Spring turns to Summer

In an effort to keep the journal going, I need to do some major catching up. We've done so much in the last few weeks and I want it to be here so that when I print up my 2008 book, I have it to keep.

June, where did June go? It seemed like the year went from Mother's day to the 4th of July in about a week. I guess that's what happens when you stay busy. We have kept ourselves busy with of course finishing up the school year, soccer, swim lessons, dance recital, play dates, taking the girls riding once a week, YARD WORK!, and a bunch of other little things that all added up in the end.For myself, I am always too busy. I frequently realize this and wish I could undo some of the commitments I make for myself and just chill out more with my kids. Grace wishes this too. Sometimes, I do just make a whole bunch of phone calls and clear the calendar for the week so that I can have my life back. This is what made my month of June too busy (in no particular order):

1- working for the barn from home (camp registration and a small business sort of emergency made things quite busy)
2- taking on 3 math and chemistry tutoring students by the end of the school year
3- being in the relief society presidency
4- being a member of too many enrichment groups - I need to drop out of one!
5- trying to finish book club books (the summer one just isn't going to happen - Atlas Shrugged, or Eclipse? tough choice, but the vampire wins! book club will just be something I go to for friends and food in Sept.)
6- trying to get to some spring cleaning - gave up - it still looks the same, so what's the point?!!
7- taking on YouthLinc again! (this is the group that I traveled with to Kenya when I was a high school teacher... now I'm getting a group started here - they're going to Peru... not me...) www.youthlinc.org

Hattie and Grace always keep me busy, but I do wish I had more time to just be with them than to be busy with them. Like right now, should I go play with them, or should I blog? If I don't blog, then I won't have a family journal. If I don't play with them, then what's the point of having a family to write about? I always feel this conflict no matter what I'm doing.

That's what is so great about getting away though. We just got back from 2 weeks in Utah where I spent lots of time with them, and little time worrying about busy details. That will be the next blog. For now, here are some final spring pictures:(Oh hello little froggy, says Velvet!)

(I like blue birthday cake!)

(two eastern cottontails having a conversation in our road)

(Peter Cottontail in OUR garden!)

(Grace's soccer team, FIRE, with their coach)

(Daddy and Hattie enjoying Grace's last soccer game)

(Grace teaching her friends yoga instead of going after the soccer ball!)

(Grace and her soccer medal)

(male and female woodpeckers on one of our trees - click and make it bigger!)