Fresh-Brewed Brevities @minkytoad - Tumblr Blog

Today is the kids’ last day of summer. I don’t know why I feel so sad about summer ending this year. I’ve always known my kids have shorter summers because they get longer breaks throughout the school year, yet it feels like this summer went by far too quickly.

My siblings and their families have been planning a trip to Vietnam for this December/January. Recently, my mom asked me to go with them and said that she would pay for my plane ticket and watch the kids while I was away. I wanted to go, mainly because I haven’t been back in 30 years, and I really want to see my childhood home alongside my siblings. Ultimately, I declined the offer.

My siblings are going around Christmastime, and Christmas is such a big deal in our household that I can’t imagine missing it with my kids. Plus, I also want to experience Vietnam with my husband and kids, so going solo would not be as meaningful.

I’ve already gone on one international trip this year to Scotland and Ireland. I also have another international trip this fall to six European countries, so taking a third international trip seems a little over the top for me.

Still, I have a bad case of FOMO now that I’ve declined the Vietnam trip, but I know it’s the right choice. I would like my next trip to be with my family.

I’ve been trying to keep the kids busy through summer. We took them camping. I took my two nephews for a week and a half and sent all four boys to ninja camp (basically obstacle courses and games), we also went to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Then I drove all of us up to Northern California to drop off my nephews, we also went to Six Flags Great America and a few other places while up there. Once we got back home, I enrolled the boys in gymnastics. My younger one is also in a city-sponsored soccer camp, so between that, karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and gymnastics, they’re covered on activities. My mom also gave us her piano, so I’ve been figuring out the best way for the kids to learn. Private lessons would be great but costly, so for now they’re using the Simply Piano app to build some foundational skills. That’s our summer so far. Two more weeks and they’re back in school

I just got home yesterday from a weeklong trip to Northern California, and I’m tired. I feel like I’ve been going non-stop since my Scotland/Ireland trip. My brother asked if I wanted to do a weekend trip to Orange County next weekend. At first, I said yes because I have FOMO, but I recently decided not to. I need to catch up on rest.

My SIL’s commissioned her friend to build this Lego set for my husband to remember Minky. He was really moved when she gave him the box. The creator really did a good job capturing Minky, he even put in the small white patch on her hind leg.

My kids had so much fun on their very first camping trip! We stayed at a campground right outside of Sequoia National Park, it was the exact same spot my husband and his family used to visit decades ago. The boys absolutely loved climbing on the rocks and gigantic tree stumps, but fishing was their favorite activity. My husband couldn't join us for their big first trip due to work, but I'm really hoping he can make it out with us next time.

Tomorrow, my in-laws, SIL, and I are taking my kids camping. It was actually my in-laws’ idea, and we’re going to a campground where they used to take my husband and his sister when they were young. My husband is back at work, so all the parenting duties will be on me for this trip. Luckily, it’s only for two nights. My in-laws were perfectly fine taking the kids while I stayed home since my summer semester started today, but I feel like I need to be there with them. Plus, it’s my kids’ first time camping, and I don’t want to miss that milestone.

Ireland photo dump

Highlights: drank plenty of Guinness, wandered around Temple Bar, visited the Book of Kells and the Long Room Library, did a ghost tour, and saw my first Caravaggio (one of my favorite artists). I may have teared up a little.

Also visited Marsh’s Library, the oldest public library in Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, we saw Giant’s Causeway, walked through the Dark Hedges (the Kingsroad from Game of Thrones), and visited Dunluce Castle perched on the edge of the cliffs. The green landscapes were even better than I expected.

Disappointed we couldn't make it to Belfast because of the riots and unrest. It was a place I especially wanted to visit as a longtime Van Morrison fan.

Overall, Ireland has become one of my favorite countries I've visited.

Goodbye Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Edinburgh was such a beautiful city. I’ll miss walking around it, and I’ll especially miss the view of the castle from my hotel balcony.

Scottish Highlands photo dump 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

It was beautiful out there. I wish I had booked the Isle of Skye trip which would’ve taken me further up north in the highlands. Perhaps one day.

I woke up early this morning and, while my husband slept in, took a walk through Old Town Edinburgh. For a little while, it felt like I had the whole place to myself.

It’s my husband’s first time visiting Europe.

We just got to our hotel, and this was the view of Edinburgh Castle from our balcony.

My kids miss Minky a lot, she was such a gentle dog with them.

Last July, I decided to go back to school and enrolled at a local community college. My original plan was to take classes gradually and ease back into being a student. However, when I entered the program, almost none of my previous undergraduate coursework transferred, only a single statistics class counted toward the requirements.

As a result, I spent this past academic year taking many prerequisite courses just to become eligible for the required classes to eventually submit my application. Many of these courses were science classes with labs, which were more demanding. Although I had intended to take things slowly, by the end of this summer semester I will have completed 26 units. Since 24 units or more is considered full-time enrollment, it has turned into a very busy school year for me.

We brought Minky’s ashes home today. 🤍

This morning, JoeJoe came back inside the house with his front leg shaking and spasming, and he wasn’t able to put full weight on it, so he was limping. I checked his paw to see if it was injured or if something was stuck in it, but I didn’t see anything. So I took him to the emergency vet. We checked in, but there was a long line.

While in the waiting room I had him walk around to check his gait. He was limping, and every so often he would shake his paw. I decided to check his paw again. He has long hair around his paws, so I examined it more thoroughly this time. He didn’t like it and would flinch and try to pull his paw back, so I started to feel like it was more of a paw injury or foreign object rather than a limb injury.

After a while, I felt something nestled deep in his paw pad. I was eventually able to pull it out, it was a pine needle. I put him down, and he immediately started walking normally again, so I told the emergency vet we were going home. I was so relieved.

A few people have told me that sometimes dogs, especially ones who grew up together, tend to pass away within a short time frame of each other. So I was especially worried this morning. I know I’ll still have to get JoeJoe checked out for the intermittent limb weakness he seems to have, which could be anything ranging from arthritis to degenerative spinal or neurological issues. But for now, his paw and leg are okay.

I had recessed overhead lighting put in my reading room a few years ago, and it’s been great. However, I wanted the room to feel warmer and more relaxing, so I decided to add some layered lighting. Little lamps and soft ambient lighting completely changed the vibe. It definitely feels much cozier in here at night now.

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