous geyser at Yellowstone National Park!