7/18/14

Ordinary Days


I know, I know, she looks so old! It's the piggies that do it.

After a swim meet.  We've had a lame swim team season because two meets were 'stormed' out.

Our evening bike rides, my favorite part of summer:



Some good quick blog posts I've read this year and loved:

1. If I Could Only Offer One Piece of Advice To Young Moms by Melanie Jean Juneau.   So simple, so true.

2. A Letter To My Boys by Renee Robinson.  A thousand times, YES.

3. Bucket List by Katrina Kenison  "The question rose up hot and fierce as a reprimand in my chest: “Had I loved my life enough?”


7/8/14

Ordinary Days

A box from new shutters.  Bought me a few hours of occupied boys.

Isaac and Abbey keeping track of gas since they share a car.  So many arguments about whose turn it is to put gas in the car, who drove more, etc... and we came up with this gem. (I'm saying "gem" sarcastically, because honestly, it has squelched the constant arguing, and why didn't we think of this sooner-like years sooner?)  I know one day I might (might!) laugh about all these little teenager things that sometimes make my head feel like it's going to explode, but for now just the thought of that possibility (not the head exploding, the laughing one day) makes it all seem more manageable.  I don't think that sentence makes sense, but maybe you know what I mean.

My mom and dad and grandkids.

Us.

My squishy baby niece.  Squishy babies are the best.

Matt took this pictures.  This branch seems to be the universal lounge chair for all squirrels.

Matt took this one also.

Janey is getting so big.  And lately, fussy.  I know it's because of all the changes.  The addition is still being worked on, almost finished.  I've said it before, but boy I can not WAIT till there are no workers in my house, and I know she feels the same way. There are much more important things than all this house stuff.

Years ago when the older kids were school aged, or darn, just a few years ago, I remember summer dragging, and being excited about school beginning.  Now I feel like it flies by, so busy and so quickly.  It's not like I pack our days full, I don't at all, but just the coordination of six kids is busy and add the teenagers work schedules, and a mandatory sports camp here or there, college visits (we've done none of those yet!) and a beach vacation and it seems like the day is over before it began.  And school starts earlier every year it seems! (Why does everything have to change?  What's wrong with a nice long summer vacation?  What's wrong with starting school in kindergarten?  What's wrong with learning cursive, and not having to read till first grade?  Or two recesses?  Or sports practice after school for an hour instead of three hours over dinner time?:) I know that once school starts, it seems I hardly get to see the kids, in school all day, and they are all one year older.  It makes me feel awful.  Am I enjoying this time with them?  Am I present?  I won't ever get this summer back, I know that.

"After all,' Anne said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."
Anne of Avonlea
Lucy Maud Montogomery