June!

We survived our first month of summer! It was a good month with lots going on! Anna and Bob spent the first week on their epic Australia adventure as a part of his biannual work trip to Sydney. They went to a zoo, explored 2 beaches, and tried some new foods in Sydney...On Wednesday that week, they flew up to Cairns for a Great Barrier Reef adventure! They took a one-day tour that visited 3 parts of the outer reef and had an amazing time viewing the reef and sea animals. Also in Cairns, they explored the town, enjoyed the resort, and did a little shopping. From there, it was back to Sydney for their return home. It was a successful and memorable trip!

While they were adventuring, Erin stayed busy with 5 work shifts in 9 days and also got her Level 3 driver's license. We both volunteered at CPO on Wednesday, and I went back on Thursday while she was working. We also supervised the finishing touches on our kitchen floor (the final step in the project), hit the pool and the gym a few times, and had a cat-sitting job. The travelers returned on the evening of the 7th and jumped right back in to reality with a fun 2-family dinner with the McGees at Colletta's on Sunday, celebrating Erin's and Olivia's Confirmation! 

Anna hung out at Lyla's pool on Monday the 10th while I had a nice lunch and catch-up with my friend Denise. Tuesday, Bob, Erin, and I had a really fun day trip to DC, where we toured the Catholic University of America! We took a 10am flight on American from Raleigh to Reagan, metro-ed in to town, had a nice Chipotle lunch across from campus, visited the Basilica of the National Shrine (adjacent to campus) prior to the presentation and tour of campus. The tour was great! It's a beautiful campus and seems to have great programs and facilities. After the tour, we hopped back on the metro for a quick walk through the Mall, Capitol, Union Station (here was where we discovered that our flight home was delayed, so we attempted to catch a train unsuccessfully), dinner, and back to Reagan for our flight that was a couple of hours late, but we got home by about 11:30pm. It was a really good day, and Anna and Finley managed just fine at home.

The girls volunteered at Gibbons Gateway on Wednesday and Thursday that week, leading groups of incoming freshmen through activities to help them acclimate to Gibbons. Anna had a 5-day cat-sitting job at the end of the week, I was back to CPO on Thursday, and Anna visited Sky Zone with Bella and her sister on Friday. We had a nice family dinner at Noodle Blvd on Friday after Anna came home raving about the ramen in Australia. 

Saturday the 14th, we hit the lake while Erin worked. Bob had a nice Father's Day on Sunday the 15th, including homemade tortellini by Anna and me for dinner.

Monday the 16th, Anna swam at Juliet's pool until it started storming. Bob and I cashed in a gift card to Outback for dinner, which was yummy! Erin started her 10-week SAT prep class via Zoom on Tuesday with her friends Olivia and Vera. So far, she's finding it to be helpful. Anna had a babysitting job on Wednesday and helped me at CPO on Thursday before babysitting again, this time for a new family, the Overtons. It went well! Bob enjoyed a night out at Topgolf with David and Josh that evening. Saturday afternoon was back to the lake while Erin worked again (sorry, Erin!). Sunday, Bella came over for some pool time, and Erin's friends also came over later in the afternoon after she got off work. They had fun hanging out at the pool and having some pizza and sides for dinner! She and Bob went to the Cathedral for 7pm mass that evening. Erin was very busy that day!

Bob headed to Denver on the 23rd for 4 days of work meetings. We had a girls' dinner at the new ramen place in Apex on the 23rd.

We ladies did more of the usual that week - Erin had her SAT class, Anna caught a movie with friends, I had a dentist appointment, and Anna went back to Juliet's pool on Wednesday. Anna started her 3-session AP World History prep class on zoom on the 25th while Erin went to Gibbons Gateway and led the presentation on Compassion. Both kids were back to Gibbons Gateway for the final session on Thursday while I was at CPO.  Bella slept over on Friday, and Bob took his friend Jeff M. out on the lake on Saturday morning. Saturday, Anna began her week of 3 pet-sitting jobs: Luna the cat for 4 days, the Hansen cats for 7 days, and a new pet, the Weaver bunny, for 8 days! All went smoothly. Erin and I tried a new mass, the 5pm on Sunday at St. Michael, as she's had a lot of weekends with Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday morning shifts at Harris Teeter. It was great, and we all attended it the following week! 

That rounded out the month! Anna has been practicing her driving, and otherwise we are staying busy and also trying to relax and enjoy the summer. Bob helped me set up our supposedly squirrel-proof bird feeder. After some initial issues, we think it is now fully squirrel-proof. 

We are really looking forward to a fun week in Hilton Head with cousins and grandparents coming up in July!