4am

I lie awake watching the fan go 'round willing the night to quiet itself as my thoughts tumble over each other. I look at my husband sleeping beside me, the dear man that loves me. I think of my children dreaming in their beds...healthy, happy, safe. And we are not alone. My brother closest in age, his wife and child sleep here under our roof tonight. I am overcome as I think of this abundance in my life, the richness which surrounds me.

All of my brothers and sisters are near for the wedding. All of my parents and nieces and nephews too. People who have seen me through life. Ones I love. My heart is full.

The day arrives quickly. Someone comes to inspect and critique and pick at my home too soon. This home that has held my family tightly in its embrace for just more than 10 overflowing years. This home that has been a haven for me and my dearest people. Yet someone wishes to know everything that ever has or hasn't worked, everything and anything that could possibly be broken and it tugs at me. I want to shout out "Love this home!", it offers a place of refuge and comfort. In it you will find some of the greatest joys and perhaps sorrows too, but it will be home. The only one like it. Care for it, love it and it will give back to you.

Does it really have to be this much work?

I want to blog. I really do, but my head seems to be on backwards and there are plenty of other things that need doing.

I'd like to talk about how CRAZY stressful last week was. How on Thursday we closed on the new house, how Friday was Daniel's deadline (years in the coming), and how on Saturday we went under contract on this house.

I'd like to write about all the funny things my kids are doing. Also about the complaining that inevitably comes with summer. I'd like to write about all of our "lasts" here, but that would make me sad.

Yet, I just realized that I should probably not write much about anything and instead get to work. This is a monster of a project...this moving thing. I honestly have been pretending it wasn't going to be, until this evening when I realized the scope of it all. I now feel incapacitated by the sheer amount of work that awaits. Aaaaaaaaaaaaack!

FYI, the inspection is Monday morning at 8:30. It is scheduled for 3.5 hrs. Wish us luck.

Conflict

I read something the other day about the conflicting emotions of moving (and selling in our case). On one hand it's new and exciting and promising. Yet on the other it's sad and scary and unknown. That's how things are around here. A big jumbled bag of emotions.

Bittersweet.




But add to the bag that my dear friend Kerri's brother passed away last week and my heart and head don't know what to feel anymore.

Mmmmmmm.

I am proud of myself for using what I have!

Tonight I made a salad using the lettuce, nectarines (I don't think they're peaches anymore, even if they are a bit fuzzy), strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers and some (candied) pecans we had. We ate oranges and bananas on the side.

We drained and cracked open the coconut and shredded the meat. It was so hard! But for dessert we make Hello Dolly Bars with the fruit of our labors. Everyone helped and had a good time.

Everyone laughed when we played "I spy with my little eye". It's fun to watch a three-year-old attempt to play it. I wish we had more nights like tonight!

Bountiful Baskets

Today I tried Bountiful Baskets, a local food co-op, for the first time. I had to drive to Daybreak at 8:30 this morning. The truck was running late and due to the recital I couldn't come back at the later time. A nice stranger lady took pity on me and offered to get it for me. After a crazy day I picked it up this evening from her.


I love it! Take a look at what I got for $15.


1 head romaine
7 tomatoes
1 coconut
2 large cucumbers
1 pound small carrots
1 pint strawberries (some were bad)
6 oz blackberries
4 small yellow squash
10 small peaches
8 bananas
4 avocados
11 granny smith apples
3 large oranges

Sarah's First Dance Recital

It was a joy to go to Sarah's recital today. She loved it and we loved it. She danced too! (We weren't sure if she was going to get scared.) This last week she has seemed to be more comfortable dancing for us and others, so I was hopeful. On our way there she asked if there would be a lot of people. I told her yes and she said "That will be fun." At the end of the night she was asking when she could do it again. It was so fun! Oh, and she was super cute too.

(At the bottom are pictures of Sarah with her teacher, Miss Celeste, and Kaitlyn. The formatting got a bit messed up in this post.)

Upheaval

I see the beginning of it. I keep reminding myself that I wanted this.

I've been comfortable. More comfortable than I realized.

I knew it was time for me to stretch and grow...and I think I'm ready.

But I have to admit that amidst my excitement is

a

bit

of

fear.

Soccer

The weather was glorious today. It was also the last day of soccer games. We had great coaches and a great experience overall this season.

But I'm still looking forward to summer. Just a dance recital to go and we'll be mostly done with extra-curicular activities.

Peas

Sarah has never liked peas. In fact none of our kids do.

The typical requirement at our house is that you have to at least eat as many peas as you are old. So, Sarah had to eat 3. 3 tiny little peas. She had squished 6 or 7 already so I gave her three new ones, yet she was deteremined not to comply. To help put it in perspective for her, I asked her if she would rather eat her 3 peas or the rest of the bowl of peas...

She chose the rest of the bowl. She then preceded to eat 5 or 6 large bites of peas while we all howled with laughter. Ah, the joys of a three year old.

There's a wedding in my family...

My niece Krystine is getting married next month. I'm so excited for her. I had the opportunity to do her engagement pictures too. So here's some for you viewing pleasure.

We've been busy...

Mother's Day

I know I haven't blogged in a while. Stuff has been happening. As most people know, our house is for sale. The home that we have loved so dearly and thought we might never leave. It's been a rollercoaster few weeks, but I don't wish to talk about that much. It seems that's what I have to think about most of the time right now. But let's pretend that's not the case and think about some simpler, non-life changing events, shall we?

Life keeps rolling along. The kids have had lots of activities including soccer and a science class for both the boys, piano recitals for Isaac, and dance for Sarah.

She's not too thrilled about the feel of her costume yet, but we all think it's cute.

School is nearing it's end for the year. The thing I look forward to the most is not having to be as responsible....not needing to check backpacks and sign papers and make sure projects and reading get done. The summers of full of time to just worry about our little family. I know that the kids get bored and all, but I say....bring on summer!! (I think.)

Want To See Some of the Engagement Shots I Just Did?

Blogger doesn't do some of these pics justice. I just realized I didn't edit one at all.
As for the editing styles...I'm just trying out different things.