The Next Chapter

After many, many, MANY months (years) of deliberating and weighing pros and cons and spreadsheeting, I finally listened to my heart, soul, and gut and joined the world of the unemployed on Tuesday.  I have no idea what's on the horizon, but I do know that my very next chapter begins and ends with being a mom.  No more work-life balancing, no more throwing multiple balls in the air only to watch them drop, no more answering emails on my Blackberry while playing Candyland (although, I must admit that Candyland bores me so much that multitasking is a prerequisite to keeping it palatable).  I'm three days in, and I already feel more relaxed.  My mind is racing decidedly less, my patience a little thicker.  Though friends who told me I would be busier at home than I ever was at work were so right, the time seems also to pass a little more slowly.  Life isn't quite so frantic, and there is actually time to be spontaneous and unplanned.  Imagine that!  Me, without a plan!  It is scary and liberating and delightfully calming all at the same time.

I have realized, however, that I underestimated the amount of home stuff I was able to accomplish during my work day.  I'm sure I will get into a new rhythm, particularly once the boys are back in school, but right now, the laundry is piling up and this house could really use a clean.  But it's all good.  I am relishing saying "yes" a lot more often, getting down on the floor and building Lego vehicles, snuggling on the couch with a long juicy chapter book, getting out the paints and smocks that never get used for fear of making too much mess or taking too much time.  So it really is all good, even for this Type A control freak mama.   And one day, I will catch up on this here blog, particularly on the amazing week we had at the lake with Grandma and Grandpa, Gwen and Mike, and their boys.  It was pure bliss, and I need to properly document it with words and pictures.  

For now, I'll say that weekends with friends are the best.  And we were lucky enough to have two of them in a row in July - a weekend at the lake with the Lees, and then a weekend at Storyland with the Fundys and Greiners.  Though we don't see these friends nearly as much as we'd like, we always pick up right where we left off.  And watching the next generation do the same is just icing on the cake.  

Maybe my next gig should be as a school librarian?  Seriously, this was the only minute all four kids were still all weekend.

Some would say "aw, look at them holding hands!".  Until you realize Ethan has a vice grip on Adam and is essentially dragging him up Tir'em.

Did I mention that Davis is really handy to have around when there are rocks to be scaled (or children to be rescued from said rocks)?

Waiting to get into Storyland

Trying to occupy six little ones while waiting to get into Storyland

Said efforts clearly failing. 

And we're in!  And driving. 

Scary flash forward to 10-12 years from now. 

We had great weather for our Storyland trip - warm enough that the water rides were big hits.

Particularly if they involved getting grown-ups really soaked.

Failed attempt at a group photo.  Our boys were clearly very cooperative.

Yet if you ask them to pose as pirates, they're all over it.

Hmmm...now we know where they get it from.

All for posing here too!

About to get craaazy (read: nauseous) on the crazy barn ride. 

Again, no family resemblance here or anything...

On our way out.  A successful Storyland outing = smiles all around.

Another attempt at a group shot.  Leave it to Adam to make it his own.

Grown-ups (and babies) are so much more cooperative

Back at the ranch, we were treated to an amazingly entertaining kids' concert.  Ethan on pink ukulele really clinched it for me.

Before heading home on Sunday, we (and 200 other folks with the same idea) took a brief hike to Diana's Baths.

Oh how I love summer!  More later...maybe in September?