Summer Break Week 2

Our entire state seems to be ablaze. I took this picture from our upstairs window, just as the sun began to set. Proof that beauty can be found everywhere; even in tragedy.

On a lighter, and much bigger note, take a look at the ginormous egg we got from our backyard hens this week-

Have you ever seen anything like it?  It was "a double" as the boys call it (a double yolk).  Just like my children, my chickens are also gifted.  No surprises there.

Week two of summer break is coming to a close, and I continue to clean constantly.  My house is strewn with wet swimsuits, stray underwear, lone socks (always inside out and curiously wet), soaked towels, bubble wands, kite string, and crumbs from children snacking on the CONSTANT go.

Taken from my mom, I've always tried to maintain a house that could welcome unexpected guests.  Needless to say, the hurricane of boys in and out of my home has weathered me.

However, last night I came across a quote that just may save my sanity -

"Cleaning your house while your children are home is the equivalent to brushing your teeth while eating Oreos."

This is the testimony I so desperately needed to hear.  I have been reborn.

Week one comes to a close....

Our first week of summer break is almost over, and I can't believe how quickly it flew by.

My house has been infiltrated with children from near and far. It's loud, it's even more disheveled than normal, and it's become hard to keep track of who's coming and going.  We always have an extra body (or two...or three....or four) joining us for lunch or dinner, or crashing at our pad for the night. It makes me happy that the boys enjoy bringing their pals to our house. I can only hope they still want to make this their hang out as they get older. A girl can dream, right?

The numbers of children aren't the only things increasing within these walls.  The sum of random stabbings has also hit an all-time high.

Summer Break; Day 3

This is our third official day of summer break, and I want to share what I've learned.

*I spend the day cleaning. No really, I spend the day cleaning. Keeping up after 5 boys, 24 hours a day, is a dirty job. Lucky for them, I'm always close behind, dustpan and disinfectant in hand.

* My boys feel the need to eat ALL. DAY. LONG.  The next person who says "I'm hunnnnngarrrrryyyyyy" goes straight to time out.  Come on, I dare you.

*My children have a band-aid addiction.  Did they ask for band-aids round the clock at school?  Surely they didn't.  We've gone through an entire box in 24 hours.  Though it seems mundane, this topic is high priority at the next family meeting.  I realize I have much bigger fish to fry, but the whole band-aid fixation is making me nutty.  You're not bleeding?  Step away from the band-aids!  Try to sneak one, and you'll find yourself against the wall, alongside the brother who said he was hunnnnngarrrrryyyy.

*We're all getting along wonderfully!  I acknowledge that I most likely just shot myself in the hip.  I really don't want to jinx the camaraderie that is taking place here, I just wanted to brag a little.

*Perhaps the most thrilling news of all is that I can now handle ALL 5 boys at the pool ALL BY MYSELF.  I've taken them 3 times and today I even let them bring a friend.  That's right, 6 boys! Have you any idea how liberating this feels? 

The sprouts and I are having a lovely start to summer break.  If things continue to run so smoothly, I may never send them back to school.

(That was a joke)