Make this chaos count.

"Make my messes matter, make this chaos count, let every little thing in me fracture, out loud."
-Jupiter, Sleeping At Last












Lately we've been spending as much of our free time getting our house ready for the addition of this baby due in the fall, but every now and then we like to sneak in a little fun and adventure into our lives. It is summer, after all.

A few weekends ago we met the in-laws at a Wisconsin campground, and one word I can use to describe it is messy. Marshmallow goo. Mud. Dirt. Bug spray. And lots more mud. It rained, you see, which put a major damper on our grand plans of spending Saturday floating down the river on the pontoon. But if there's anything we've learned from our many camping trips is to never come without a few backup plans. We woke Saturday morning to the first pitter-patter of rain drops on our camper roof, and we instantly knew it was time to implement the backup plan.











Instead of feeling the warm sun on our skin on the river, we followed our kids around a children's museum as the steady rain continued outside. Instead of a picnic lunch on the pontoon, we dined at Texas Roadhouse. Then once the rain stopped, we returned to the campground, and the boys were immediately covered in mud as they enjoyed the remainder of the day at the park and fishing and playing at the campsite.














It may not have gone as planned, as it rarely ever does, but it was definitely a fun-filled, memorable trip with family. And that's really all that matters. Now back to prepping, painting, crafting and organizing for this little creature that likes to dance on my bladder.....until we can sneak in another adventure.

24 weeks.

Lately...

"And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling."
-Shanti








Summer vacation started a few weeks ago. Our structured days have transformed into a more relaxed rhythm--lots and lots of parks and picnics and playing in the mud and sandbox and ending the day as filthy as you can possibly get from sun rise to sun down. With these free days also comes lots of squabbling and a frustrated mother trying desperately not to hunt down a summer school that will take my two rambunctious rugrats.

Keeping them busy is key. We're balancing the wild and dirty physical activity with the calm and semi-less-dirty home projects. We're halfway through reading Charlotte's Web, which makes up a great percentage of our quieter moments. The boys sit at the table cutting, painting, taping, stamping, playing with playdoh and legos, whatever will keep them busy, while I read about how radiant and humble Wilbur is, as declared in Charlotte's web.

But mostly...I struggle to keep my crazy boys clothed and clean and contained. Summers may be a time to slow down in theory, but I'm witnessing first hand that my kids really only have one speed: hyperactive. Oh, summer, how we've dreamed of you for months. Please don't fly by too quickly, but also consider the sanity of stay-at-home-moms everywhere!











Last weekend we got out on the river for the first time this season. It was a quick visit on a sandbar, a boat ride to a river-side restaurant, where we dined with my in-laws, and then back home again. But oh was the first trip everything we've been daydreaming about since those long winter months trapped indoors. Here's to many, many more river days to come this summer.