The heat is on.

I'm always reluctant to blog when I've had a bad week. I'm afraid that I will sound like such a whiner (which I am) or as if I feel that the minor annoyances in my life are oh-so-awful and unjust (which I don't). But on the other hand, most of you know me so you are fully aware that I am no Suzy Sunshine and I don't want you to think that I am trying to come off as such. I'm keeping it real, sistas. Our family is completely nutso and sometimes we get on each other nerves. There are sometimes unidentified bad odors in our house. Oh, And Julia peed on the floor this week and didn't tell anyone until someone stepped in it. Twice. That someone was me.
I think my current bad mood can be attributed to the fact that we have entered the Dog Days of Summer. The heat is starting to get to us. We (meaning mostly, Ace and me) are irritable and cranky and the humidity does absurd thing to my hair. So, I find many excuses to stay home, close to my window ac and fans. 2 hours later as I pull out another handful or hair, lock myself in the bathroom to get a moment's peace, or say something snappish and mean to one of the kids I regret that decision immensely. It has just been a long, boring week. Even our day at the beach was no "day at the beach" thanks to my pissy attitude. I'm so happy it is Friday, I need Andy here for back up!
So, in summation, we are cranky. It is hot. I found something unidentifiable but certainly stinky under Ace's bed this week. Julia is not potty trained. We all feel a bit like this:



But I'm going to have a glass of wine and then I will feel more like this:





But I'll stop at one so I don't end up like this:

10 Months

"What?! 10 Months already?"

Julia's Law

Yesterday, as we were spending the evening playing tag on Grandma's front lawn:

Mommy: "Julia, did you have a good day?"

Julia: "Yes!"

Mommy: "What was your favorite part?"

Julia: "We're not done yet."

That is Julia in a nutshell, she truly believes that no matter how good, or bad, or great a day has been, it ain't over till it's over. And there is still room for more, bigger greatness to occur.

If you give 4 children 23 dollars and 73 cents....

and let them choose whatever they want to do with the money,

chances are you will end up in a place like this





...where you will probably spend countless quarters riding rides like these



...and laughing at your reflection in mirrors like this





...and riding this for the first time with your 10 month old who hangs onto you for dear life and wonders why on earth you would pay 2 dollars to spin around for 6 minutes



...and you will most likely love every minute of it, because 4 smiling faces, an afternoon where all the siblings get along and laugh with each other, and beating your husband at skee ball by 10,000 points are well worth 23 dollars and 73 cents. In fact, I think they are priceless.

After over a week of computer silence I kinda feel like I should churn out something read-worthy....
Friends, I got nothing.
I blame it on Summer Brain Shutdown Syndrome. I can think of nothing but the addictive smell of water from water guns (tell me I'm not the only one who notices the distinct smell of water gun water? Hello? Hello?), the joy of rinsing off the sand that is wedged in every crevice after a day at the beach, the late nights when my kids fall asleep before the end of the first song on their sleepytime CD because they have had such a full day and it is an hour past bedtime. Grandma's Barbeque sandwiches and potato salad, cherries, ice cream before dinner, PopIce popsicles for a snack. These are the things that are on my mind.
We had such a fun visit with Nifty Niece Naomi and Awesome Aunt Sara. We went to the beach, the pond, the park, the library, the 99. And multiple trips to the candy store. Naomi is 3 now and is so smart and self assured. I've decided to incorporate many of her habits into my own relationships. For example, when you offer Naomi 3 choices, she is most likely to choose option 17, which she came up with on her own. Example:
Waitress: "And what would you like on your sundae? Caramel, strawberries, or chocolate?"
Naomi: "I will be having blueberries."
Waitress: "Strawberries?"
Naomi: "I will be having the blueberries."

I can't even begin to count the number of things I love about Naomi, but this is one of my favorites.

Now our visitors are gone and I am sad. But tomorrow the pool awaits, I'm just hoping for a hot day, today it barely broke 70 degrees!

Lucy is...

Crawling
Cruising
Singing
Dancing
Playing Peekaboo
Laughing
Waving
Saying:
"Hi!"
"Mama"
"Dada"
"Bye"
Clapping
Brushing Mommy's Hair
Holding Hands of Many Siblings

Eating:
Meatballs
Eggs
Yogurt
Brown Rice
Fruit
Vegetables
Pasta
Key Lime mousse
Carrot Cake
But Mostly...
Mama's milk


Lucy is
9 months old

Lucy is
LOVED