Signs of Summer

It wouldn't be summer at the Petersen 1/2 Acre without a decent virus complete with five days of throwing up.   Yes, you heard me FIVE days.  No, it was not continuous.  It was nicely spread out throughout the occupants of this house and at decent hours of the night like 3 a.m., 2 a.m., 12 midnight, 1 p.m., etc.  We really know how to party around here. 

It all started when the cousins came to visit.  They arrived in shifts--one left on the doorstep by grandma.   Then four in a van with Aunt M.  They were armed with swimming suits and towels and ready for a party.   I reluctantly began to prepare Petersen Water Park.  I could feel the pukies coming on and I knew it wasn't going to be pretty.  Somehow I also managed to whip up some cookies decent enough to feed hungry cousins and anyone else who cared. 

The cousins suited up and unknown to me the neighbors did too.  At one point I think I hid in my kitchen and peeked out the window while whining to my husband on the phone that there were at least 100 kids in my backyard (I think it was actually 12).  It turns out that the cousins scared off the neighbors and Petersen Water Park closed down just in time for Lydia to start her pukies.  Grandma showed up to take all the cousins back and somehow she left with the one she left on the doorstep.  Then in a strange twist the remaining partiers were picked up and we were still left with one cousin for an overnight stay in the Petersen Puke hotel. 

Somehow it is now Wednesday night and everything is somewhat back to normal.  We are down to no cousins, no pukies, and only two children (Austin is visiting relatives in UT).  I sprayed down the Petersen water park toys with disinfectant.  We have had some trouble with our water park toys and the wind.  I have fished out the Whale pool and the rectangle "big Kid" pool out of our neighbor's yard a few times over the past week.  After I woke up from my pukies yesterday we were again missing a pool.  I think it is a sign that summer is coming to an end.  Thankfully so have the pukies!

My Thoughts Exactly

It is the greatest desire of my heart to share my feelings about motherhood and my life in this stage.  I haven't quite mastered the ability to spill it as I would wish.  Today I was reading my daily dose of C. Jane Enjoy It by blogging author Courtney Kendrick.  At the risk of sounding stalkerish, I feel like she is my twin sister from another life.  We have had similar life experiences and similar life points.  She has inspired me and comforted me with her painfully honest and hilarious writing.  Her middle name is Jane and I am neither confirming or denying that I named my Lydia Jane after her.  Today's post, I'd Like To Think They Picked Me For a Reason struck a major chord of truth with me.  I can simply say, "My Thoughts Exactly!"  Go read it.

Staking a Claim

Who said "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail?"  I am not sure, but I am certain that their are forces at work, for good and evil, when it comes to the precious minutes in a day. 

My summer days are melting away with the 5000 popsicles we consume in a week.  I can't seem to get anything accomplished and there seems to be endless invitations for fun and sun.  I rise with the birds and don't seem to be getting any worms.  My daily battles revolve around the water faucets outside, naptimes, and getting too close to the road.  My secret enemies are the ants hanging around my garage waiting to slurp up forgotten popsicles and the greedy birds raiding my garden.  It may seem like a whole lot of nothing, but it is gobbling up my time like the hot dogs Rider eats for Breakfast, lunch and dinner---ewww!  I am nutritionally balanced Mother of the Year. 

We need a plan and we need more time.  I am going to get to work on that right after I rescue Lydia from Rider and the hose and begin the drying out process for the 4th time today and pick up their uneaten hot dog buns off the grass.  I don't need word getting out to the ant army about that feast. In the meant time I am staking my claim on my time so I can accomplish a whole lot of something before there is nothing left.

The Great Berry Heist

This is the very spot where it took place.  Although, not the very moment--this is a recreation.  I was inspecting my strawberries yesterday.  Some newly ripened berries had disappeared and I was trying to get to the bottom of the crime.  I interrogated Austin and the neighbor boys.  They seemed innocent enough.  As I kneeled down and rustled through the leaves looking for more berries there it was.  Right in the middle of my Strawberry pot was a big fat Robin.  It wasn't moving.  I was a little afraid it was dead, but its head was moving.  The closer I got with my team of investigators it began to show signs of panic.  It found the strength to hop out of the pot and hop across the yard.   I knew it couldn't fly and how did I know?  Rider chased it clear across the yard yelling "here birdie birdie" while it hopped as fast as it twiggy legs would go.  I convinced Rider with a Popsicle to call off his chase.   We went in the house discussing all the ways to help a bird.  Austin wanted me to go immediately to Target to get some bird medicine, "you know like the kind that you put on my owie." 

I completely forgot about my little Strawberry thief.  Later that afternoon the little bird rescuers came in to report to me that their patient had hopped into my window well.  I was relieved it wasn't Rider again, although it is much easier to get Rider out than a scared bird who can't fly.  We had to wait for the cavalry to arrive (Daddy to get home) and he somehow trapped it in a bucket and delivered it to the field across the street.  Luckily nobody but me heard him exclaim "okay, lets take him to the field so the kitties can eat him!"  Yikes!  How would I explain that one. 

I checked first thing this morning to see if maybe by chance he hopped back to the safety of my strawberry pot.  Apparently word travels fast in the bird world.    I noticed all his little friends were there having a feast or maybe it was a bird wake.  I allowed them this one indulgence,but I can't promise anything tomorrow.