Sweet summer day

A summer day filled with swimming, sweets and good friends... what more could these boys ask for?

We were invited to a tea party this afternoon, where we each got to decorate our own votive candleholders and tiny jars. We lit the candles, learned a little color theory, sipped tea, frosted cupcakes -- and then burned off the sugar in the pool!

We finally dragged ourselves away from our dear hosts, and headed to another swimming invitation! After a week of mostly indoor play avoiding the extreme heat, we were indeed in need of some cool outdoor fun

Creative purging needed. Now.

Ideas and plans are bloating my brain.

I've gorged myself on too many awesome books and blogs and movies, etc., lately, and my mind is feeling a little like my overburdened tomato plants look right now. Loaded down with big, beautiful fruit that just can't seem to ripen fast enough to keep the branches from breaking and outer fruit from scorching -- now that it's finally hot, it's TOO hot.

I am desperate to COMPLETE something. So many projects, so little time... I have a dozen or more blog posts half-written, waiting for me to finish my thoughts/take the right photo/sit down long enough to commit to something. I'm in need of some creative purging.

It's not just in my head. We're also in the middle of a major overhaul to our garage.

During the last two weeks, Scott and our good friend Alif, a contractor, been working their tails off (and neither of them have much tail to spare!), even when it was a sweltering 107 degrees outside. They've reinforced the roof, added a ceiling and created attic storage, installed outlets and lighting, and insulated half the space to make a workshop for Scott.

They're close to finishing, and now the pressure is on for me to do my part in our Great Summer Project.

I need to swap all the clothes in the bedroom closets to get ready for the big room switch, get rid of everything we don't need anymore, and then paint our old bedroom for the boys.

Scott's hobby stuff will be going out to his new workshop. His hobby/storage room will become the boys' playroom. We'll trade bedrooms with the boys, and then the little playroom off their old room will become my craft room!

I am so excited! And so grateful that we're able to do this at all, and that Scott chose to spend his summer this way.

In the meantime, I've been brainstorming with my homeschooling co-op buddies, making plans for the fall, gathering project ideas, ordering books, preparing surprises for the boys -- and trying not to get too carried away!

I do love a good plan. I also love to throw the plan out the window and stay home to putter in my garden.

For now, I need to get moving. I've got stuff to get DONE.

Wake me up in 30 minutes.

I LOVE this. I napped every day when I was pregnant with each of my kids -- completely guilt-free. A mama needs rest to grow a new baby, right? Duh.

But when I'm not pregnant (like, now), I feel a twinge of guilt when I get the urge to crash on the couch before the day's duties appear "done." (But seriously, when is it ever done? Even when I don't nap...?)

Most days, I just push myself until the kids' bedtime -- and then I fall asleep, too. Leaving no time alone with hubby. More guilt. More feeling like something's wrong with me because I need as much sleep as my kids.

This is ridiculous.

When our bodies need rest, we should rest. Stay-at-home parents usually have ready access to a sofa or bed. We should be able to fulfill this basic need than most people -- as long as our little ones are not in danger of escaping into the street or falling into the toilet. So why don't we?

Doctors nap at work. They have to. They're on call for 24 hours at times. So are parents. And our job is just as important. Just saying.

So, hey, it's the weekend. And it's probably hot outside. Give yourself a break and go take a nap. I will, too.

Milestones for Littlest

Over last few months, we started mentioning the possibility of Littlest sleeping in the "big boys'" room.

But, we said, "not until you're three." I didn't want him to feel rushed, but I wanted it to feel special. Of course, he didn't know quite what that meant, to "be three."

Until he realized he was having a birthday -- you know, one of those days when you get presents! And eat cake! And everyone sings to you!

After his birthday, he started asking about the big boys' room. "Mommy, when do I get to sleep in the bottom bottom bed?"

We are blessed to have a bunk bed with a trundle underneath, so all three boys can share a room.

We got to work one day last week, cleaning up the toys under the bed so the trundle would go in and out smoothly. Then I put on the vehicle-themed sheets I'd been saving for him, and the beautiful, summery quilt my friend Emily made him.


Does he look a little bit excited?


Oh, and he's using the potty now, too. Wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles!

He's 3 now. Not a baby. One of the big boys. And he knows it. He's wearing underwear. He's sleeping in his own bed.

What's next, college?

Fortunately, he'll have to stop nursing before he can move into the dorms. ;)