
This is the extent of the photos I took all day! We were busy!!



This is the extent of the photos I took all day! We were busy!!
Tonight the four of us went to Chicago to see comedian Dave Attell. I wasn’t really looking forward to it (long story) but I ended up having fun!
And playing with her bestie, Honey!
I found this text on Katie’s phone tonight during one of our regular random checks.
Until next year…
The kids wanted to go mini golfing and us ladies wanted to go shopping so we piled in the car and off we went—Katie actually sat in the waaaay back without a seat and she thought it was great fun!
It was a loooong and emotional day to be sure…but it was good. It was healthy. We grieved. We celebrated. We were extremely proud of Owen as he read one of my dad’s poems at the service. We visited with family. We heard some good stories. We got hugs. We ate cookies (y’all know my dad was a cookie fiend!). And we laughed.
And then my stepmom and I had a Thimbleberry margarita after everyone left.
And then the kids went kayaking and I took photos and just enjoyed the perfect weather sitting on the dock with my feet in the water.
It was hard, but we did it.
It’s really strange being here at my dad and Lin’s house…and he’s not here. I keep expecting to see him shuffling in to say good morning, coming to the table for lunch, grabbing a Coke from the fridge, sitting in his rocker, sneaking some cookies, or giving him a kiss goodnight.
But at the same time — and of course something I feel immensely guilty about — is that it’s almost… easier? less stressful? a sense of relief? because there was so much involved in his daily care and dealing with his anxiety.
I’ve pretty much been avoiding any serious grieving before now because we only really saw him 2-3x a year so it was mostly “out of sight out of mind” (as crass as that may sound). But being here…and the memorial service is later this morning…well, I predict I will be a hot freaking mess. Just writing this is hard.
I don’t want to adult today.
The kids love this park—and it’s right down the road from the house—so we took them there tonight!
And the best of the bunch.
It’s time to pick up the kids from grandparent camp!
First, my traveling face. LOL
We had to drop Olive off at the sitter’s (we’ll take her next year once she’s more potty trained). She loves car rides!
Stopping for lunch at a gas station! They opened the side of the RV and we had a quick non-fast-food lunch!
The last 15 miles looks like this.
We’ve arrived!
And Lin had bought Thimbleberry margaritas so that happened first thing!
My SeneGence business is soooo much more than just makeup and skincare. It’s about going outside my box. It’s about making new friends and making those connections and being able to help each other personally and professionally. And sometimes, yes, sometimes it’s about having a giant pajama party, fangirling over Sene-famous peeps, drinking together in the pool, taking 1000 pictures together, and throwing axes. I’m such a better person because of all these ladies…and it’s only going to get better from here!!
Today’s schedule was pretty open all day with a short training around lunch. So we started by taking lots of lifestyle photos of and with each other.
AND THEN OMG! I met Katie Enos and Summer Alvarez!! They are some of the top dogs in SeneGence and we got two hours of one-on-one training by them today! They are soooo super nice and down to earth!
Of course I think I look totally ridic in this pic but that’s because someone else took it—I would have done a closeup selfie!!
Katie’s Instagram & Summer’s Instagram
Then it was off to sit by the pool at the swim up bar.
I might have been a bad influence. (Or, really, they just wanted to taste it and didn’t have glasses!)
And then I just got toooo hot so had to go in the pool. With a margarita of course. But because it’s so extremely hot, the pool water isn’t really even refreshing. It’s definitely not cool. But it is better than the air so…
After dinner it was time for more lifestyle photos. I took a bunch but wasn’t feeling cute at all. (UGHHHHH. I’ve gained so much weight. I know no one there cares but the pics make me sick so A) I’m not posting them and B) it’s time to get back on Naturally Slim.) So this is my best photo—nothing different than I take at home:
But this is the kind of pics most were taking (I just felt super self-conscious so didn’t join in):
TODAY IS THE DAY! Today I get to leave for the Fab Squad Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona, that I qualified for at 100%!
It was soooo hard getting up at 5 this morning but I made it to the airport easy peasy. Seeing the security line worried me a little bit because I no longer have TSA pre-check but it went very quickly and I had no problems…except I forgot my Apple watch in the basket. I did realize it before I got too far away and the agent was holding it when I got back so I’m gonna count that as a win.
And then… at the gate…they announced that the Phoenix airport had lost power so we couldn’t leave until their power was restored. Thankfully we only left a few minutes late—and then made up enough time in the air to arrive about 30 minutes early!
Friends picked me up and then it was off to Costco to get margaritas and snacks for the house!
And then they wanted to go to In & Out and I won’t turn down a burger and fries! It wasn’t very thrilling though. We did get hats though.
And then the thing I was most looking forward to… seeing my Jenna and giving her a huge hug! She’s the leader that’s adopted me and supports me even though she doesn’t earn any money from me! She’s literally one of the nicest people on the planet and I’m lucky to know her.
The house was huge—and this was our first view of the backyard and pool.
And my first margarita on the patio trying not to sweat in the heat.
We hung out around the pool until it was time for the PJ party (Jenna bought everyone matching pajamas!)—pizza dinner and ice breakers.
First Jenna wanted to know if we considered ourselves introverts or extroverts. I’d say more than half of our 20 said they were introverts! Then she asked what challenges you’ve faced in the last year and something you’re proud of—business or personal. I knew what I was proud of (my consistent and increasing sales, earning SeneSales every quarter) but had no idea about challenges. I was thinking I can’t seem to host parties, I have no willpower to lose weight… And then people were talking about all these SERIOUS THINGS (deaths, major illnesses, relationship issues, etc) and everyone was getting teary and I’m a total emotional sap so I was teary. And it was getting closer to me—I was like #17/20 and I still didn’t really even know what I was going to say. And then the girl before me said her mom died unexpectedly (which I knew) so I was like Oh okay I’ll tell them my dad died unexpectedly (because I’ve mostly been able to talk about it without getting super emotional) and then as the words were coming out of my mouth it was like it all hit me RIGHT THEN and I could barely even make it through. I know no one cared how I sounded because seriously half the women broke down while talking but I still felt ridiculous. So that was interesting. But we were also all laughing and crying and it was good overall.
I’m not gonna lie—I did feel lots of awkwardness and anxiety all day about hanging out with all these ladies I don’t know. I mean, I know who they are (and they know who I am) but we have never really hung out before and I’m a total introvert in those situations. And also because a lot of them do have real friends within the group so they REALLY know each other.
But I survived!
All photos and captions are from Gramma Jean!
Tonight we tried to replicate Chicago Woodfire Pizza’s Wood Roasted Corn Pizza. The second attempt was actually better than this first one but they were both delicious!
David texted to say he had planned on doing yardwork but this happened…so he was obviously stuck.
And these two are just too cute. Is Olive really just absentmindedly stretching or is she sneakily trying to get Honey to play with her? You be the judge.
She’s a sun dog whenever she goes
First calm snuggles after she went crazy upon our return.
And we learned that Tom cannot show Honey any attention otherwise Olive goes batshit crazy barking and attacking!
Saying goodbye!
Finally home…
We started the day at the craft show…where Katie decided to spend some of her money on a henna tattoo!
Then the kids took grandma and grandpa’s bikes out for a spin. Can you see them?
Right in the center of the picture!
It’s not the pool and it’s not my egg chair but it’s still a damn fine day.
My view!
I made the kids stay outside because it was just perfect weather. They’re making up their own rules to Candyland—which involved running around the house and naming fruits and vegetables. It’s crazy what creativity happens when they don’t have their devices!
Then Tom worked at getting the swing up!
And Owen enjoyed riding around the yard on grandma’s bike!
Once the swing was up, that was Katie’s favorite place to be! Sometimes she even let Owen push her!
Tom kept me from being parched with my new tumbler.
Got this photo update from Anna:
And then it was campfire and s’mores time!
Tom and Dave took Owen and Evan to Milwaukee for a major league baseball game!
Since the boys were at a baseball game, Anna and I decided to go out for dinner…and Mexican and margaritas sounded perfect!
Outdoor movie night — Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure! Katie didn’t care for it, Owen enjoyed it. We couldn’t believe it was 35 years ago.
I really enjoy this author—this is my fourth book of hers this summer.
Unfortunately, I am only on page 14 because I had fun chatting with a handful of friends. Oh, and I was working today, too.
For as much as I take pictures of everything we do, I seemingly always let it slip on pool party day. At least I got one of both kids.
This one was from a friend.
And this was as we were packing up—Anna found a little grasshopper and put it on Katie.
The party was a big success again! All the kids love it! And it’s easy since we don’t have to clean the house.
We might be watching Top Gun until it gets dark…and then we can watch something else with the kids.
Grilled Aldi steaks, garlic cheese bread in the Ooni pizza oven, and salad! And a margarita because DUH.