I was going to write an update on how Saturday went that night, but we got home after 9:30 and it was a crazy, exhausting day. Then I was going to do a weekend update last night, and again, I didn't get home until 10:30 or so.

Both days were long and I was tired.

For Saturday's update, I woke up 32 minutes after my alarm went off. I didn't even hear it. Maybe because I stayed up until a little past midnight finishing the third season of Sailor Moon. Oops? I was also woken up every hour from Grey and Trixie moving around my bed, so...it's not completely my fault.

To make things worse, my mother (sometimes *cough cough* most times *cough cough* I have to remind her that, no, you can't do certain things without hurting yourself) took it upon herself to not wait two minutes for me to come downstairs to help load up the van. She also could have waited for my sister's friend to help by carrying the five-gallon jug of kool-aid out of the house.

She ended up stumbling on our uneven sidewalk and the jug hit the ground. Thankfully, she didn't hurt her knees and her replacement knee is fine. However, her ankle (the same leg where she got the knee replacement) was hurt.

Fantastic.

My sister's worried about her ability to drive, on the other hand, I'm worried that my mom is going to overexert herself as she always does.

I finish getting ready in less than fifteen minutes (which includes the morning chores I do), and I'm out the door in no time.

We all pile up in the van. My mom's ankle is okay. Once we start driving, Grey decides he wants to not be in the seat that we kept open for him, instead he climbed over the cookie cake and all around the other party supplies before jumping into my lap. For almost the whole twenty minute car ride, he laid in my lap.

He hasn't done that in a long time.

Anyway, the graduation party was a success. It was nice and shiny when we got to the park a little after eight in the morning. The wind was picking up between eleven and one. It stormed for most of the time after that.

I was able to see my grandpa. He came to the party and was feeling pretty good. Although, chemo is hitting him again. He was having some stomach issues on Saturday.

There were a few family members that should have been there and not everyone that we were expecting to come came.

Plus, I told my mother not to buy too much of something and now we have enough food to last for a few weeks. The house is a mess right now as we just dropped everything wherever we could find a spot that night. Food that needed to be in the fridge went in the fridge and the electric coolers got plugged in for what couldn't fit.

Everything else is on every available surface, the dishes haven't been done since Friday, and I have only done the bare minimum for my personal responsibilities.

That's okay though. I got to spend time with family and friends while hanging out with Grey. It was a really nice day.

I fell asleep before eleven that night.

Yesterday was fun.

I woke up early, though. At seven, the same time I had set alarm for on Saturday. I ended up falling back asleep and woke up about thirty minutes before we had to leave. My second alarm wasn't set to go off. I take full responsibility for that one.

Everything turned out fine as once we arrived at my aunt's (my mom's best friend) house, we found out that we were waiting on my cousin E's wife. I'm so glad that I don't spend too much time and effort on my hair and make up.

Unfortunately, I forgot to wash my face that morning and I didn't pack my chapstick (I had switched to a smaller purse for the day).

Ugh!

And with all the rain and humidity, my hair wasn't the greatest. It's fine.

We first went to a strip mall in Birch Run. I bought a pair of gummy bear earrings and more earring backs (brackets?). I was going to go into a stuffed animal store, but I stopped myself. I was not going to spend anymore money.

That's when I officially met him. We got talking and it was nice to have a conversation, about stuffed animal sloths nonetheless.

He's my cousin L's (it was her birthday we were celebrating) best friend's younger brother.

I found out he's a few months older than me.

It was refreshing and nice to talk to him.

At five, we had reservations for Zehnder's restaurant in Frankenmuth. I've been inside before, but it was beautiful and the staff was amazing.

I have never been to a restaurant that nice before.

Chris and I really got talking and in between our conversation, I was able to outwit my cousin J! It was awesome! He stuttered to a stop. I am so proud of myself. I pulled a fast one and he wasn't prepared for my sassy, witty comeback!

I knew that Chris was flirting with me most of the time we talked, something that my cousin A was eager to point out.

She called me over to her, she leaned over as much as she could with her pregnant belly, and asked if I had a boyfriend. Oh no. That didn't seem good.

Then she proceeded to point out the obvious. Thank you, cousin, I totally wanted to admit that I was aware of the flirting and was kinda flirting...back?

*Sigh* It sucks because I'm too busy for a boyfriend. Plus, I've dated his type before. I know how it ends.

By that time, we had all finished our four-course meal. With only twenty minutes until our boat ride.

Pictures were taken with the birthday girl as we had time. I shamelessly flirted with Chris.

And I fell in love all over again. No, not for Chris. For my not-actually-related older cousin. He only sees me as a little sister.

I should be used to it as I've been pining over him since middle school.

Wow, it feels great to be able to finally get that off of my chest. I never told anyone about that crush.

Sucks to be me though, he has a fiancee now. Again.

I'm happy for them, it's just...its definitely more than a crush.

Back to the events of yesterday! My family and I were going to do the boat ride before but never did it.

It was a great one hour trip on Cass River. We saw ducks, a deer, and a blue heron.

All the while, I kinda flirted with Chris and ignored the fact that "cousin" J was going to propose to his girlfriend at any time.

Maybe that's why I was a little off at times. I was so close to him and I knew he didn't see me in the same way.

Storm clouds came in the last twenty minutes of the boat ride.

It held off until we were going to do more group pictures. That was until my idiot crush didn't know how to pop the question. He proposed to someone before! Honestly!

As I said, idiot crush.

I didn't mean to put one of my deepest secrets in here, but it was about time I said it and started to get over it.

Yeah, cousin A, Chris was flirting with me. And, somehow, you all didn't notice my big crush.

It's fine. I'm fine.

Now that I think about it, the rain came pouring down when it happened. My sadness came from the clouds.

I'm laughing and crying a little as I recall the events.

When it came to saying goodbye to Chris, it was awkward. We both flirted, but my real crush proposed to someone else.

I need to drown in my sorrow for a while before I can get past it.

And two hours later, we got home. I gave love to Grey and Trixie, got ready for bed, but didn't fall asleep until after one.

Good news, I was able to get an early start to my math course as it opened at midnight last night.

The instructor was surprised. It was great.

Today, though, has been hard.

My parents left around 11 this morning to go to Maryland for a business trip. Grey isn't taking it so well.

I woke up this morning, feeling as my heart was breaking all over again. Grey's sorrow-filled howls invaded my dreams as my parents left to pick up the rental car.

I was finally able to take a shower and get back to a relaxed, stay home day. Even though I had a few phone calls to make. And math problems to do.

It was fine, just had to refresh my memory on a few things.

I had to stop at the end of this week's work as I was getting a headache once I hit my not-so-good topics.

I just have to practice them and find a better way to take each problem apart.

Anyway, I took a shower, did most of today and tomorrow's course work for school, made two phone calls (so proud of myself!), completed a lot of my to-do list, unpacked from yesterday, cleaned up my room from the last two days, watched more Sailor Moon, and I am finally finishing this up.

Majority of this I wrote today.

So, tomorrow I will head out to the bookstore to fix the messed up order of mine, finish my math course work for the next few days, watch more Sailor Moon, and hopefully write.

Of course, now I'm reminded that J just finished the first draft of his own manuscript. Now, I can't get him out of my head.

Well, thanks for reading this monstrosity.

~MsPenguingirl1234.

Published: August 3rd, 2020.

P.S. I know I'm late. I wanted to write all weekend. I hope you had a wonderful birthday. I know you won't see this, but I will say (type) it anyway.

I love you, Little Brother. Happy birthday. I wish you the best. Thank you for the years of smiles, laughs, and love.

I will always be here. I love you.