the creek

When I was growing up we lived in the forrest. There was a lovely little creek hidden beneath a canopy of evergreen and maple trees on our property. (See it here.)  I remember it being a special sanctuary for me. In the summer months, my brother would take his fishing pole, and I would take a book. Our dog would follow us down the mossy embankment along the path to the water. For hours, I would sit half immersed in the shallow water on the smooth rocks, reading. My brother would fish upstream, and the dog would splash back and forth between us both. Such calm.

I cannot remember the last day that I just idled away.

Source: modernhepburn.tumblr.com via Libby on Pinterest

It's been a very long week. A whirlwind of single parenting, teaching (I finished my last childbirth class for the summer), traveling (quick trip over the mountains and back), and- well- just managing busy days and a house with four kiddos. By myself. 

I'm tired and frazzled and I just wish I could go sit in the creek (maybe even without my bathing suit).

Hoping that there are some lazy days right around the corner...

Oh you know...

I'm just doing my best: 

To keep everyone fed,

to keep our lungs full of fresh air,

to keep the garden alive (and to keep the birds out of my lettuce),

and then to clean everything up (including the little boy). 

Tomorrow we're going to do it all again with Grandma and Grandpa. Thank heaven for reinforcements!

eventful

This weekend we managed to squeeze in:

The race. The girls had so much fun. We won first place for best outfits. Thrilling because they didn't place in their division (tough competition) and because I was their stylist. Ahem, it also pays to have an in-house graphic designer, thanks Carl for help on the shirts. I'll take credit for the pink lipstick that I loaned them.

A movie. Emma finished The Hunger Games series last week. She flew through the books, reading all three of them in two weeks. I took her to see the film and was halfway tempted to slip into the screen next door and watch this instead. But I was glad that she thought me cool enough to sit next to her and so I stayed (she might think differently next time because one of my junior mints dropped on my skirt and melted into an embarrassing chocolate mess- NERdy). Wow, I can see why she was glued to the books. Good show. 

Piano recital. A very nice ending to this year's lessons. They've worked hard and I am always so proud and impressed with their poise. You can be sure I had butterflies for them. 

The first swim of the season. Three cheers for Carl who yanked off the cover of our pool, repaired the filter, gave it a vacuum, and shocked it all in one afternoon.  Crazy girls were too excited to wait, brrrr. As for me, I'll need a few more 90 degree days before it's warm enough to swim. 

Ian and Laurel were first class cheerleaders all weekend long. Thanks babies.

Whew! Busy days.

Next up: Carl is traveling. I am on my own to navigate another week chalk full of parenting, schooling, cooking, cleaning, shuttling. (repeat, repeat, repeat)... 

Deep breath. Ready or not here we go. Just keep smiling.