Not enough time

There is simply not enough time to get everything that goes on in my head accomplished. Or maybe it is not enough energy. While we sat on our bee-hinds all day yesterday watching movies and eating popcorn and ice-pops after Mass, I was determined to make today a more productive day while still enjoying our more relaxed summer schedule.

We started the day at the gym. I certainly was not motivated, but I needed something to counteract the pint of Ben & Jerry's I consumed yesterday. I moved on to yard work once we got home. The lawn men showed up to trim the grass, so I decided to jump in and prune a few stray branches off of some trees, fertilize the rose bushes and comb the yard for trash and broken toys to toss. Sometimes these kids treat the house and general area like a dump. When all of that was done, I let Julia release her butterflies. We have been postponing this mostly because of show-and-tell, storms, etc, but we finally let the painted ladies go. It has been a remarkable project to help Julia with and MFS thinks that I enjoyed it more than Julia. He was right. They came to us as tiny little caterpillars and transformed into these beautiful creatures. Julia is trying to talk me into ants and ladybugs next, but I have my eye on an earthworm project.When it got too hot for me outside, I moved indoors and started on laundry. Besides dishes, it is the other chore that I loathe. But, I managed to do a few loads...of baby boy's. Not the rest of us who presently require things like clean underwear and clothes. I also attempted to take a nap when I put Ella down, but her constant jabbering, singing and finally whining won her an early end to nap time and led us to a trip to the grocery store to purchase food for this week's menu. Tonight, back by popular demand, linguine with clam sauce.

Before bedtime I played kitchen beautician and gave Cazin a haircut. I don't know where the time went, but he looks so (sniff, sniff) old! Julia gave me a second opinion and said, "He looks like a handsome, little man." MFS is away enjoying the sunshine of AZ at a Lifeteen Conference. Julia seems to be missing MFS the most. Sweet girl is so sensitive. If I come home after they have fallen asleep, she will get up in the middle of the night to give me a hug and a kiss goodnight. If I don't say the exact same thing every night before I close the bedroom door, she gets so upset. Sometimes I forget how the little things give them so much security. Lately she has become very attached to MFS and she is the happiest when all members of the School family are present. Last night while we were reading a new book, I looked over at them cuddling under the covers and let them have a sleep over with me. I only regretted it twice when I felt an arm slap across my face and a good kick to my leg. But when they ran into Ella's room this morning yelling, "Guess what?! We had a sleep over with mama!" I ignored my sore back. To pass the time, MFS and Julia agreed to write letters to each other every day. She started a journal called Letters to Daddy documenting her days. Even Cazin has joined in and has her dictating his messages. She insists that he writes his John Hancock for credit.

Missing daddy
Watch out if Ella gives you this face...