My Life

long time, no talk.

It's been quiet around here...for a year...or two. I think about writing from time to time, but something usually comes up and the thought disappears as quickly as it came. I have needed this year break (ok, two years...let's be real, three posts in '10 hardly counts as a journal) partly because life just felt crazy, but mostly to give myself some space from other's opinions as we made some significant life changes for our family. Sometimes scrutiny can skew your perspective, and I didn't want any chance of that happening. But now, 18 months later we are settled in our new life and I feel like it's time to put the memories that are flying by DOWN before they are gone, and I've forgotten...because I tend to forget a lot these days. :) That's what this journal has always been about, and I know even a year from now I'll be so thankful I took the time. I intend to take this back up soon. Probably a few months still, but soon. 

"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep a record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another...until they represent a lifetime of special experiences. "

                                                                                                            -Gordon B. Hinckley

 

farewell, 2010.

In 2010 I stopped writing in my online journal. It happened because a multitude of reasons, but I'm here to atone for my sins and get my journal back on track. I have several posts that were started and left in the draft folder, so they may appear randomly over the next few days. Don't mind me. Gotta do a little housekeeping around here. Sidebar photos are lacking a child (ahem!), important things have come and gone with no documentation, and there is no hope of redeeming myself at this point, so I'm just going to move forward with a smile. It's all good.

In 2010 I did NOT GET FAMILY PICTURES. Seriously...there is something wrong here. I am a photographer. Why can I not get a picture of my FAMILY!? I'm going to fix this one this year. It has to happen.

In 2010 Elijah and I became serious gardeners, and I think our garden rocked. There were a few things that didn't quite pan out, but for the most part I was really pleased. This year we're hoping to take it one step further and start our plants in our own greenhouse...that has yet to be built. ;) There is nothing more delicious than a veggie that you grew. We ate like kings this summer, and I'm already scheming what things I want to plant this coming spring. Now if I can just get SOME people to eat more veggies.

In 2010 I became the Mother of a ten year old. Today in fact. Liam is ten...and I can hardly believe it. I remember so clearly taking him home from the hospital to our freezing cold house in Smyrna, rocking him in my chair, taking naps with him...the happy blond baby. He also has glasses now. Poor thing didn't have a chance with his blind parents. He looks really cute...er...HANDSOME. Lately he is testing his limits, but still he reads me the best out of all of my kids. He just knows what I need and most of the time is more than willing to give it. I don't give him enough credit most of the time, but he's a loving, happy boy, and I'm a lucky mom to have him in my life. Now if he'll just pick up his dirty clothes...

In 2010 Milo drew even more. There just isn't a moment of the day when he isn't drawing something. I find dozens of papers daily strewn around the house covered with comics and drawings. He is completely disorganized and is constantly asking "where is a pen?" "where are my markers?". He looks the most like me but his personality is so much like his Dad it amazes me. He's doing great in school and picks things up quickly. He's learning how fun it is to have friends, and spends a lot of his time asking for them to come over. 

In 2010 Jude has done wonderfully. He's strong, smart, stubborn, gregarious, and fiercely loyal. He has been HOSPITAL STAY FREE for over 18 months now. I am much calmer when he plays in the dirt, or when we pass by someone smoking on the sidewalk...and I think that has helped him to relax a little more too. He had a great deal of testing done this year, we spent time at Primary Children's in Utah getting a second opinion on the brain surgery that he needs, and also we had the fun time of taking him for a few rounds of sleep studies. He's very solemn and focused when he's at the hospital, conversing with the Dr's and Nurses, telling them he's aware of what they're doing and directs them to how he wants things done. For now we are still deciding which Dr will be doing his surgery, so at this point we're not scheduled, though I'm anxious to get it behind him so he can continue to get healthy and forget about the painful few years he had. Jude is a rock.

In 2010 my baby turned one. And I will forever feel the guilt of not documenting the whole entire last year of his life! Ewan is not one to be pushed around. He has been asserting his independence in a big way the last few months and I feel we're in for some fun. He simply isn't content with being a baby, he's a big boy, and you'd better get out of his way. He got a clean bill of health from our Cardio Dr this Spring, the hole in his heart officially closed enough that they don't feel surgery will be necessary. How great is that!? He is teething right now and is pretty clingy and frustrating to be around...I'm anxious for Spring to show so he can be let out to the yard to run. He wanders around all day chatting in his jabbering language, emptying out every cupboard and bookshelf. He requires attention, or he'll destroy the house in a matter of minutes.

In 2010 I learned to make better decisions about what holds my time. I'm better at saying no when things will affect my ability to be the best mom I can be. That has had the unfortunate consequence of me missing out on certain things I may have enjoyed, and becoming more distant in friendships, but then I look at the four little boys jumping around me and I realize those things just don't matter right now. Everything has a season, right?

In 2010 we chose FAMILY. After a difficult few months Elijah and I spent many nights down on our knees and decided finally that we needed to change our job situation. We loved the company he worked for, but we hated the days and night spent apart from each other. Elijah worked a mile away, yet spent 85% of his life there. He and I were becoming strangers. Our boys were growing up so fast...and he was just not around. It was a painful, emotional change, but we knew without a doubt it was the choice we were supposed to make, and we were compelled to move forward. In the end of August he gave notice, and he is now working from his home office independently as a Video Producer, sub contracting himself out to many different companies and working on a variety of projects. He is relaxed, he is confident, he is driven, and he is the incredibly talented and ambitious person that I married. Best of all, I feel like we've come back as a team stronger than ever. We don't know what the future holds, but regardless we're walking there together. 

So here's to 2011. I'm not a resolution kind of girl, but I will say that I have many hopes for this upcoming year, and I'm excited for every minute of it.

missing in action.

September? Really? I posted last in July. In fact, I believe this is only my third post this entire year. It's hard for me to believe...my old friend has been neglected so badly.

I miss this.

I miss dumping the contents of my brain a few times a week.

I miss going back and reading the tiny things about my family and our life that I've already forgotten because life is so hectic and moving so fast.

I want to come back, but so many things have been so complicated, and I just haven't been comfortable laying it all out here with so many questions still unanswered.

But I will soon, because it is what it is, and someday I'll want to look back and remember these times...even though I want nothing to do with them right now. I'll keep saying this...SOON. I'll be back. Soon.

I'm sorry, Boys...for the hole that will be in our family history. 2010 has been one heck of a year. Change, decisions, priorities, but most importantly...FAMILY. I take comfort in that statement...this year has been about US.

I'll be back.

my life.

It's 9:04 am.

So far today I've:

• kissed Lij goodbye at 6am
• started a load of laundry
• changed a diaper
• folded a load of towels
• checked email and updated my status on Facebook (deep thoughts today...lol)
• fed five hungry boys breakfast (a cousin is staying with us for a few days)
• emptied the dishwasher
• tried to find pieces of a missing lego ship
• soothed someone's hurt feelings
• loaded the dishwasher
• wiped the counters down
• paid two bills online
• wiped two bums
• started another load of laundry
• hugged a baby that bonked his head
• cleaned up spilled ice cream from last night's treats off the bathroom floor (why someone threw away their DQ cup in the upstairs bathroom trash will never be known...)
• fed the baby a bottle
• changed another diaper
• emailed a file to Lij...that turned out to be the wrong one
• looked for a USB key to no avail
• talked to the utility company
• talked to the bank
• talked to the auto insurance company
• wiped caramel off the downstairs garbage can (remind me to skip taking kids to DQ the next time)
• talked to the auto insurance company again
• talked to the life insurance company
• talked again to the bank
• mediated a fight between a little boy and a big boy
• put a baby to sleep

and finally

• made a list of to do's for today, none of which are things I already accomplished this morning

...and I wonder why I can't seem to find time to update my family journal. :)

and so it goes.

One week becomes two weeks, two weeks turn into a month, and then all of the sudden I realize I've let my life start flying by without stopping for a few minutes to put the important memories down. I blame the baby, the holidays, a broken hard drive, and lots more, but I committed to myself to in 2002 to keep my journal current, and every few years I get way off track. So no more excuses...it's time to jump back on the bandwagon and try to play a little catchup. I have some posts started from the last 6 weeks that were waiting for pictures to be uploaded or links to be fixed, so things might appear out of nowhere, but they'll be chronologically filed. So if it's slightly confusing for a few days, that's what's up.

I'll leave with a picture...I found this one from a few weeks ago, Ewan had just discovered the mirror on the top of his swing and spent the day talking and smiling to himself. He's such a sunshine in our lives. :)

six weeks.

I realize I've been away, and I know I'm going to regret this hole in my book after this year is over and I've printed out my journal to be bound. But, such is life...and I will say for posterity, life is so good. I'm so in love with my little family, and despite how busy things are, they're just working really, really well. I am so tired every single night and am running constantly every day, my house is a mess and my laundry is piled to the ceiling...but things are really wonderful. Hopefully I'll find a day in the next few weeks to play catch up so I can have some of these memories on paper for later, but if it doesn't happen, at least I can know that the reasons I'm not here have everything to do with how much we're enjoying life right now.

And a picture for six weeks...This boy couldn't be sweeter and easier to keep happy. I am so thankful for good sleep!! He's growing too fast...don't you just want to kiss those cheeks?

 

two weeks.

Where is the time going! It's already moving too fast. It's just so busy around here, and the days are flying, and I can't seem to slow them down. But thankfully I'm finding a little bit of time every day to lay down and snuggle this sweetie, and enjoy his quiet, tiny newborn noises, and kissing his little cheeks. The boys are getting acclimated to him, we're not hearing the concerns and complaints every time he cries or is frustrated, which takes a lot of stress off my mind. Jude is completely in love with him, following me around the house begging to hold and kiss him, which I haven't been able to accommodate the last week because he's had a runny nose and a cough and I DO NOT want the baby to get sick. It's hard for Jude to understand...he tells me several times a day "But Mom, I'm all better!". Poor guy. I hope he gets well soon so he can kiss and hug Ewan again. He's having a rough time dealing with the lack of attention I normally pay to him, and I'm making sure to spend Ewan's sleeping times trying to give each of the boys a little one on one.

The last few days have run pretty smoothly, but I can see that keeping on top of the house is going to be my challenge. I have laundry piled high in the playroom, it's so wrinkly from sitting all week that I think I have to put it back through the dryer again. Ugh. Can't we all just have two outfits? I'm trying to get the kitchen cleaned each day, and the front room picked up, and that helps me feel like things aren't too out of control. Thankfully I've got dinners in the freezer so we've been eating pretty well, and I'm trying to get my chore chart finished up so there's a set schedule of things the boys need to accomplish each day, that should help a lot. I'm not too worried about it though, I don't have any plans for dinner parties at my house anytime soon, and I'm hoping anyone that stops in will be understanding and not look too closely at the dust accumulating on everything and the floors that desperately need a mop. :)

We have our echo and ultrasound coming up this next week with the Seattle Cardio team, and we're hoping for some great news and a clean bill of health with his heart problems. He's back up to birth weight as of Tuesday and is eating and sleeping better than any baby we've had yet. He's so sweet and relaxed and just wants to have us around him all the time. Whenever Elijah speaks in a room he cranes his neck to find the voice, and he cuddles up tight in my neck when I hold him. We love him so much! 

We are so thankful for EVERYONE and for all the meals, emails, calls, sweet gifts, and thoughtful things that have been given to our family the last two weeks. Thank you, thank you! We appreciate it so very much.

I hear a baby waking...so over and out!

ewan macinnis stanfield.

We are happy to say we've finally given this boy a name...

He's named Ewan for my Pop-pop Manning, (Ewan is the Gaelic form of Eugene), and MacInnis is Elijah's mother's maiden name. It's said "you-in", if you're having a hard time with the pronunciation. :)

We love this little Ewan boy...he is absolutely the best baby, and having him here makes our family feel so much more complete...can't imagine life without him now!

More pictures coming Sunday. Elijah and I are going to spend some time shooting with him this weekend SANS big boys. Took me about 3 hours to get everyone out of the room and quiet long enough for this ONE shot. HA!! :)

home.

So much to catch up on from the last few days! He's finally here, and everything went great. I started some updates but am going to take the opportunity I have right this second to lay with a sleepy baby to get some rest. I'll post them all later tonight or tomorrow. Meanwhile, we're still sorting out his name and should have that decided by tonight...I have to turn in the birth certificate tomorrow. Oh the name. We really never intended for it to be this way, but who knew naming your 4th boy could be so hard? What drama... ;)

Long and short of it...we're all doing great. We got released quicker than we expected, the Baby is doing much better than expected, I'm feeling fab, and the family is thrilled to be all back together in our house. So now we're going to relax and enjoy a quiet Sunday all together!

 

Mama and Boy....after delivery 10/23...

quick update.

Got a call from Dr. O late last night. He called in for my labs and said my white count was way too high and I had some issues with my iron being severely deficient. I don't get the iron thing...but whatever. Since I still had a fever and was STILL having regular contractions he sent me back to L&D at about 8:30 last night to go get on the monitors and get checked out by the Dr who's on call for him. The baby's heart was actually a little low this time, and my contractions were about every 4 minutes, so after the initial 45 minutes they decided to keep me on for another hour to watch. They gave me a bucket (REALLY!) of cranberry juice to drink to wake him up and to see if my contractions would slow down.

The nurse was very sweet...but while adjusting my monitors she casually mentioned that once the baby checked out they'd send me down to the ER to be looked at for the fever. I completely panicked and let her know if she was planning to take me there she might as well just take me to the front door because I was NOT going back to there for the second time in a week, and that they had already determined I didn't have strep, or any type of flu. I told her I've just had a fever for four days now and the only reason I was in L&D was because I was having contractions and slow movement, both of which most likely were being caused by the FEVER, and the ER didn't have the equipment to check the baby out, so they wouldn't be able to help me at all. Plus, who wants to go back to the same place, and wait for two hours just to be told I have a virus or infection and they don't know what it is but to "get out of here quick because everyone's got the FLU!".

So she did an amazing thing. SHE ORDERED AN IV AND LABS FOR ME up in L&D, gave me fluids and after the labs came back the OB on call decided to give me some antibiotics, watch the baby for another hour, and once he perked up, then they sent me home. YAY! My CBC today looks much MUCH better than yesterday's, and so whatever I had I'm starting to kick, plus my contractions are back to only 1-2 an hour now. It's amazing what a little fluid can do for a girl. I've been drinking like a fish, but my fever has been so constant it's been near to impossible to keep up with what I'm losing. I woke up this morning feeling 100% better than I have since Monday, and I think I might actually be able to get off the couch and do some dishes and MOM work today. Thank goodness...because my house is needing it! The baby is moving around like normal again, and my plan is to just continue to drink lots of water and juice, and try to get outside and . I have a handful of things that need to be accomplished still before I go in next week, and Elijah is home now for the next few weeks to be my wingman. Hooray for that! 

I've officially quarantined my house and family for the next four days until I go in, no one comes in, and we're not going out except for essentials. Everyone around us has something and with the hospital being so strict I can't chance not having Elijah with me during labor because he's got a cold or a cough! So we're laying low. I really can't remember a fall like this ever, with so many people being sick with something or another. I feel like I'm having a baby during the bubonic plague or something. :) 

Time to fold some laundry!

almost done.

Well, I did it.

I made it to the end, and of course I'm STILL pregnant...but that's ok because I'm sick, and who wants to have a baby when they're sick? Not me.

My Dr went out of town yesterday, so I'm trying to hang on through this weekend and then I'm on the schedule for Wednesday to be induced. It's been an interesting few days.

I went into the hospital on Tuesday with a concern that the baby hadn't moved all day, and I had a fever and contractions, but no other symptoms. My OB's office asked me to go in to the hospital since they were closing and my Dr would be over there delivering. After being monitored for a few minutes and told that the baby's heart rate was too high, I was suddenly kicked out of OB with a mask and a wheelchair and stuck into the ER full of sick, dying, hacking people. This was because I "had a fever and the OB nurses didn't want me on their floor if I MIGHT have the flu". I tried hard to be really understanding, I wouldn't want sick people around the floor if I was delivering. They said they wouldn't let me back there until I tested negative for H1N1. So I sat in the ER for an hour surrounded by moaning, masked, sneezing individuals, and then 3 more hours of waiting for test results and Dr's to come talk to me about them, I was given a clean bill of health, no flu or strep and discharged back to OB so they could figure out why the baby wouldn't move. Ironically, then OB refused to take me because now I'd been down with all the sick people. Yeah, thanks guys...YOUR FAULT. Seriously, the nonsense that goes on in this particular hospital is crazy. The ER Doctor was so mad at OB he was about ready to spit. He couldn't believe they sent me down at 40 weeks pregnant into the ER just because I was running a low grade fever. He said "Lab could have run the swab with you sitting in OB exam!".  I had NO other symptoms. No tickle in my throat, clean lungs, clear nose, NOTHING. Thankfully that Dr. was wonderful to me and put me in a new corner of the hospital that was empty and as he put it "a lot more germ free than the rest of the hospital". He gave me a few bags of fluid to help me feel a bit better, and my contractions went away completely.

I never got OB to allow me back to get monitored, so finally my Dr got out of surgery and he set me up for a non-stress test and an an ultrasound to check the baby out down in radiology. The baby's heart rate had come down considerably, but he still refused to move even when poked by me or the radiologist's transducer. Finally I mentioned to her that I hadn't been allowed any food and the last time I'd eaten or had something to drink was at least 5 hours prior...so she ran and snagged me a few cans of juice and some crackers. As soon as I ate it, he started to wiggle around and he passed his test just fine after a few more minutes. They said they're assuming the fever I'd had all day just sort of caused him to hibernate, and it probably didn't help that I hadn't had any calories for 7 hours. Gee thanks.

ANYWAY. It's always gotta be something...doesn't it?

So since I was sitting in the ER with all the hordes of H1N1 people, my Dr went ahead and put me on Tamiflu, so I should be done with my course of that by Sunday. I went back in yesterday for a bunch of other tests to try to figure out the fever which keeps coming back. I'm trying my best to keep on top of my liquids so I don't get dehydrated again. I'm so NOT having this baby while my OB is gone!

This weekend I'm just going to take it easy and stay off my feet as much as possible. Elijah will be home and is going to get the kids out since they've been holed up all week here with me. The weather is supposed to be beautiful, and I hope we can open the windows and get some fresh air before the cold sets in again. I'm not QUITE ready for it to be winter.

Thanks for all the emails and phone calls, sorry I'm slow to get back. I promise we'll be swift to update when things get going. For now plan on hearing sometime around Wednesday!

ten days.

And then we'll be a family of 6!

Typepad has been down for me the last week and a half. Probably good, because I'm getting to that point where there's not much to do but wipe counters down thirty times a day and feel sorry for myself! Ok, not really, I'm actually doing fine. My biggest problem right now is the lack of sleep I'm experiencing, which is something new for me this time around. I usually sleep fairly well until the end, but I'm lucky to get in a few hours here and there the last few weeks. It's frustrating, and makes me super grouchy which is hard when I have to turn around and be with three little rambunctious boys all day, every day by myself on very little sleep.

I'm due in three days, but since there's a discrepancy between my date and the ultrasound date, we were waiting at the pediatric cardiologist's request until the ultrasound date, before we induce, which is the 20th. They want him to go full term. I was secretly hoping I'd go on my own before then, but today my Dr let me know he's now going out of town from tomorrow until next Tuesday, so they won't be inducing me until next Wednesday. I'm such a planner I went out of the office really disappointed, there's so many different things that have to make this labor/delivery work out just right. In my mind I can't deliver without him or I'll most likely end up with the C-section I'm supposed to be having, so I sort of felt panicked in the office today. But, it's just two more days, and I'm sure everything will be fine. I know I need to just relax and not be so worried about everything being perfectly planned. I just want things to go well, and this has been such a long pregnancy for so many reasons. I just want it to end on a good note. I'm going to make myself a new list of things to accomplish this week and keep my mind off of everything else. I'm sure it will all be fine. Just think how SPOTLESS my house will be come next week! ;)

I took the boys to my final Ultrasound this morning to see the baby, and although they were pretty fidgety, they seemed to think seeing his face was pretty fun. He was super pouty, and he had his fists up covering his eyes the whole time. He looks so cute and chubby. They're predicting from the ultrasound he's already weighing over 7lbs, so it seems he'll most likely be my biggest baby yet. I think just by the ultrasounds he looks the most like Milo, but we shall see. We are all so excited to have him here, and I am SO EXCITED to sleep on my stomach again! HOORAY!

My friend Kimberly is throwing me a shower this week, which should be a fun distraction. I'm hoping to get out also with some friends for dinner, maybe one last date with Elijah, and I'll probably do a bunch of walking hoping to make things go smoother during labor next week. Everything is packed, my bags are finally ready, and the baby's crib and things are all washed and put away. I AM READY. :)

We'll update the blog first with any news or changes, and get pictures up here as soon as we have anything. Elijah has an incredibly busy week ahead working some late nights, and then we'll be able to take it easy next week and get this baby here. 

That's it for now!

september

It's almost the END of September. That's just downright crazy to me. I can't believe how fast the last few months have flown by. The pool closed, backpacks and new jeans came out, and we're well into our new fall schedule. I'm happy with it...although the house seems a little chaotic still because we have less activities outside of the house, and the messes are more frequent IN the house, I think it's going to work out just fine. Liam is in third grade now, and Milo is in first. We stayed with the program we did last year, they're gone 1 day a week to school, and then the remaining four days in the week they do work here. It's a challenge having them all home ALL the time, and I relish Tuesdays because it feels like the only "break" for me to actually get something done. But I also love having the boys around me all the time, and after the baby is settled in I think I'll have more energy to keep up with everything a little better. We spent the evening out on the tramp last night and I made everyone stick their heads in for a picture...I can't believe how fast these little men of mine are growing up. And yes, that was the only face we could get out of Jude. He's not one to cooperate with photographs... ;)

We had a big surprise last weekend when the boundaries were changed in our area and were told that we'd have to start going to a different ward. We don't know anyone in that ward, and the change at this time when everything else is so crazy really didn't make me very thrilled. Elijah and I were both released from our callings, and I'm trying to see that as a good thing...we will have a little break from our busy church responsibilities to focus on our growing family, and it will be nice to sit together in church once again. Elijah's been such a trooper the last almost four years taking care of all the boys by himself while I played organ for the meetings, and I think once I get past the discomfort of being the new person that I'll be able to accept the change a little better. Eeek.

In baby news the time is ticking by fast. Less than four weeks to go. I decided last weekend I REALLY needed to figure out what I had and what I needed so I had my sister in law drag his dresser down to the driveway, I sprayed it all nice and lovely white, I got all his things washed, folded and put away. I have to say folding the tiny things really got me excited...it's so close now. I can't wait to welcome this guy OUT OF MY BELLY and into our family. We're still without a name, and I don't see one coming to us anytime soon, so hopefully we'll have some sort of epiphany when he's born. Tomorrow I go for my final paperwork at the hospital and the tour of the birthing center, and then I have an OB appt. Things have been going pretty well the last few weeks, I'm tired and so very sore, but he seems to be doing really well. He's still on track growth-wise, and is constantly kicking away. I made a list of the things I still need and I'm going to work on that this weekend. I also need to take a run to get a few little things for me for the hospital...I really like my bag to be well packed, and I need a new pair of pj's so I don't frighten all the staff with my faded yoga pants and husband shirts. Besides that, it's just make a few more meals for the freezer and try to convince the kids to PLEASE KEEP THE HOUSE CLEAN so I don't have to spend what little energy I can muster up in a day's time cleaning up unnecessary messes. (as I type this I see about 67 matchbox cars in a line from the couch where I'm at all the way down the stairs...haha!) I can't wait to sleep on my stomach, I can't wait to take a shower BY MYSELF, I can't wait for the heartburn to settle down, and I can't wait to hold our little guy. I actually adore the newborn stage when they need you so much, and I'm looking forward to getting to know him.

It sounds like everyone is asleep now...so I'd better take advantage of that and head to bed myself. I'll report back after my appointments... :)

easton harker.

Newest nephew...one of three boys to be born this year in the Stanfield clan. This is about 8 hours after he was born and he sat the entire time staring up at me with big, wide eyes. I don't think I've ever seen a newborn that alert. Such a cutie! He was 7.2 and 19.5 inches long...just the size Jude was at birth. He'll be getting two new boy cousins in a few weeks...my sister in law Becky and I will probably deliver our boys within days of each other, and since we all live close by it should be fun to see these three grow up. Taking a few shots of him at the hospital has made me all antsy to photograph my little guy...can't wait for a built-in subject! Better get my camera cleaned and my lens tuned!

family update.

I have so much to catch up on, and such a backlog of pictures to share. But in the spirit of not getting any  more behind I'm moving forward and will try and get up the past stuff later. Yeah right. ;)

School is here!! The boys are so excited, and I can't believe it. The summer went so fast. I will be honest and say I'm glad though. Partly because being pregnant through the summer heat was a little less than enjoyable, but also after spending every day in June and July and (part of August) at the pool, I sort of fizzled out of dealing with the wet towels, sunscreen and snacks.  I started taking the kids to the new library every day instead...Air conditioning + zillions of books + 15 new computers= happy boys. The pool is closing next week, and school starts for us the following Tuesday. We went to all our parent/teacher meetings and got all signed up for classes this week. I still have lots of supplies to get and materials that aren't here yet, but Elijah and I have once again moved things around and are hoping to get the schoolroom all set up and ready this weekend. We play musical rooms a lot it seems, but I think this set up will work really well. I've sent boxes and boxes to Goodwill of clothes, toys, and STUFF that has been collecting in the closet, and next week I'm going to go through all of the baby clothes I have and figure out what's missing so I can get that taken care of too.

Our garden has gone crazy the last three weeks, we have enormous watermelons, cantaloupes coming out our ears, zucchini, yellow squash, and tons and tons of cherry tomatoes. I was surprised my Early Girl tomatoes didn't do too well this year, and I got almost no romas, but the little tomatoes fill a big bowl almost everyday. I'm simmering a batch of tomato sauce as I'm sitting here, and I hope to get at least a few flats of salsa canned before the summer is out. I've spent a lot of time plotting out how to make our garden better next year and planning for the things I want to grow that we didn't have time for this spring. Elijah has worked so hard to get the gardens built, and I can't wait to use them to their full potential. I didn't do any fruit canning this year besides a few jams and jellies, but after doing about three trillion batches of apples last year I doubt I'll need to for awhile. My shelves are stocked downstairs and the freezer is packed with Cherries, Strawberries and other assorted fruit we froze for smoothies. Should be a tasty winter. :)

We are spending the holiday weekend "Laboring" around the home front, getting projects finished inside and out, and putting everything where it belongs. YAY! Here's to a clean and tidy house...Happy Labor Day to you!