Catching Up

For a few weeks, I feel like I've been working like crazy from morning to night just to keep my head above water. Most days, I don't have much to show for it. I think it has a lot to do with a baby who has been adjusting to a new schedule and trying to sleep in a crib, combined with a whole bunch of high-energy activities in a row (Memorial Day weekend, Elizabeth's birthday celebrations and party, and a family camping trip). It might also have to do with a toddler who does this (see below) every time I leave the salt or pepper on the table unsupervised!

I've been playing sand volleyball again each week, and I'm enjoying being part of our first-place team this year. Here we are after winning all our games on the 103 degree night!

It takes about 30 minutes to scrub off all the sand each time we play.

I'm figuring out how to do special activities with my girls and a baby in tow. I haven't mastered it, yet. Here is Amelie after I braved the beach alone with her and Sam on one of our few hot days!

Summertime means a lot more unplanned baths for my dirty little girls. We're experimenting with a later bedtime in order to have time to do things in the evenings after Sam leaves, and so far, the girls have actually been sleeping in until 7 or later on a fairly regular basis!

We got the garden in. Now the never-ending garden chores have been piling up as I ignore them and keep them on my to-do list, planning each day to get out there with the 3 kids. (It doesn't happen very often.) Notice Elizabeth, covered in dirt. She likes to bury her feet and wear dirt slippers. Then notice Amelie, sitting on the edge and wearing rubber boots to keep her feet clean. Who can predict them?

In addition to all that, I've been busy starting summer school with Elizabeth, studying the attributes of God with the fantastic women in my Bible Study, meeting with our small group at church, teaching the new little ones that just moved up into my preschool Sunday School class, bringing Elizabeth to swimming lessons (and we start tennis tomorrow - every day for 6 weeks!), enjoying some friendships, volunteering at and attending school events, running to get my mileage up for summer, and doing our normal library and grocery errands.

Is it any wonder I haven't blogged lately?

But summer is here, God is good, and I'm digging back in, resolved to keep my head above water in His competence, not mine!

P.S. If the uneven spacing between pictures and paragraphs bothers you as much as it does me, be assured that three times I have gone back and edited this post properly, just to have it revert as soon as I publish it. Please ignore it!