The sun is setting, its 9:15pm and the sky is so Northern Michigan that I’m sure it’ll inspire a million paintings, I’ve worked a full day - pivoted 100x minimum… and I am swimming.
I’m swimming in Walloon Lake which to know me is to know I love this lake. Nearly 12 years ago Matt and I got married on this lake. I am swimming and he is on the boat drinking a Coors Light and my dear friend is with us and it’s so late out and I’m so tired and I don’t care.
This is the summer of my swims. I’m aiming for 26 swims in 2026 and I’m on track to definitely hit my goal. At the time of writing this I’m at 17. It ‘only counts’ if I dunk all the way under, hair. wet. Millennial women- man do we hate washing our hair - what a pain in the ass, so the dunk in the lake is the real commitment.
I created this goal for myself because last summer I swam one time. That is not a typo. On a hot Saturday in August I jumped in the lake with my sister and that was my swimming for the year. Despicable. So, on a cold ass January day I decided that this year, I would summer my summer to the max. And for me that means swimming.
Mid-Summer check in time. How is it going? Like really how is it going? I’ll paint you an honest picture; I am having the best summer ever and I’m absolutely positively burning it down.
I think I’ve cooked dinner for my family 5 times. The other night I popped the kids two bags of popcorn and put some salami on a plate and told them that was dinner. We eat out, way too much. We go out for ice cream way too much. The kids are staying up way too late. And I’m kind of loving it.
What I’m doing really well:
-still prioritizing my sleep. Not perfectly. But trying.
-controlling the controllables.
-delegating and trusting my team at work. In that same vein being ok leaving early and coming in later when I need to. I used to really struggle with ‘being there so they know I care.’ But there’s a different vibe this year and I really like it.
-leaning into insanity. The only way out is through :)
What I’ve been terrible about:
-Hobbies. I fall asleep working on my phone in bed every night. No needlepoint. I’ve played golf one. time.
-Date Night. I feel like Matt is a guy I work with & who I sleep next to. LMAO. We are literal ships in the night this summer and I think we’ve spent time just us 2 less than 3 times. (Including that boat swim up top which is why it was so special!)
-Seeing my friends. Love you girls. Miss you. See you in January.
We are exactly half way. It’s insane to think its half over and also crazy to think its only half over. The first few weeks were a struggle for me. Everything felt so damn clunky with work and Matt staying home with the kids and the slow remembering that no two weeks in the summer are ever similar and as a creature of habit I love routine and in the summer it just can’t exist. And once I let go of that and fully calmed my ass down (a bit) I decided I was just going to lean into how insane it is because its so dang quick.
-Matt and I are going to Chicago for 2 nights with our dear friends for a ‘foodie weekend’ (we have reservations at two bucket list meals for me I cannot wait!)
-Our oldest turns 7. (Sob) I don’t know why I’m so emotional about 7. I love my kids birthdays. He is the best.
-Matt and I celebrate 12 years married! What the heck! Feels like yesterday. We were so young and precious and I can firmly share it just keeps getting better.
-We are taking the kids to Mackinac Island for an overnight. I cannot wait. We are staying at the gorgeous Harbor View Inn and doing all the Mackinac things. It’ll be such a special family adventure.
-The Sister Camping Trip is officially booked. I’m laughing just typing that. Egan and I are taking the kids: 4,4,5&7 for 2 nights at the State Park. Yes we rented a camper. No the baby is not coming. Yes we are out of our minds.
My feed(s) are slowly beginning to shift over to all the ‘back to school’ marketing. New routine tips, fresh backpacks & supplies, the shoes they need, the way to build your own AI family assistant (seriously interested in that one though) but I’m kind of just putting my blinders on and living firmly where my feet are planted. One of my summer goals was to say no (doing it a lot) and prioritize our family time.
What we lack in routine & structure right now we’re making up for with Kilwin’s and ‘family hug’ every single night. The kids are bathing in the sprinkler some nights and I’m so tired I could sleep for 3 days but that’s what January is for right?
I love you Lucky Girls.
Let’s soak up the remaining half!
xo
K
PS: What’s been your summer highlight so far? And what’s STILL LEFT that you can’t wait for!?
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