Heat Wave

So far, July has been hot, hot, hot. Brown grass, scorched plants, sticky air, panting dog hot. But in the midst of it, this little chickadee is learning in our tiny pool to swim on her own.. even without a bubble.

Hot diggity!

Selective Memory

Sometimes I start worrying about weird things. Maybe weird is not the right word. Unnecessary? Maybe worry isn't even the right word. I just get this hamster wheel brain thing going and I can't stop myself. Like today, I stood at the kitchen sink in a pretty summer dress and a vintage apron, keenly aware that I was unsure where the waist of my apron should go, as the dress I was wearing was high waisted. Really? Up under my bust? Except the other way was incredibly strange and gave me a funny little "puff" between my chest and my actual waist. Nobody needs an extra puff in that area, I don't care who you are.

And then I started watching my kids splashing around in our cheapy inflatable pool with their 2 dollar squirt guns and hand me down swim suits. I saw them happy and laughing and silly and fighting and showing off for me in turn. I watched the bottom of Ellerie's bikini droop farther and farther off her bum the longer she was wet. I heard countless "Mommy, watch me"s and I soaked in the heat and sunshine while I washed the dishes (from the past three days that couldn't go in the dishwasher). I felt warm and fuzzy, nostalgic and weirdly sad all at the same time. Will they look back on this summer remembering the joy they felt squirting each other in the face with a water gun? The happiness of climbing the tree with an icee in their hand? Or will they remember being forced to sit in the van after church because of a bad attitude, screaming for all who passed by to hear "I HATE EVERYONE!!!!!" Will they remember me constantly yelling and nagging and then crying? Will they take me out of my straight jacket for holiday dinners only to STILL complain about what I cooked? ;-)

Mostly, all of this speculation doesn't matter. I do my best, I say I'm sorry when I don't and I start over. I know that my kiddos know they are loved deeply, but sometimes it does feel like there is so much negativity. So much fighting and whining and anger and tears, it makes me wonder how all the joy will shine through when they look back. When I look back. But memories do seem to mellow. Sometimes I wish I could have more of the rosiness right now. Still nostalgia, being what it is, requires time and perspective. Things taken for granted now will be savored later.

Truth be told, I don't mind if we all remember each other someday with an extra touch of sweetness.

But, I'll be fine if we forget my belly poof altogether.

June is Done

Well, we rounded out June and the start of summer vacation with some water time with good friends.

Then we dove straight into VBS week, prepping our church for the hundreds of kids that were relying on our team's 6 months of planning for an awesome week learning about how wild God is about all of us!

Whether because of us or in spite of us, God used these little kiddos to bring in a big supply of food for our community food cupboard

and a good chunk of change for church plants in Cambodia in only 4 days!

And, you know, I think they had a little fun too...

Oh, Hello There

We're still here. I'm just not, you know, HERE.

We've been doing a lot of this:

And a little of this:

And they've been doing a whole lot of Pokemon card trading (but not always this nicely):

And then more baseball, but this time watching the (almost) big leagues:

And, you guessed it, more baseball:

The kids finished school yesterday.... YAY!

They were already fighting today before friends came over.... booo....

And the only reason I am sitting here right now is because Cal got rained out tonight.

Ah, summertime. Thank you for finally arriving and bringing baseball and friends and swimming and no more school and frozen treats and pajamas at 10 am. I will try very hard to just enjoy you and your mostly unscheduled ways.

Right after VBS ;-)

Breathe

Things have been happening around here, but I don't write. I don't even have time to type this now but days are speeding by and no matter where I put my energy I feel like I am missing something. T-ball and baseball have started, neighborhood playdates and cookouts have started, outdoor projects are being worked on and piling up. Laundry and dishes continue to rule my days. It is the end of the fiscal year at my "job" and the final two weeks before VBS at my church where I help serve on the directors team. I have tried to start, in an attempt to stop feeling SADLY out of shape and to avoid having to buy a whole new size of clothing for my bum to fit in, working out again. It's good, but hard and one more thing in my day.

Last weekend I was at the craft store buying some VBS supplies. I had a cute little blonde teenage checkout girl. She said "I like your t-shirt," with a perky smile. She was notably lacking in smile lines and wrinkles. "Thank you," I smiled back. Well that was nice. I was already feeling pretty hip for painting my toenails a flashy purple earlier in the week. (I won't mention that mostly I just felt hip for ACTUALLY painting my toenails. ahem.)

"Yeah," she added, " that 'Life is Good' stuff is like all my mom wears."

And there it is.

SIGH.

Used Without Permission and Ellie Stuff

Ellerie had her end of the year program for preschool yesterday. We, of course, were running late and somehow our camera had the tiniest memory card ever in it so these pictures are courtesy of Papa Paul. Running late? Moi? I know, it's hard to believe. Grandma Betty wondered why (nicely, not accusingly) and I could only reply that it's just what we do and shake my head. Oh well, no more late for preschool mornings until next fall! Yippee! Next year I may get all sappy as it will be my baby being done and moving on to school and no more of my favorite teachers and all that business, but for this year I am thrilled to have less trips per week. Ellie did a fab job singing and showing off for all the grandmas and grandpas and I couldn't ask for anything more.

Then we all came home and hung out in the sunshine, Ellie trading her fancy sandals for more appropriate attire. I mean, doesn't everyone play in the dirty back yard with the dog in a long dress and Big Brother's rainboots? But that's my girl sugar and spice AND snails and puppy dog tails.

This is also my girl. I took this a couple weeks ago. I don't remember the weather, but it was NOT hot outside. That was her getup: tank top and shorts, dress-up heels (thanks to GiGi chewing the bow off one of them), and a fur lined vest recently handed down from the neighbor girls. Hot Stuff, I tell you.

I have a feeling Miss Fashionista and I will butt heads over clothing choices once or twice before we're done. It's already starting as, currently, I have to remind her quite frequently to just put it on. And with the weather turning all of 70 here, she is in full on bathing suit mode, wanting to daily wear all of them (we have several hand me downs from the neighbor girls who have a pool). I have to confess that it IS fun to have a girl though. Right now. So, I'd better go enjoy her because I might not say the same in, say, 8 years. ;-)

At Week's End

I got to hang out a little bit with this cutie. To pass down a few goodies for re-using. To see my brother and SIL's beautiful house renovation progress.

I had a reasonably productive VBS week, but not so much on my other two jobs.

We had beautiful weather. Today is hot and sticky. I will not complain.

I did nothing to my back, but managed to hurt it anyway. Just walking along and, BAM, my back seized up. It's been hurting rather badly ever since, although improving in starts and fits. Trying to be grateful that this is not a constant problem for me without succumbing to worry that this is somehow the start of a new constant problem and to keep from being generally crabby because I DO NOT HAVE BACK PROBLEMS.

One car went in for repairs yesterday and the other one is up next. As my ironic life would have it, the ONE day the nurse's office calls me from school is the ONE day that I have no vehicle. But my fab friend and neighbor came to the rescue and we went to get Cal. He's fine. We're pretty sure it's allergies.

We are trying to grow grass, again.

My dad's 70th birthday party is tomorrow. It will be good to see family. My oldest nephew also graduates from college tomorrow and is recently engaged. Man time is a-flyin.

I am currently typing to the sound of my kids in the driveway playing with neighborhood friends: bikes, Pokemon, basketball and chalk. There is some reflection of a Norman Rockwell painting here while my Gigi pup hangs by my side trying to stay cool under the fan. Summer is coming and it may be in the burbs, not the country where I always thought I'd be, but I'm okay with that.

81 and muggy in the house. Why, oh why, am I making pizza tonight in a 500 degree oven? Happy Friday!