Oh Utah. . .

. . .she was so good to us.

2 years was too long to be away. Utah, don't make yourself so scarce.

In the Summer. . .

We call it:

Lunch.

Dinner.

 Shower.

Entertainment.

 Simple, sweet, soaky, silly, splendid summer. We cannot get enough.

Because we're all sick. . .

. . .we're staying home, staying in jammies, and staying close to our beds.

Kind of (really) nice to be forced to slow down. But poor Caleb was up most of the night with an ear ache. Convenient that he could go in to school today and have that checked out since he's on his ENT rotation. Did we tell you that's what he's settled on for residency? So nice to have that pinned down, and I'm sure we will take full advantage of him in that line of work.

Getaway?

Yes we did. And wow, it was great to spend a couple uninterrupted days with just my very favorite people.

Our hotel gave us some tokens to blow in their arcade. My first date with Caleb was a trip to Nickelcade, so it was like life finally coming full circle...heh heh.

But seriously, it was so good to get away from the grind for a few seconds. I'm calling it the warm-up for our pilgrimage to the motherland next month and counting down the days...

Last Day

Remember my little kindergartner?
Her last day of the school year has come and gone. Bless you, summer vacation!
We're sleeping in tomorrow and staying in our jammies as long as we want.
We're making smoothies for breakfast. We're not doing our hair. Unless we feel like it. Ah, sweet freedom.

Dear Malan,
You've met every hope I had for you when I sent you off on that bus last fall.
You are a diligent learner, a respectful student, a kindhearted friend, a loving sister.

 This little snapshot from Malan's Kindergarten program kind of kills me because when I saw it,

my brain did a little leapfrog ahead 12 years imagining this same picture at Malan's high school graduation. Have mercy.

Oh, how I love these sisters. They are so lucky to have each other. I am so lucky to have them.

And for the next 3 months, they're mine, all mine.

Nature Girl

Someone I know is especially happy the spring rains are over:
Olivia, also known in these parts as "Nature Girl!"
(Yes, she has super powers, including the ability to count to 10
without peeking during rousing games of hide and seek. . .

...and the ability to remain out of doors for limitless amounts of time without
stopping for nourishment or for the bandaging of bruised and battered "nature legs.")

I kind of love that she loves to be outside so much, if only because it forces
me away from desk and dishes for a little while. Thank you nature girl! My hero.

The Crocs of the Baby Seat Sector

Emme thinks Bumbos are funny. . .

 . . .do you?

Also funny: When Emme is sitting in here, Olivia calls her a Bumbobee.
Are Bumbos your baby seat bff? [__] yes or [__]no.

Humble Pie

Dear big sister Wendy: Remember that time I judged you when your daughter Hannah crawled her nap deprived self under a bench and fell asleep?

Behold, exhibit A:

 Four children has humbled me to the very dust.

I can no longer control: when my house is clean or messy, what time dinner will be served (if it is served), when I will take my next shower (if I take my next shower), the volume my mom voice will assume at any given moment, whether this week's laundry will be put away or just sifted through when we're out of clean underthings, bedtime, spouse time, me time, certainly not nap time. I took my winter sweatpants and cut them off into shorts, so now I'm good to go for summer. Today without thinking I ate a cheerio off the floor of my minivan. It was stale. That was the only thing I ate before 3 pm.

Forgive me, I was so clueless.

-Love, your little sister.

P.S. Strangely, life is still so very good.

Dear readers: judge if you will, unless you plan to have more kids.