paint chips and georgie rooms

Things are sizzling around here. We promised the noisy boys a new bedroom before school starts, and it’s been quite a project.

Their old room has an adorable Curious George mural on one wall. They loved it, until about a year ago. Since then, poor George has been covered with basketball stickers and spiderman posters.

Because I can’t bring myself to paint over George, not just yet, we decided to move baby b. into the “georgie” room. Which meant that the twins would move into the guest room, and the guests would move into baby b’s room, which means…a lot of painting.

And while we’re at it we may as well paint our room.

Right.

The painter has been here every morning this week, and our entire upstairs looks like it threw up clothes and sheets and books and stuffed animals. We’ve basically been camping out in our own house.

Fun.

I realize I’ve been quiet on this blog lately. Between trips to the pool and painting and vacations, I haven’t had much computer time. Once school starts, I’ll be back to posting more regularly.

Only nineteen more days. (But who’s counting?)

Leslie's battle with cancer ended last night.

Please pray for Tyson and T.J. as they grieve this unimaginable loss.

leslie

Please pray for Leslie.

As I’ve mentioned here before, she’s been battling cancer since last fall and has recently taken a turn for the worse.

Please pray for her and her husband, Tyson, and their precious little boy, TJ.

whatever you're doing

My first full day of writing workshop was amazing. Thank you, friends, for praying for me. I'm over myself and having a great time learning and growing in the craft of writing.

I first heard this song on the radio a couple of weeks ago, and it so beautifully articulates much of what I've been feeling lately. Whatever You're Doing by Sanctus Real. Wherever you're at in your spiritual journey, I hope it encourages you as much as it has me.

I changed my mind

Remember in that last post when I said you should pray for Llama Papa and not worry about me, I’ll be happy just to be in my lovely hotel room not changing diapers or making beds or cooking meals?

Well, I changed my mind.

Pray for me, friends. This writing stuff is intense, and I am in way over my head. Seriously. The other people in my workshop are college professors and People Who have Published Several Novels. And then there’s me: a stay-at-home Mom from Chicagoland who can change a diaper really fast and publishes stories in magazines that nobody reads.

I think I need a candy bar. Or a drink. Not necessarily in that order.

University of Iowa

I’ve been doing it for awhile now, I just haven’t mentioned it. Once you mention it, people ask about it. And then, suddenly, it’s a thing of stress. So…shhh. Pretend I didn’t say this out loud: I’ve been writing fiction. (Or trying to write fiction.)

And I like it.

Quite a few months ago I signed up for a week-long fiction writing workshop at the University of Iowa. Up until two weeks ago, I didn’t know if the workshop would be cancelled or not, due to flooding. (It seemed tacky to call during a state of emergency: “Um, hi. Sorry you lost your house and everything, but what about my class?”)



I had to scramble to find a new hotel since the one I had booked is closed until August, but classes are on.

And while I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing all week, I know what I won’t be doing: laundry, cooking, childcare, driving children around to birthday parties and playdates, keeping a two-year old safe at the swimming pool, sweeping the floor, cleaning the bathroom, or even, not that I actually do this every day, making my bed.

I was going to ask you to pray for me while I’m away, but maybe your prayers should be directed to Llama Papa instead. Have I mentioned here before what a great guy he is? He is. Great.

enjoy the season

“How long until Christmas?” Twin A. asks while he pours his cereal.

“A long time,” I tell him. “Why do you ask?”

“I can’t wait until winter,” he tells me, “Christmas, my birthday, and what’s nice about winter is you don’t have to mow the lawn.”

“Are you kidding me?” I ask. “It’s summer! We can play outside and go for bike rides and swim all afternoon and take a break from school. Summer is so much fun. Enjoy it, A. Don’t wish it away. Winter will be here soon enough.”

And so I remind myself today as I run after my fun-loving toddler: enjoy this season. Don’t wish it away. Sure, in a few years baby b. be more independent and won’t dump flour all over the kitchen floor or climb up on the bench to reach my cell phone, but he also won’t be cuddled up on my lap humming the “bum, de bum” song while I rock him. Instead of squealing “WADER!” every time we go to the pool, it will be old news. Fun? Yes. But not new and exciting anymore. Same with the zoo. No more “AMINALS! Mama! AMINALS!”

What season are you in? Are you enjoying each moment?

the farm

Some for you...




And some for me...




If you're planning a visit to Door County and have children, do visit The Farm. It was a highlight for all three of the boys. (And for me. Who doesn't love feeding goats and cows and baby pigs?)

WFMW - iced coffee treat

Finally, summer is here! At my house, that means long trips to the pool, entire days spent outside, and lots of watermelon.

It also means that most days, I’m one tired Mama.

One afternoon, desperate for a caffeine fix, but needing to stay home with a napping child, I concocted the following:

Mama needs Caffeine Iced Vanilla Coffee Treat

Fill a tall glass with ice.

Pour leftover coffee from the morning into the glass, filling about halfway.

Fill the next quarter of the glass with vanilla creamer (can be sugar free, if you want).

Now fill the rest of the glass with milk.

It’s not Starbucks, but it sure hits the spot on a hot summer afternoon! (And, as a bonus, it doesn’t cost four dollars a pop.)

Now make yourself a coffee treat and head over to Rocks in my Dryer and peruse more great recipes, five ingredients or less!

Proof that I shouldn't be allowed to use the grill

“I think this chicken is great! I love burned food."
Twin B.