June Fast

Every year our family unplugs for the month of June (with the exception of things we have to do for work).

We figure there is so much to do and keep us busy that we don't need to be plugged in. Plus it gives us an opportunity to do different things together as a family. So much or our time is consumed by screens!!!

This is my most favorite time of the year!!!

In addition to the busy June we have ahead of us, I've created a June Challenge for the two older boys....different goals to work towards so they can earn points then rewards. We'll see how it goes!!

I will have a few posts ready to automatically post in June for your reading pleasure. Two of them will be the sermons I wrote and gave during the month of May.

Enjoy YOUR June!!!! I'll be back in July with lots of pictures and stories, I'm sure.

Winding Down and Revving Up

It's really hard to come home from school to do homework when it is a beautiful May afternoon. It requires us to find creative, more fun ways to get it done.

May kept us busy with the usual end of the year activities.

Spring Music Concerts for both BuhBuh and The Boy


The Boy and I spent a weekend away at a Christian Retreat Camp with other youth from our Parish.

BuhBuh has been swinging away at baseball practice and games just started up this past week.

There were field trips to the Children's Museum

Field Days at the elementary school

And then came the moment we had all been waiting for....the LAST day of school!!!!!

Here is my soon-to-be 8th grader

My soon-to-be 2nd grader

and my soon-to-be preschooler (GULP!!)

Yesterday was our day of summer break. My Sweetie was home with us for a long Memorial Day weekend and it was lovely. It's nice to have some down time because this summer is about to take off like a rocket ship. I'm not very happy about that, but it is what it is I suppose.

I will soak up the down time and rest when I can.

I'm so happy to have my boys home to myself. I don't like to share them.

Things that made me giggle....

during my visit to the ER....

Receptionist Lady: "Is your arm red and swollen??"
I showed her me arm
Receptionist Lady's face was priceless "Oh my GOSH! I guess it is."

I was asked multiple times, "Did you see what bit you?"
Me: "I thought it was a mosquito, but now I don't think it was"

3 different nurses asked, "What was the date of your last menstrual cycle"
Me: "HAHAHAHAHA.....September 4th, 2009...."
3 different nurses, proceed to give me a very strange look and appear stumped as to what to write on my chart.....
Me: "Don't worry, that's normal for me...."

We were sitting at our first baseball game Monday night. Right at the end of the game I got a bug bite. I'm always the first to get a bite. Bugs find me in the morning, in the afternoon and at night.

I was glad that it was the end of the game and we were on our way home. I figured, no big deal right???

I woke up Wednesday morning to much more than a bug bite. I was clearly having a bad reaction to whatever it was that bit me.

It was red, swollen, hot, tender and a little achy.

So last night, when I was done taking care of everyone and everything, I decided I should probably go and get it checked out. But the Dr. was closed. So was the express care places. So off to the ER I went.

They drew a purple circle around the area that was affected so we could keep an eye on it growing or shrinking.....

I don't think it was a mosquito.

How lame....I went to the ER for a bug bite.

They checked it out, wrote me a couple of prescriptions and sent me on my way.

Car Talk

BuhBuh: Hey mom....I think I'm a tree because sometimes I find myself just standing around

May Laundry Trenches Happenings

WOWZIE!! I haven't been very bloggy lately have I???? To all of my 3 fans....my sincere apologies. It's just been busy around these Laundry Trenches lately. I've also had 2 different sermons to write this month so all of my writing energies were spent.

So as to not get too bogged down with catching up....I'm going to try to NOT worry about all the "little moments" that went unblogged. ***sigh***

Like the trip to the zoo that Little Dude and I did one beautiful afternoon. Oh whatever....here are a couple of pictures...

He spent most of the day asking where the "choochoo" was. It was very important.

It was so fun because he's such a "kid" now and he really enjoyed the animals and had lots of questions. He actually cried when it was time to leave.

Last weekend we had a little get away!!

The five of us plus my brother were all packed and loaded in the van before 7 a.m. last Saturday and heading to WRIGLEY!!!!

We arrived before the gates were open. We had been talking to Little Dude about the game all week and when asked what we were going to do he'd reply, "Cubs beat Pirates!!!!" HA!!! CUTE!

We had some time to explore the park and watch the players warm up before the game started



BuhBuh was treated to his very first Cubs hat from Wrigley

Just like his big brother was at his first game

We decided Little Dude could wait a few years.

The weather was a little chilly, Uncle B didn't feel very good and the Cubs lost. But all, in all, it was a nice family day and a nice break from the busy that has been swarming our home this month.

We headed home after the game with a van of very, sleepy, but adorable fans.

Mother's Day

"Happy Mother's Day, Mom" The Boy said. It was well after midnight and we were returning from a Youth Camp/Retreat. We had just drove past a Walgreen's and he read that it was Mother's Day. Regardless, it was sweet.

I feel into bed well after 1 and by 3 Little Dude was screaming. I gathered him up and snuggled him in my bed.

By daybreak I had a toothless grin peering down at me whispering "Happy Mother's Day" It was BuhBuh. He had given me the gift he made me at school on Friday because he was too excited to wait.

Adorable.

A week prior we had purchased a new clothes line and I told My Sweetie that would do for a Mother's Day gift.

I watched a video of BuhBuh and Little Dude making a cake for me while I was gone.

My Sweetie also baked me a Rhubarb Pie.

We had pancakes, pie, and bacon for breakfast before Church.

We managed to get ourselves to church on time despite my lack of sleep. But it was Mother's Day and I intended to spend it enjoying my kids.



After Church I sat on the couch with BuhBuh and look through an I Spy book.

I played outside with Little Dude and tooke him on a short walk.

I had hopes for my Mother's Day being spent away from the house doing something as a family. As the afternoon wore on, and my requests weren't granted, I attempted to hide my disappointment. But the only reason I was disappointed was because I had expectations of how I wanted to spend the day as a family and they weren't happening. It had nothing to do with anything anyone else was or wasn't doing.

Then....TIMBER!!!!!!

My father-in-law and My Sweetie decided they were going to take down a tree in the back yard.

OH GOODY! I thought!!! We'll never get to go do anything.

But as soon as the tree was down, I saw 8 pair of wide eyes and 4 huge smiles.



I live in a house of all boys....of course they were thrilled to have a big tree to cut up.

So I sat and watched them climb on the fallen tree,


watched them run around in amazement at "how well it fell" watched them carry sticks to the burn pile


and logs to the log pile.


They were having so much fun. How could I not enjoy sitting there watching them. In watching them enjoy their day, I too enjoyed mine.

Isn't that really what makes us moms happy, afterall??? To see joy and happiness in the little loves of our lives?

All I wanted was to spend time with my family and have everyone happy. That is exactly what I got.

To the dinner table we all gathered to share another meal; one My Sweetie prepared with very little help from me. We ended the day with a game of ladder ball, showers, more reading and then tucked the kids into bed.

It was simple. I spent the day with my family. I couldn't have asked for more.