Journal: Never a dull moment

Out my window: 54 and rainy.  It's supposed to be beautiful the rest of the week.

Clothing myself in: Purple shirt, black cardigan. Exercise pants and slippers.  Only the bottom part of my outfit got changed after work. I look a little silly but I don't really mind.

Around the house: I started working on decluttering and organizing the laundry room on Saturday. It is a huge project, because often things get dumped there when they don't have/don't make it to the proper spot.  And our arts and crafts things are in the cabinets there.  For some reason, despite my reminders, the kids often don't put the crafty stuff back where it belongs. I bought some plastic tubs, so I am hoping that will help the organization. Or at least contain the mess :P

I also decluttered and cleaned out the coat closet in our front entryway.  Put away all the winter stuff. The laundry room still needs to be finished but I finished the coat closet and it looks magnificent.  Slowly but surely.

Joe painted the front porch with this textured paint stuff that we bought last fall. We were going to use it on the back deck until we realized how much more we would have to buy. But it really spruced up the front porch, so I am glad we were able to put it to good use.

Toddler: Beautiful. Overwhelming. Charming. He has been sleeping betterish for him.

Kiddos: Went on a school field trip last Friday and had a lot of fun.  Isaac got to sleepover with his buddy on Friday. When I asked him what they did he said they chopped up a lot of trees with hatchets, lol.  Tomorrow is the last full day of school and half day on Wednesday. Then they will be done at the Academy, which is sad. But other doors are opening for us that wouldn't have otherwise, so we trust that God can make good come out of this sad situation.

In the kitchen: Hmmmm, I can't remember.  I even discussed the menu with Joe the other night and I still can't remember.  He is going to be out of town from tomorrow- Friday, so we planned easy stuff.

Crafting:

Bringing me joy: Sweet peaceful George snuggles.  Looking around our house and seeing less stuff that I have to deal with. Walking with Issy on a beautiful afternoon, holding her hand. I am glad she will still hold my hand.  Isaac's joy at his sleepover. Liam's deep sincerity when he tells me he loves me. Delle squealing about how she wants real pixie dust for her birthday so that she can fly to Grammie and Grandpa's house.  George behaving well enough to keep him in Mass the whole time. Planning for our upcoming visit with Mom and Dad Marney. My new sweet baby niece Eleanor.

Thinking about: How full our summer is and it hasn't even started. One day at a time.

Pictures to share:

 Cousins!

My sweet Erika. 

Journal: Time is flying by!

Out my window: Dark and upper forties. It still is fairly cool, though we have had a couple 70+ degree days.

Clothing myself in: Purple tank top and black cardigan sweater. Skinny jeans.

Around the house: Whew. Reorganized and purged our closest, put a twin bed in George's room. Decluttered the countertop in the laundry room, which might as well have been climbing Mount Everest. I still need to purge and reorganize the art supplies in the laundry room cabinets. That's next. Still need to switch out George's summer clothes- it has been cool enough that he wears jeans most days anyways.

Toddler: Sigh. We had had a really good run with better sleep before we went to Kansas but it's been touch and go since we got back. His bad BMs are back, too which is leaving me to analyze his diet again. Gah, why isn't parenting easy? He is completely exasperating and strong-willed in one breath and so charming the next.

Kiddos: 6 days of school left. They had their last school program on Friday and it was beautiful and sad. I am so glad that we were able to be part of that community for a couple of years, it's been so good for them.

After much deliberation, it was decided that I would stay home and homeschool this fall. I am finishing up at my work and training my replacement over the summer. I am very sad to be leaving my work- it's been such a good experience. But I kept trying to wrap my head around sending the kids to a school I didn't feel comfortable but I felt no peace. But the decision to homeschool them immediately gave my the peace I had been praying for, even though it requires some sacrifices.

We are doing a public charter school that primarily uses Calvert curriculum  Since this is our first time doing a virtual charter school, I am interested in seeing how it works for us.  Isaac is excited about homeschooling. Issy and Liam are more neutral about it- they say they are happy, but they will miss seeing their friends everyday. It will take some adjustment for everyone again, for sure.

In the kitchen: I don't even remember. Joe made the menu and did the grocery shopping.

Crafting: Hahaha. No.

Bringing me joy: Blue sky. Fire pit nights with Joe, George's reaction to seeing his big Lightening McQueen bed and sheets, the way George calls thunder "bunder". The way he says "He's a good worker" with deep admiration when someone is working hard, seeing Isabelle growing into such a complex young lady, listening to Jars of Clay really loud on the way to work.

Thinking about: Life has been crazy lately. Mostly good crazy. I got a job waitressing since I'll be leaving Catholic Word soon. I work three evenings a week. It is exhausting but worth it. Hoping the craziness and the sacrifices now are going to pay off.

Pictures to share: Some Marney family fun in Kansas