To be totally honest, this has not been the most joyful summer of my life. I’m hugely pregnant, hot, and extremely irritable. Just ask my kids. Nevertheless, I feel the need to document a few summer happenings.
Caleb and Josh have spent HOURS making things out of duck tape. That was not a typo, by the way. Duck tape is the much more interesting cousin of duct tape. It comes in lots of colors and patterns, and can be used to make everything from wallets to roses to bookbags. It has been a double dream come true for me. It has kept the boys entertained quietly indoors, which is not at all easy to do, and it has kept them asking for more chores all summer. “Please, Mom? Can I have another job to do for another roll of duck tape?”
Jonah has lost his first tooth, and already has two more wiggly ones.
(I plan on adding a few pictures later, but for now I just better get this posted!)
We’ve had lots of mama hens sitting on their eggs with some success. We’ve had a total of 6 baby chicks. Two of them have died, but four of them are still following their mama all around the yard, while she teaches them important things, like how to scratch in the dirt. So cute!
Jeff has been working like a madman on our back yard. He has pulled up lots of unwanted trees and bushes, pulled down what was left of the old shed, hauled something like 16 loads to the dump, and re-arranged tons (literally) of dirt.
When it was all ready, we flooded the dirt lot and let the kids all invite friends for a “mud bowl” party. I think it was a success.
Simon has discovered a love of puzzles. He wants to do them over and over again, which works pretty well for me. It’s something we can do together that allows me to sit on the couch.
Speaking of couches, we got a big, new sectional for the family room. It was really long past time to replace the old ones. I also re-finished the kitchen island, re-painted the coffee table, and re-did the kids computer area. We also got a cabinet to contain the kids’ toys. I was trying to squeeze in as many projects as I could (a kind of “nesting”?) before I got too big to function.
That time has arrived, by the way. I spend most of my days sitting on the couch whining that my back hurts, which it really, really does. The other day I asked one of the kids to get something for Simon so I wouldn’t have to get up. The response I got was “Boy… I can’t wait until you’re not pregnant anymore, so you can actually do some things around here!” All I can say to that is… me too, guys. Me too.
