Fair Warning: Venting to Follow

I'm feeling fairly depleted today. I think it's just the crash after the high of all that visiting, undivided attention from my husband over the weekend, and of course birthday fun. Do I sound like a selfish 5 year old? Well, I hang out with a two year old all day, so I think 5 is pretty good!

Really though. It must be time to regroup and refocus. I swear between yesterday and today I put Charles in timeout probably 803 times, plus additional discipline as needed. It is tiring. But then he gets out of timeout, sits on the floor to play, and pats a nice spot right next to him, saying, "Sit on floor, Mama." So I try to do that.

I even have something to look forward to. Peter said yes! So we're spending the weekend with my grandparents, and Saturday morning Peter, Charles, and I will head to Lake Michigan to enjoy the sun, sand, and water. There are few things I like better than watching Charles play at beach.

So my current mood can no doubt be attributed to the upcoming move. The upheaval of our life once more. This knowledge is even more stressful to me as we have not yet found our next home. We're going to look the second weekend of August, so I still have three more weeks to let that stress me out. I know I'll be calmer once we have signed some sort of contract, but we won't be doing that until at most three weeks before we move! Does that sound stressful to anyone else? Maybe that's just the way of apartment hoppers.

I'm also wanting to crochet, scrapbook, read, write, and so on. But I'm not getting a whole lot of free time these days, and when I do I often suddenly feel all inspiration and energy gone.

But all these things, these feelings, are passing, I know. And so is the precious time while my children are still so small and safe in my arms. So even when I'm feeling down I try to remember that. This is a tough time in our life, sure, but it's also an amazingly special time, too.

Off to make pancakes this morning.

On my BRAND NEW nonstick pancake griddle!!

Thank you, Peter!

Babies are always doing something cute. Currently when Monica finds herself on her stomach and she gets excited, like when I come in the room after a nap, she pulls her arms and legs up into the air and sort hovers with a big grin on her face. It's so stinking cute. Makes me want to eat her up!

Also she and Charles are interacting more and more. Charles makes her crack up which of course brings a smile to my face!

Though I did step up the productivity a notch yesterday afternoon the whole day was kind of, well, just not-as-good-as-the-day-before. I told my sister that's exactly why one shouldn't have those fabulous everything's-going-my-way kind of days because the next day even though it's a perfectly ordinary day seems worse than it is.

We tried to go to story time. Got there and it was cancelled. Charles still enjoyed some lemon sorbet though. And I found a hotdog place on the walk back to the car, so I enjoyed a chili cheese dog.

I started laundry during nap time, missed the bottom step, landed sideways on my foot and crashed to the ground. I writhed in pain for a few minutes wondering if my foot was going to be broken. But it wasn't and it only hurts the slightest bit this morning.

I did the ironing, too.

So it really wasn't at all a bad day. It just felt like one.

This morning we're going to the library after Monica's am nap. I just Beth's post about their typical summer days over there. And I'm kind of trying to do something each day after Monica's morning nap, too, now that we're home to stay for a while. We've done the park, an attempt at story time that landed us back at the park, and today we'll try the library. I'm supposed to be reading The Taming of the Shrew with Theresa, so I NEED to pick it up.

Also I'm buying new towels, but I feel kind of like a split personality regarding this. I have returned an entire purchase and bought a whole new one which I have now also decided to return. I will make a decision and stick with it!! And I'll have a beautiful bathroom to show for it!

A Peter Spotting

Today is different than yesterday. Yesterday I was SO motivated. I'd sit with Charles for awhile, and then up to do the kitchen or clean the bathroom. Off to the park, the mall. It was a busy productive and quickly-passing day. Today not so much. I guess we have already been to the store (Monica needed some prunes for breakfast), but there is still plenty to do around here, and I don't feel like doing it at the moment. I already know Peter is going to be late-late tonight, so it will be a long day anyway.

Well, I'll aim for a productive afternoon anyway. I'm FINALLY taking Charlie to story time at the local ice cream parlor. They have lemon sorbet, so I think I'll even buy him a treat afterwards. Monica should be up just in time to nurse before heading out.

And I already know I'll be tackling Laundry during naptime. Oh yeah, and ironing. So I guess I'll just be productive later.

This morning when we drove to the grocery store, we got to see Peter! He was still standing on the platform waiting for the train. So that was a fun surprise! We waved to him from the car, and then watched from the grocery parking lot as the train took him to the city. I told him thanks for working this morning (I try to do that daily) because as he was leaving Charles kept coming back for more kisses, and I said there was no way I'd be able to leave these kids every day for so long as Peter does in order to care take of us. We are blessed.

Living the Good Life

Fabulously productive morning so far. And so, so beautiful. We walked to the park and had the whole place to ourselves for half an hour. It was so gorgeous out with the breeze blowing and the sun shining. My kids were happy as could be. Moments like that are so great. Thank you, Peter, for working so hard so that I can enjoy them often.

I am having a fabulous birthday! My husband has been spoiling me all day, buying breakfast and cleaning the kitchen. He ordered a couple of gifts for me, so between that and J&C's gifts I'll have packages rolling in all week long. Packages in the mail are definitely one of my favorite things!! And celebrating my birthday for a week is a long-standing tradition, too. ;o)

We went to the zoo as a family today and met my aunt Ann there. It was quite fun to get out of the house and do something different, even if the zoo was a bit crowded and hot!!

I also got some real prayer time in this morning at church. Monica naps so often and at such times that makes going to mass as a family difficult sometimes. But it was really nice to be alone today and just pray.

I'm so grateful for my life.

Timing

I've got four new books coming my way! I received a Amazon gift card from Joe and Crystal, so I went shopping right away. I should be set on reading material for awhile. Although I didn't end up ordering any fiction or novels at all, so I might still have to find some of that for entertainment.

I bought a timer today so I can really and honestly regulate my time online. After spending a week back home with family and away from the computer, I realized immediately upon my return home that I spend way too much time on it when I'm all alone here. So now my time is timed.

Tomorrow we're going to the zoo with my aunt Ann. I'm so excited. We have a pass and haven't been yet this year! And I'm trying to convince Peter that we want to go to my grandparents' and the beach next weekend. We'll see.

There will be no shortage of things to do today. Laundry, decluttering, and cleaning will definitely make the list.

I'm thinking I should squeeze in a walk to the park, too.

I got some birthday money from my sweet inlaws, which I intend to hoard until I know for certain what I want to do with it!

My ideal housing situation would be to rent a house within walking distance of a train. That would work out nicely for us. Going to start the search.

The End

Well today our visit comes to an end. It has been a blast, as usual. Monica took a day to adjust when we moved from my sister's to my mom's house, but otherwise both kids slept great the whole time we were here.

Mom and I enjoyed a couple of movies together in the evenings. I finished Jane Eyre!!!! I declare it fabulous, allowing for the fact that the beginning was unexpected to me and a little bit slow, but totally worth it!

We're taking a new route home today because I am always trying to avoid the unavoidable Chicago traffic jam. We'll see how it goes.

I'm sad to be leaving, but it's time to go. I have a real life I need to attend to. I need to catch up on laundry and ironing (I wonder what my poor husband has been wearing to work?!). I need to stop eating all the good junk food that usually comes with visiting and parties and social time. I need to pay our bills. And we need to make some serious housing decisions pronto (we got a month extension on our lease so we won't move until the end of August).

So until J & C come home to visit and bring little Austin, who won't be so little anymore, we'll stay nearer to home.

Playdate Pictures

The Schaps came over to visit us yesterday afternoon. It was another lovely summer day in the country, and it was so nice to get to visit with Annie, Anja and Greta for awhile.

Charles in the pool - sans diaper, but you can't tell! Big beach ball!

Here have some apple juice. I'll help.Annie and the large goat, Mutt.

Annie and Anja enjoying some strawberry pie. It was the first strawberry pie Mom had made. I thought it turned out really well.

We headed over to see the goats. Charlie and Anja held hands on the way on the hill.

Charles was rather scared of the various animals, but not Anja! She's not scared of anything. Miss Mary Grace, just hanging out.

Funny face for the camera.

Lovey-Dovey

I really had to resist the urge to turn the car around and head back to the train depot on Monday morning after I dropped Peter off. I knew that he was just sitting in the station, right there within my reach and that he wouldn't be for long. And I just wanted to go back for one last kiss. Alas! There were waking hungry children awaiting me at my parents', so I kept the car in forward motion. I'm really ready for another kiss now though.

Missing him.

And loving him.