Already?

I finally got slipcovers for the sofa and loveseat. And I love them! I loved their lightness and the easy, relaxed feel of them. However, I put them on last night, and when I woke up there was a pizza smudge on the top of the loveseat. I got some oxyclean and started cleaning and that started pulling dirt up from the loveseat below!

Then Liam picked his mosquito bite scab and bled on it. Can I cry now?
:o).

Liam was a bit camera-shy today!

Yesterday

On a whim, from a teacher's buy, sell, and trade board on Facebook, I purchased a small climber with slide. It was $75 dollars, and I was cursing my impulsivity until my dad and I brought it home and we set it up.
Liam was so excited, even though it was supposed to be for Gabe's birthday. Gabe likes it, too, but he can't do much on it yet.

Liam asked, "Do we have a park now?! We have a swing, and a slide, and a sandbox!"

So it was worth it.

And last night, Liam sat through the whole first chapter of Little House in the Big Woods (23 pages!), and was able to answer questions about it afterwards. And wanted me to keep reading!

Life is good!

Not much to say

I haven't been writing much. I struggle with balancing complete honesty with looking at the bright side, and I haven't felt much like dragging other people into it. I can't figure anyway around slightly twisting the truth in my own mind, in order to be happy. And I hate that.

But I am not unhappy. Blah..Enough about feelings.

I am in the process of trying to organize my house.  I finally cleared the back corner of the kitchen (again!). Right now it has a table with the sewing machine, small wire shelves with Tierney's fabric odds and ends, and a small wire bakers rack (sort of) with other sewing and some scrapbook supplies. I think I have scrapbook supplies in the basement or something, but I am not looking for them.
I should have more prints made and scrapbook more, but with places like Shutterfly, it's almost not necessary, anymore. I would like to make it a full time crafting area. I plan to bring the small plastic shelves with knitting supplies and  yarn in there tomorrow (today).

I had originally planned to have a little coffee nook there, but it was too far from the water source and just too inconvenient. Then I thought I would make it my own noncomputer writing desk, but it got all cluttered, and now I am just going to designate the whole area for creativity. The hard part is keeping the clean laundry from piling up there. It's not fancy, but I will publish a picture when I can (Karl has the camera in Germany AND one of the kids had taken my camera charger. We had two and both are missing. I guess I should scout their electronics and see whose matches the camera.

I have been really bad about keeping the counter and table cleaned off. While the counter just looks bad, when the table is covered with clothing and various items it completely affects our lives. We stop eating meals together, but instead each person huddles up with their plate and their entertainment. That is not best practices for happy family living!

It's just hard to find a place for everything. It is hard to get rid of things which might be of use at some point. But, really, it's mostly a matter of just doing it, little by little. And keeping up with it. And I can do it, if I could just quiet the little voice in my head telling me to relax, it'll still be there later.


Love,

Jill

Changes in store

Karl is starting a new schedule in September. He'll be working from 5:45 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. with Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday off. Now I wish I wasn't going to be working. Being at home with kids is a lot better when the working spouse is on a day shift. I learned this in my first marriage.

But anyway, we'll deal with it.

The 4th

Liam is beside himself. He is already dressed at 8:00, despite shunning clothing most days. He is certain that it isn't too early to go get fireworks, and he really wants to wake Tierney. He is talking nonstop. It will be a long day.

Don't let the picture fool you. He is wound up!