middle of a vacation.

We have been at home this week... vacation time! I am absolutely having a blast with the kids. Today was day three of hanging out by the pool with the kids. So far, in the past three days, I have logged in 10 hours at the pool.

This is what happens when little boys go to timeout under trees after they skip naps.

My kids look like little brown biscuits. That is what I have been calling them. They are so toasty, and sweet. I wish I could take pictures of tan lines - but I would get in trouble.

Tomorrow, we are off to the houseboat for some family time. We are going to stay for a few days. The kids are super excited. We have done such a bad job of taking them to the lake. We had them down a couple of weeks ago and Emma saw a jet ski.... she said, so excitedly, "Look! A water motorcycle!"

It is gonna hurt when I have to go back to work next week. I am NOT looking forward to it. I like my productivity in the office. But, boy, do I miss my babies.

It's Friday and Eli's Home!

Is that exclamation point a good one or a bad one?

It could be interpreted as this:

Eli's Home! :)

or

Eli's Home! :(

Just kidding, Eli. You get the happy face. We missed you so much. You are a joy (most of the time).

My vacation starts today at 3 p.m. I will go home, clean house until about 5 p.m. I need to go to the grocery store. Then, I am off with some girlfriends for a get-together. It is a dad's night with the kids. I am hoping to spend some time talking, laughing and just hanging out. With no thoughts of school, dirty laundry or misspellings on the church bulletin. (Some people were just plain nitpicky this week, I tell ya :)) Nothing like an 8:02 a.m. phone call that informs you that your bulletin did not match up with the previous night's announcements at church.

My thoughts for next week are this: I hope to spend some time playing with the kids, at the pool, taking naps, jumping on the trampoline and being a mommy.

We will see how it goes.

A place for everything and everything in it's place.

I have some friends that are missionaries, and they write a blog. I read this just this morning... and I really liked the thought.

" A place for everything and everything in it's place"

This statement was made in reference to keeping a clean home.

There are many different places that I can apply this principle.

For example, with my recent weight issues, I think about those parts of my body that were affected by childbirth. I would like some things back in their normal place(s). Where they are supposed to be. Oh, well.

And, on the family side, I can apply this to the actions and attitudes of my children. I have to teach them that there is a time and a place for everything, right?

As far as my house goes, well, I have always liked this. When we had ONE kid, it was easy. I love to know where things go. I ABHOR disorganization. Unfortunately, my family of five does not feel the same way as I do. I really don't understand that why cabinet doors are not shut after plates are taken out, why empty juice boxes can't go into the trash can, and why chairs are not pushed up after the sitter-inner has gotten up from said spot.

As I have examined my thoughts on this subject just recently, I know why I do not like disorganisation. It comes from my childhood, when my family and I lived in "that house".

You know... "that house" that you passed by on the school bus, the one with the un-mowed yard, with junk sitting outside, the paint peeling off? Well, that was my house. I absolutely hated growing up in that environment. I wanted parents who took care of what we had - or didn't have - and I wanted cleanliness and organization. I knew- JUST KNEW - that when I grew up and got married, and had my own children, that my kids would not go thru what I did.

And they don't.

When I get angry, stressed out, or frusterated, I clean. I mop. I dust. I like to do housework.
A clean house is a happy house. That is my thoughts.

Well, this has taken a whole 'nother direction that what I meant for it to. I could tell some stories. But I won't. Not today, anyways.