mini vacay

 

I had this crazy idea to run away for the weekend. So we loaded the van in the rain and headed to St. George, Utah. 

 Our first stop was Sand Hollow. I made my husband proud by getting in a kayak. The secret you see is to put a six year old on your lap and have her paddle hehe. We had fun chasing the baby ducks and watching them run on the water. I laughed a good real laugh, and it was just what I needed. I only screamed twice, when waves ripples off of a near by boat causing the little floating device I was sitting in to toss back and forth. Unnerving. We had a picnic in the wind and covered ourselves in red dirt. Even the van enjoyed off roading in it. We had all of the children crossing their fingers that we wouldn't get stuck! Because dragging the two kayaks from our safe parking space to the water was torture and we were not about to drag them back. .. walking in the sand. .. tugging a handle rope. . . with a kayak full of an ice chest, towels etc. . . you get the picture.

It was just simple bliss. Can you hear my deep sigh of relief. I needed to let go of reality with going back to work and school and waiting for the paychecks to rain in, you know the feeling. Big sigh, go!

we survived day 2

We are only slightly moody and it will probably get worse as the week progress due to lack of sleep. But my biggest concern was getting the oldest to manage her time between piano, soccer and homework time today. And I am happy to report that our first Tuesday did not scare me away. Phew.

First day of school

 Dude. I am old. I have a 5th and 1st grader. . . . Dude. We have already had a homework fight. But everyone came home happy, reporting new friends with no names and a guy with yellow hair and a white beard who helped with lunchtime. Then there is the three year old who has just been crabby! Guess he was left out of the fun. I am once again the favorite lunch lady of course.

Quarter million dollar pool party

 Calvin's coworker rented a pool for his birthday party. And I usually say no to swimming because it is not my favorite. But then I felt bad because my kids didn't get in a pool all summer. And then I saw the pool, the saltwater, three slides, spa upstairs fancy pool and got my pretty little feet wet.

 And these are just some fuzzy pictures of the men in my life. Hope you enjoyed the last day of summer break!

Ode to a house.

 The chart that marked our growth is down.

 The sink that I pretended to do dishes at is empty.

 The can opener has reached its life span.

 The stairs that my sister would thump up. The stairs that I came down in my homecoming dress. The stairs that we all at one time or another fell down cursing them. The stairs that were entertainment when paired with a mattress, box or most recently blow up easter bunnies.

 Every place of the house is a memory. The time my son found paint and spread its cheerful color EVERYWHERE.

The room where we sisters put duct tape on the floor to separate our sides. It worked until I had to ask permission to cross to the bathroom. 

 The carpet dents that marked where we layed our sleepy heads and the cupboards where we kept children. 

We loved that house and we will love another. But it is okay to mourn it like a lost friend, a lot went on in those four walls.