Chores at the Cabin

We may have been playing vacation, but we still managed to make a mess every day.  Which meant that our vacation wasn't chore-free.

My sweet dish-washer

Cute vacuumer

Big brother helping to train a future chore-doer

The happy trainee

...and the chore-evader.   (Don't want you to get the idea that things are perfect around here, or anything...)

Sonora Park

After they had their fill of the playground,

they explored the bordering, crawfish-filled creek.

She never moved from her perch.  :)

Recess at the Cabin

The kids enjoying themselves for hours with spoons, dirt, water and a few Playmobils.

For over a month, we pretended that, instead of being nomads, we were on vacation.  We fooled ourselves and had an amazing time at it.  A couple weeks ago, we moved into a "real" rental, closer to Clint's job and in the city of our final destination (hopefully).  Although it is a buyer's market, the homes we've been interested in are all short sales (which is obviously a longer process).  So, once again, patience and time are being asked of me.  And I'm doing my best... for the most part.

Pinecrest Lake

The perfect end to a perfect General Conference weekend... I need those at LEAST twice a year!  If you missed anything, click here.  It's hard to narrow it down, but my favorites were probably this, this and this.

p.s.  Through a giant shifting of cameras in my extended family, I have inherited a new baby.  I think I'm in love.  I know I'm grateful.

It's Fun to Play at the YMCA

I really should have blogged more while we were living in the tiny house.  Since this is pretty much the extent of my journaling, it would be nice to look back and see what we did to make living in such tight quarters work for us.  In the name of journaling, I will say that a bright spot in our summer was joining the local YMCA.  This allowed Clint and I the opportunity to work out regularly, as family membership includes child care while you exercise.  The older kids went to their group to enjoy art, games and sports.  Gabe went with his group to play toys or do art activities (he never really did the art; too busy playing superheroes with his compadres).  Asher hung with the babies.  Then we would gather them up and go for a swim in the outdoor pool before heading home.  Hot showers and a fresh change of clothes fit somewhere in the mix.  Clint and I enjoyed the exercise, the kids are much better swimmers, and (best of all) we didn't kill each other off while staying at the tiny house.  Yea, yea, and SUPER-yea!!

Because we were busy, busy while at the Y, these are the only pictures I took to record our experiences there:

(Gabe and Asher having fun in the locker room)

Blog-Stealing, or The Ideas You Should Just Walk Away From

You know when you read a great idea from a fellow blogger, and decide to give it a try?  Like when you read about a sweet soul who reads who husband to sleep, and then you think you should do something so kind for your own husband?  Especially when you're on slightly different schedules because he has a long commute to begin an early day of teaching, and you're a bit of  a night owl?  So you try it out... and eventually shut your trap and turn off the lights so he can actually get some shut-eye?  Some things just look better in print.