Survival: Mom vs House

  First let me start by saying I don't know how you and mom did it! Since having Lucy it has felt like we are in survival mode. We sometimes get extra stuff accomplished {for instance we cleaned out all the papers from the office filing cabinet this weekend} but for the most part it is simply a game of surviving. I think we are slowly getting out of this rough patch and able to be a little productive again but we are far from our norm. I keep up with the kitchen, get clothes washed {though folding and putting them away is a whole different story}, and do school with the kids 4 days a week but that's pretty much all the extra work I have been able to accomplish. Toys are disaster, the dust in this house is probably an inch thick {ok I am slightly exaggerating}, bathrooms get cleaned every other week instead of weekly, my car hasn't been cleaned in months, and the floors...don't even go there! I don't even like Bryan seeing the house let alone anyone else. BUT I am slowly making progress and beginning to feel like I can get back on top of this mountain again. Mommy has said that she will come help me fold laundry...hopefully she does soon or we may end up using it as rugs. Seriously.
   We had a nice weekend with little to do which was a much needed break! Since about October of last year we have had things going on almost every weekend! It was very overwhelming but I am just like you and can't tell people no. So I would commit...and then Bryan would give me the look of "you are crazy" which I receive often. So this week I am trying to keep things low key so we can be home more and not go-go-go. Last week was full of fun things though, we went to the Butterfly Wonderland on a homeschool field trip and then to the zoo. The Butterfly place was a mild disaster because Cecily was terrified and Owen was trying to kill them. In fact...he did. So I spent the whole time trying to keep Owen the Butterfly Trampler from wrecking havoc and Cecily from having a panic attack from all the butterflies landing on her bright colored clothing. Colin loved it and tried to stand very still to have them land on him...it took a while but he finally got one! Of course I didn't get a picture but oh well! Owen's favorite part was the aquarium and they even had some little sharks in the tanks which he thought was awesome! It was a great trip and the kids loved learning all about butterflies...as much as they could for being traumatized!
   Well I promised the kids I would make smoothies for dessert and I am being stared at by all 3 of them with a look of "hurry or else". I love you so dearly and to say I miss you is an understatement!
Your Favorite Second Born,
Carley

   Mommy sent me some pictures of you tonight and it made my heart hurt to see them...they are pictures of you doing your "thing". Oh how I long to see you back in your "element"

Now for some pics of the kiddos and of our week!

 They really are best buds...he adores her and the feeling is mutual!

 This is how I spent my week...with Owen right next to me!

 And Lucy up until 2am then awake every 45 minutes to an hour after that until she woke up for good around 8am.

 After this picture Cecily ripped the flower out of her hair and wouldn't let me put it back in because it attracted the butterflies haha

 Those feet you see are Owen's...this was less than a second before that butterfly met it's untimely death at the feet of Owen

 Weston trying to get a butterfly to land on him...he had a great time!

 Handsome guys!

 The fish pond

 Lucy and Dorothy matched..it was adorable!

 He waited so patiently to get a butterfly to land on him!

 Lucy has been wanting food baaaad and my supply has been pretty poor so after nursing her every 45 minutes all night for weeks now we decided to try some carrots...she still didn't sleep but she sure did love them!

 Our Saturday Jason's Deli lunch..that is Owen's smile when you ask him to pose! lol

 This was a pretty regular site at our house this week

 Mommy got Owen a Charlie Brown shirt to take a picture with her Charlie Brown Christmas tree. He really does look like Charlie Brown with a little more hair

 Love this kid!