I have not done a Project 365 Post in two months. 


*hangs head in shame*


Rather than try to lump 475 bazillion photos together in one ginormous post to catch up, I am giving myself some grace and starting fresh from here.  Sometimes we can all use a little more grace and a little less self-inflicted perfectionism. 


And, with that being said, here is my week(ish) in photos:



Day 203/365: Bar D Time!

Last Sunday was this amazing young ladys 13th birthday.  She decided, for her birthday, that we were all going to go to the Bar D.  Our evening at the Bar D is going to be a whole nother post, but I thought I would drop this precious shot in here.








Day 208/365:  Buddies for life


Madi especially took to the little pumpkin we had this week.  She took it upon herself to instruct LP in all things important, including but not limited to sunglasses and bubbles. 

To my town,

I know you all like the animals.  And the hippy lifestyle.  But, really, I don't think they should mix.



If you don't talk to your cat about catnip, who will?


Decidedly Right in a Town Full of Left

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear People Thinking of Moving Here,

Here in Colorado, we like to make sure everyone knows about our wonderful weather.  We have four.  They are:

• Mud & Allergies
• Tourists & Road Construction
• Hunting & Will it Snow Already?
• Oh God, Will the Snow Ever End?

If you do decide to move here, don't say I didn't warn you.


Enjoying the Construction. Right. Outside. My. House.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Little Miss Adventurer,


I am so glad you love a good challenge.  While it was difficult to explain why you and all your 38 inch fierceness couldn't go on the 10 story wooden rollercoaster, I appreciate the passion and drive.  But, sometimes, this no fear thing just creeps me out.

Although I am sure the timber beetle appreciated the ride back to the trees.

Now Where is That Hand Sanitizer?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Birthday Princess, I am so glad you enjoyed your special day.  With all your presents

and your yummy ice cream cake,  

I think it was a pretty good day too.  Although I must admit to looking VERY forward to treating you and two of your little girlfriends to pedicures on Saturday.  Cannot wait to have some big girlie fun!

How Do You Spell Blog Fodder?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Have a letter that just needs written?  Go see Julie at Foursons for more LOI fun!

Day 23:

A picture of your favorite book



The first one is kind of a given:



Kind of important to daily life, right?  :)



I love Clive Cussler books.  All of them.  And we have most of them.  But I especially love the Oregon Files series.



The Oregon Files series documents the adventures of a group of ex CIA/military/intelligence pros that have formed a corporation to do what needs to be done, when governments are too tied up by red tape to do it.  They are based on a ship called the Oregon, that is not what she seems to be. 



I have just found Vince Flynn, and his Mitch Rapp series. 



These are great books if you are into political thrillers/CIA/espionage books.  Mitch Rapp is the CIAs top black-ops agent, and repeatedly saves the world. 


Tim LaHaye, one of the Left Behind creators, co-wrote this next series, which is new but great.



The Babylon Rising series follows a biblical archeologist as he uncovers major artifacts that prove the truth of the bible while fighting the dark forces set upon using the artifacts to summon the AntiChrist.


If you couldnt already tell, I love books.  The hubs got me a Kindle for my birthday, and I have already put it to good use.  My Amazon wishlist is rather long already.  These are just a few of my favorites.

My Sweet Madi,


Today, you are 5.

You are no longer my baby.  Not even a toddler, or a preschooler.  You are a child.

In a couple of weeks, we will start kindergarden.  You are so excited to learn - I know you will excel. 


There are moments when you are still and quiet.  I can tell you are pondering many things.  You are so sensitive to people.  You often realize when something is wrong long before the rest of us.





You find the joy in simple pleasures.  You love to laugh.  You love to explore.  Your curiosity is only matched by your sense of humor.




And even when you are feeling a bit ornery, you are still the cutest darn 5 year old I know.

The other night, long after the girls were asleep, I sat at the kitchen table, blogging.


It had been a long day.  A good day, but a long day.


Handsome Realtor Man was at a softball game, so I had the rare evening by myself.


And then I heard the door crack open.


And a tiny, very sleepy voice telling me she was having trouble sleeping.


I went to her room, and found that she had woken up her sister as well.


Normally, we are stern about bedtime.  Go to bed, stay in bed.  Consequences for disobedience.  End of discussion.


Something in her little eyes just wouldn't let me do it that night.


So my two biggest girls came with me into the kitchen and sat at the counter as I fixed them each a glass of chocolate milk.


I told them that, when Daddy was little, his grandma would fix him chocolate milk if he couldn't sleep.


And we took our glasses to the couch and snuggled.


We talked about the kitties, and the storm outside, and how long orcas live (random, I know, but Madi has a fascination with all things orca right now).


Then, when they were done, I tucked them back in with a kiss and shut their door.


Sometimes motherhood is about the rules, setting the boundaries and keeping them firm.


And sometimes its about letting the boundaries get a little blurry for the sake of a child's heart.

Day 22:

A picture of something you wish you were better at



I love sewing.  It is my relaxation.  But I am never satisfied with my skills.  I want to be able to do really cool things.  Not just semi-cool things. 

I have accomplished nothing in the last 3 1/2 hours. 


My children slept that long.  Please don't hate me.


I took the opportunity to read blogs.  And fill my Amazon wish list with new books for my kindle (hint hint Handsome Realtor Man).  And fill my cheap random crap Oriental Trading shopping cart with bribery rewards and other such nonsense for school time.


And do nothing.


This morning, total Proverbs 31 woman.


That is, after the kids and I got up.  At 9.  Please don't hate me.  We totally wore them out with the random trip of chaos this weekend (more on that tomorrow), so we were all exhausted.


But, this morning, I unpacked from the trip, got caught up on the laundry, helped the kids sort their toys and books into Keep, Give Away, and Toss piles (Love that my children willingly and joyfully give their possessions away.  Disturbed that the toys seem to be procreating of their own volition.), and found more treasures for my china cabinet.  Oh yeah, I haven't mentioned the china cabinet yet, have I?


When my dad came home from Vietnam, he decided to go to college on the GI bill down in a little town called Durango.  Needing a job, he began working at a little furniture shop on Main called Wilson's Furniture.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became, over time, a second set of parents for my dad.  They provided much wisdom and support over the years. 


The first piece of furniture my mom and dad purchased for my grandparents was from Wilson's.  It was a beautiful dark wood and glass china cabinet.  I don't remember my grandmas house without that cabinet.  It always held the good dishes, the fancy cups, the cake topper from their 50th wedding anniversary.  Memories. 


I can close my eyes and picture where it was in this house.  I have never known my life at her house without it.


After my grandma passed away, my dad, aunts, and uncles have slowly been going through her house.  Sorting, separating, divvying up.  It has been hard, emotional work.  When my dad asked me if I would like her cabinet, there was no way I could say no.


The beautiful cabinet, with so many memories, now proudly sits in my living room.  My own good china, purchased by my parents when I was a baby, is proudly displayed on the top shelf.  My grandmas tea cups, and that precious cake topper, is now on the second.  I am eager to fill it with our familys treasures. 


But now, the children have awoken from their marathon nap, Handsome Realtor Man is home for a few hours before his softball game, dinner needs fixing (gotta love leftovers), and I must redeem myself for these last few hours. 


But, sometimes, its good to fail. 

Day 21:

A picture of something you wish you could forget



Do you know what this ribbon is for?


It is to fight sexual assault. 


Did you know that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month?


I didn't.


Probably should have.


Maybe I didn't want to face that it happened to me.


A part of me still wonders if it was partially my fault.


My brain says NO WAY!  My heart wonders.


I was young.  Only 15.


And my heart had just been broken by my first real boyfriend.


He knew what he was doing.


I didn't.


Not until it was too late.


Now?


I will NOT allow another young girl to go through the trauma I went through alone.

I am slowly developing our new routine. Violet still asks me every few days if I am really staying home with her. Madison wants to be at the park or the swimming pool every day, and Katrina is reading every book she can get her hands on.

Baseball season is done. Swimming lessons will start soon. I am slowly decluttering our house and getting our school room prepped. Oh yeah, did I tell y'all that we are homeschooling this year? We got our curriculum this week and the girls want to start NOW. I am trying to make them wait until at least August, so I can get at least a few lessons planned.

Today we got up, got dressed, cleaned our rooms, had breakfast, took a box of stuff to the thrift store, took a load of books to the library, washed and vacuumed the car, went to the grocery store, and played at the Children's museum. Next we are headed to a park foe lunch with friends then home for naps. Then it will be time for dinner and home group, and an outdoor movie at a local park. Then bed.

Like I said before, just a typical summer day...
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Day 20:

A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel





That beach looks incredible, right?  So pristine, so peaceful.  Perfect vacation spot. 



What if I told you that was Haiti?



Would you still want to go?



I do. 



A part of my heart is on an island I have never seen.



With children I have never met.



But who need someone who cares.

From my little firecrackers to yours, we pray a blessed, joyous, and safe 4th of July.
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