Anticipation

There are few feelings I enjoy more than anticipation. In fact, I like looking forward to some things so much that I often have to temper my expectations or risk feeling let down when the long-awaited event actually occurs. I've been thinking through the next few months and I've realized that I have A LOT to look forward to before 2011 comes to a close. Shall I write a chronological list of the excitement to come? Yes? Well okay then, here goes:

School Starts

It's been a loooong summer, friends. We've had many wonderful adventures including a trip to Six Flags Great America, a jaunt up to Michigan to pick fresh, ripe peaches and blueberries, a day spent exploring the great city of Chicago, and visits from dear old friends, family, and both sets of grandparents. Add to that days spent at the movies, at the children's museum, at the ice cream parlor, at summer camp, at the zoo, and countless nights at swim meets and you can see why I am just so. dang. tired.

I want my life back. I crave structure and need routines. My family functions best when have a schedule and when that schedule includes school. We all like each other more when we've seen each other less. School starts on Monday for my girls and Wednesday for my boy. Freedom is so near and I can hardly wait to reduce the number of hours each day that are available for my kids to bicker with each other. Being able to run to the grocery store by myself and listen to the music of my choice in the car are extra added benefits.

Finishing the Basement

We've been in our house for five years and the only purpose the basement has ever served up until this point is as a dumping ground for all of our unused stuff. Old furniture, boxes of college textbooks, spare computer parts, holiday decorations, outgrown clothes... they all live down there in that abyss. It's a massive waste of space and an easy way to ignore accumulated clutter. The following picture, just one portion of our basement, proves all that I have just described:

But now we've scrimped and we've saved and we're finally ready to pull the trigger and turn our basement into usable space. The work begins in September and will hopefully be done early October. Once complete, we'll have a large rec room, area for guests to sleep, a place to put the treadmill (which now resides inconveniently in the master bedroom), a full bathroom, storage space, and a wall devoted solely to a large screen for TV/movie viewing. All the toys and crafts will have a new home, and I will be able to reclaim my family and living rooms. Just don't ask me how, in the next three weeks, I am going to manage to clear out my entire basement. I'm seriously considering renting a dumpster and pitching everything!

Another concert? Why not?

There are so few musicians that Scott and I both enjoy that when one of our favorites passes through town, we make every effort to go see them live. Next month we get to go see Alison Krauss perform and I am very excited! Do you know her music? Chances are, you've heard this song before:

Her voice is truly the most beautiful one I have ever heard. I cannot wait to spend an evening in the city, sitting next to the guy I love, listening to such angelic tones. (<------Holy crud, that was cheesy. Geez). Anyway, you know I love a good concert and this one will be fantastic, I am sure.

The Death Cure


Have you read The Maze Runner? It is such a fantastic book series! The third and final book in the trilogy is coming out in October, I've got it pre-ordered, and I can hardly wait! If you liked the Hunger Games, I think you'll like this series. In fact, I might like The Maze Runner series a bit more. There's less violence (though there certainly still is some) and no blatant underlying political agenda, which makes it a more compelling read in my opinion. There are lots of unanswered questions and I cannot wait to see how everything is resolved. Anticipating a book release is always tricky, though. I'm having to manage my expectations and remind myself that the author will write what he wants and I'll just be along for the ride when I read it.

Super Amazing Awesome Surprise

I apologize for having to be annoyingly vague, but I have the most spectacular, amazing, once-in-a-lifetime event to look forward to in October. I've spent the past few weeks trying as hard as I can not to get my hopes up, because if what I think is going to happen really happens, then I'm going to be so very excited! Until it's 100%certain, with all the details in place -- and right now I'd say it's about 90% of the way there -- I won't mention it because I don't want to jinx it. But just know that it is awesome and you'll hear all about it once I'm ready to believe it's actually real.

Sisters Weekend

Every year or so, my mom, all of my sisters, my charming sister-in-law, and I get together for a spouse-free, kid-free long weekend getaway. In years past, we've gone to Chicago, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, San Francisco... This year, in early November, we are headed to my parents' house in southern California to spend time with each other and my sweet 93 year old grandmother. I love these weekends! I'm ashamed to admit that I appreciate my sisters (and my mom) way more now than I ever did growing up. Now that my nearest sister lives over 1500 miles away, these rare times of togetherness mean so much to me. We haven't planned out every minute of the time we'll have yet, but I'm certain there will be lots of laughter and at least one meal at The Cheesecake Factory -- it's a tradition!

ZEMAS Reunited

Ladies, it's almost that time again. Last night I was at the movies (Crazy, Stupid, Love -- go see it if only for Ryan Gosling) and this trailer came on before the show.

At the end of the trailer Scott turned to me and said, "Uh, yeah, you can go see that with your ZEMAS friends." Such a good husband! It looks predictable and contrived, but it has Zac as part of the ensemble so you will find me in the theater at the beginning of December when it opens. Mark my words.




So much to look forward to! I'm still hoping to find another race, preferably a 10k, to add to my list of things to do by the end of 2011. Overall, though, I think I've got a solid 4 months ahead of me.

Now I want to know what you're looking forward to. Tell me, what's coming up in your life? Got anything, major or simple, that has you quivering with anticipation?