Weekends are for restoration...

...or at least a break from normal. 

The kids all took turns with a virus the week before last.  It brought with it fevers, sore throats, aches, and thankfully, a rapid recovery.  The sick child would go to bed sick and wake up all better.  The problem was... it went through all five kids one. by. one. during a week when Brian worked late almost every night and put in hours on Saturday, too. Last weekend was neither restorative nor a break from the monotony of thermometers, chicken soup, and cool sips of water. 

Just when we thought all was well, Brian got sick.  It took him a little longer to recover (possibly because he worked through some of it), but by this weekend, we were ready to get out of the house for some fresh air and fun.

Maddie had her last swim class of the session yesterday morning.  We had given her the option of continuing (with another session) or letting this be it.  She deliberated for a few days and decided she had met all her goals and was content to stop attending swimming class.  Then on her last day, she made great strides and had the best class of the whole 6-week session...and decided maybe she wants to continue after all. 

On the way home, we stopped a couple of yard sales.   Gavin said, "I love yard sales.  Going to yard sales is going to be the very best part of this whole day!"  (Can you tell he's my son?) We found  several pairs of jeans that should fit Benjamin next year, a pair of Toy Story pajamas and a dress for Alaine that matched a pair of leggings she already had.  Score! 

When we got home, I spent the afternoon cleaning and airing things out.  Why is it that when there are sick people in the house, it tends to get more cluttered than ever? 

After dinner, Maddie and I left for a local production of Annie.  We met up with my mom and sisters and made it a girls' night.

getting "Miss Hannigan's" autograph

Maddie's favorite characters were Annie and her dog, Sandy, who was played by an 11-year-old yellow lab.  While it was a thrill for Maddie to be able to stay out way past her bedtime, but after such a full day, she was exhausted when we got home (though not too exhausted to tell her daddy all about the show). 

posing with Annie

Sunday was more of a boys' day.  Brian and Gavin went to a minor league baseball double-header.  They've been planning this for over a month, but were a little nervous about the forecast.  It rained buckets last night (as we were driving home from Annie), but we awoke to a beautiful, sunny warm day-- perfect for the games!

The rest of us spent the afternoon at my parents' house, eating lunch, swapping stories, laughing, climbing trees, making tents, perusing Netflix, and chasing Alaine from one act of mischief to another.  (Not all of us participated in all activities.  Grin.)

It was Maddie's weekend to shine because while the kids were outside enjoying the sunshine, she learned to ride a bike without training wheels.

It's a lot easier to welcome Monday after a  restorative weekend like this.