summer camp

All her bags are packed...

She's ready to go...

She's standing here, inside the door...

I can't believe she's really off to camp for 5 days!

The Great Room

I believe I have missed my calling.

I was born to be a wrestler. No, wait, that's Kelly. I was born to be a design blogger. Seriously, have you seen some of the blogs out there? Some are truly great. They share funny stories, but mostly give decorating/interior design inspiration and advice. The very best ones are designers/decorators by trade. It is their job. Some do "virtual" design jobs - give advice based on pictures. People pay them to do this. The most popular ones have advertisers on their blogs and are read by thousands of readers every. single. day.

Can't you just see it? Me, sitting in a stylish office, surrounded by color wheels and design magazines (currently being referred to as "shelter mags") typing, blogging, inspiring?! I would paint and re-paint my house, constantly re-arrange my furniture and make really crafty projects that YOU would want to copy. Again, people would pay me, just to be part of my blog.

Major companies would GIVE me things to try out and share on my blog. Then they would give me more free things to give away to my readers. I might even get to re-do my kitchen on someone else's dime, if I just write about the experience.

THIS IS FOR REAL, PEOPLE! How did I miss this? I guess while I was busy having babies, decorating my own house (dreaming of having my own consulting biz), and going back to work, I missed the whole pay-me-to-blog train. Oh, I caught the blog-about-whatever-you-want-and-maybe-a-friend-or-family-member-will-read-it-but-no-one-will-PAY-you train. Yeah, I'm in First Class. Oh, well.

As long as I'm on the topic, let me share some of my very favorites. There are waaay too many design blogs out there that well, aren't so good. Here are a few of the best:

designmom.com

thepaintedhouse.com

designspongeonline.com

thenester.com

theletteredcottage.net

Oh - and if you were wondering, mine would be called thegreatroom.com and it would be FABULOUS!! (Get it - The Great Room? A great room is a large family room/dining area... and it's Great! Am i amazing or what?!)

self-improvement

For the past several months, I've been concerned with working on our house, our yard, our pool. I think about improving Claire's pitching and Nolan's swing. Even as I'm on summer vacation, I've spent time in my office making improvements as we prepare for new paint & furniture, sprucing it up with new decor. In all my concern for the things around me, I've forgotten about someone else who needs a lot of work, but has kind of been neglected.

Me.

As far as the outside goes, let's just say that it's an on-going project. One that has taken near-permanent residence on the back burner (waaay back - you know, the little one that you never use, because it never gets quite hot enough? Yeah, that one.) Well, I'm scooting it up front a bit.

Starting tomorrow morning (at 6am, I might add - I am on summer vacation, remember?), I will begin walk/running. It's an interval thing. Anyhoo, a friend asked me to start and I was thrilled to accept. I could say that I'm doing this to lose weight or be healthy, both of which are good things. But... can I tell you a secret? I'm doing it to be selfish. That's right. I want pure, unadulterated grown-up time. Outside. When it's not 100 degrees. With a friend who makes me laugh. And I may just improve the outside of me, just a bit.

To cover the inside (and I mean the deeeep inside - you know, soul, inside) I am hosting a study group with a group of gals beginning next week. I cannot tell you, dearest, just how badly I need this. I'm feeling all dried up, full of malcontent and complacency, with the full realization of just why I feel that way. I am not spending time with my God. And - Oh, how I miss Him. The only comfort in this thought is knowing that He misses me a million times more.

Will I improve? Only time (and my husband!) will tell. But in the midst of the busy-ness of this life, don't forget to take care of you. xo

enduring

[Ed Note: I realized that I haven't blogged in awhile. My goal is to return to my former blogging "style" (ie more thoughtful posts). I have a lot to catch up on, but bear with me as i get my creative juices flowing again.]

Kelly's younger brother, Scott, nephew and father left for Texas just minutes ago. We enjoyed a visit with them while Scott was on leave from Ft. Collins, his current Army assignment in Colorado Springs. Scott has been in the Army for just under 2 years now, and his station is about to change. On July 6th he will leave for Afghanistan. He left a copy of his orders for us, and as I looked them over, the first thing I noticed were the words Operation Enduring Freedom.

It's been a long time since I've heard those words. The actions that began this war took place when Claire was 3 months old. Claire will turn 9 next week.

To be perfectly honest, I am not as educated or as knowledgeable about this war as I should be. It's not something I've really thought too much about lately. Nearly the past decade (and all of my children's lives) this war has continued on, and it has filtered into the background of our lives. Until now.

Now it's OUR brother, OUR uncle, OUR son who will be driving, fueling, fighting. It's personal. Close to home. And now I remember that it is enduring. For OUR freedom.

what the june?

Really, I turn my back for one teensy-tiny second and BAM! it's June. May roared by with more activity than the good Lord intended, but we made it and had some fun along the way.

Lots of softball & baseball games were played (I know, you get really tired of hearing the "s" and "b" word but I can't help it.) Nolan's team finished the season in 2nd place and celebrated with pizza & ice cream. Claire still has one more game to play, and while her team *may* not be ranked quite as high, she had a great first year of pitching and is excited to play travel ball at the next level.

A famous 6-year old turned seven on May 23rd and we had 10 boys over to swim . The highlight was the splash contest orchestrated by Kelly, complete with a losers bracket. I'm telling you, when he coaches, he goes all the way.

School is over and summer is in full force with temps in the upper 90s. This is what we saw at Claire's last travel ball tourney:

We expect to see at least that this weekend as we head to another 2-day tournament. I'm happy to say that I've avoided a sunburn thus far. This is big, people. Huge. I hover in the shade and slather on the SPF. I'm trying to extend my years since the sunburns of years past haven't helped me any. Who wants to be old and wrinkly anyway?

This week & next finds me finishing up the year at the school, then it's truly summertime! My plans include: laying by the pool, painting various surfaces inside & outside the house, and laying by the pool a bit more. Ah, June... I welcome you with open arms! Bienvenue!