I'm Back

Really I am!

18 more days of school for the kids.

I've been cleaning and organizing for Summer.

My motto is "no surface left untouched."

I've hauled 11 bags to Goodwill this week, and oh does it feel good.

I'm almost done with a room redo.

Can you tell whose it is?

Linnea, Sofi, and Izzy all share a room.

They needed a little tweeking.

Seven days of work,

and it's almost ready to show you.

One more pic that's going on the wall...

Linnea surprised me with this beauty last week.

The colors are perfect for their room.

-julie

Proud of My Boy

Confirmed on Sunday.

Here he is carrying all 3 sisters...

I can't find heels tall enough anymore, so why bother? Oy.

Best buds still....

My two boys...
Thanks Carl for bringing so much joy to everyone you meet!

Love you,

Mom

I think I need one of these....

photo Elle Decor

In here...

Wouldn't it be fabulous?

Why or why didn't I think of this?

This truly is a revelation.

Now to find an old rowboat...

Any in the barn Dad?

I'm hitting Craigslist and Freecycle right now.

Much more critical than dealing with housecleaning. :)

Anyone else finding that April is insanely busy?

Our schedule is nuts.

I hate it.

I love that the kids are in activities they love...but it's nuts.

I'm dying for our big get-away at the end of June.

An adults only wedding, on Mackinac island, for a special cousin.

Two nights in a small B&B away from it all...

Yippee!

Mark and I haven't had a vacation together since our trip to China to bring home Izzy.

We had two nights in Hong Kong, and one or two nights in Chongqing without kids.

That will be 7 years in September.

I think we are overdue.

Thank goodness for something to look forward to...

Off to search for my boat while playing a little Lyle Lovett...

-julie

Out the Door Drawer

Is back in business!

What was a drawer filled with junk,

is now functional and pretty.

Give it a week in this house and I'm sure it will be another story...

Take some muffin tins,

little bundt pans,

and GG Lil's vintage Swedish tablecloth,

And you have this....

A place for everything,

and everything in it's place.

These are the "grab quick" items before we head "out the door."

It's situated in the big black island cabinet in the kitchen.

Clips, ponytail holders, combs, brush, chapstick, hand sanitizer, band-aids, etc.

I keep opening it...

Day 3 and it's still all orderly...

and makes me happy.

See?

This is how I clean!

-julie

I found baby Jesus in the dust

I really did.

The kids didn't think he came this year.

He was right there....behind the old clock.

With another baby Jesus.

Apparently Santa forgot to bring him out on Christmas Eve.

It's a little tradition, filled with poor theology.

Apparently I haven't dusted behind this clock since then.

:)

-julie

Suzy Homemaker is A Figment of the Imagination

Clearly she did not have four children,

or two dogs,

or a husband who works 80 hour work weeks.

Clearly she had no life outside of the home.

Clearly she had too much time on her hands....

I'm cleaning today...again.

It's never ending,

and somehow I need to find a way to enjoy it.

But I don't.

Aren't I little merry sunshine?

I haven't seen her lately either.

I need this ground to dry for the annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday.

The clock is ticking, and the yard needs a final clean-up.

Blah,

julie

Procrastinating

Again.

I have another deadline looming.

Pretty sure I have ADD.

Pretty sure I know what branch of the family it came from.

I need to finish up this baby for a fundraiser at Water Street Studios.

To finish this would mean I'd be surrounded by this mess,

And I'd need to pass by this room,

Which is in some serious need of my attention.

I'd also pass by this unfinished project.

I thought it would be easy.

Famous last words.

Meanwhile, the weasel could use some love and care.

She and I have a love hate relationship.

I think she'd do well to live on a farm in Door County....

If I take her outside,

I'd have to see the unfinished house,

We're getting there...

But we have a ways to go.

We've hired the painter.

We need to hang the mailbox.

We need to make a decision on a door,

and spruce up the swing, and clean up the beds,

But it's raining today.

At least the lights are hung.

The garden is in progress,

and we've decided on a wood ceiling...

So here I sit with my cup of coffee, in a very quiet house.

Have I mentioned recently how much I love my Keurig machine?

I've named it Victoria...after my dear friend who suggested countless times I needed one.

It makes a perfect cup every time.

No mess.

Perfect temperature.

Done.

I need to purchase more K-cups. Any favorites??

Off to drink another cup and end the cycle of procrastination.

-julie