A Quick Catch-Up

Hey, friends. I'm back after a longer-than-usual blogging absence. Sometimes these breaks need to take place, and most of the time I don't plan them. And let's just be honest: summertime means a whole lotta time outdoors, garnering sunburns and mosquito bites, and a lot less time indoors, hunched over the computer. This is how life is meant to be.

Most of my break was taken up with just daily life: running errands with my three constantly orbiting satellites (and one parasitic lifeform who NEVER LEAVES, YOU GUYS, OH MY GOODNESS, I FORGET ABOUT THIS INBETWEEN PREGNANCIES); building epic train tracks throughout the entire house; willing myself to cook and bake in our tiny, heat-trapping kitchen; merrily digging in the dirt outside and caring for all my beloved plants, at least when my heartburn allows it (you can't do much if you can't bend over); and trying to keep a semblance of order in our happily messy home. I am typically pretty uptight about the state of my home, but come every June I just have to throw up my hands and give it to Jesus. What with the sand, the dirt, the bugs, the grass, and the tiny, muddy footprints, nothing stays clean. It's okay, we'll probably still get the heaven. I hope.

At the end of my days my ankles are swollen and throbbing (you're welcome for that), and my sweet husband takes over any remaining chores while I sit with my feet elevated and yell anecdotes to him from across the house. Once the kids are in bed he is always, and I mean always, willing to rub my feet for hours on end, and I just need to tell you that that is The Manliest Thing Ever. We are all enjoying our summer without Daddy being gone for long periods at a time, and he is thoroughly enjoying his summer's work. And I am happily and healthily (healthfully? Who knows, who cares) cooking our next bun in my 20-degrees-warmer-than-everyone-else oven. Life is good.

This weekend and the beginning of this week we took a quick trip to visit The Professor's parents in Michigan, except the bonus is that Janie and her sweet family have now moved back home and now our trips to Michigan include Juniper and Co. Really, this is ideal. Juniper is adorable, always bubbly and cheerful, and a genius. Janie and Ryan are okay, too, as are my in-laws. We all hung out a lot, ate some really good food, swam at the family pond, and at the end wished for more time together.

Now we're back into our routine, and I thought maybe that routine should include saying "hi" to y'all and letting you know I had not completely fallen off the map. I've got some good things to share soon, mainly involving a quilt for New Baby Case (!!), but right now I have no pictures and a powerful desire to nap.

So. I'm going to nap. Much love to you and yours.