I don't write in my blog enough anymore. I make excuses about not having time to write, or anything substantial to say since my days are measured in diapers and fruit snacks, but really it is just me being lazy. I don't' want to be lazy anymore. I have lots of thoughts in my head and I'm tired of sharing them with the facebook world. So, I'm going to set up even more lists on facebook and block all but a few people from reading my updates and I'll send myself back here, to this blank canvas to put down my thoughts on "paper". Let's see how it goes.

We had a lovely weekend last week. Quiet swim class Saturday at home. Luke will almost always nap through swim class which means I'll miss it a lot. This makes me super sad because I love to watch Grant swim. He wears a bubble on Saturday for his lesson, but when he swims during the week at Laura's house he doesn't use any kind of floatation device. He plays with a noodle and will use it if he's going to the deep end sometimes, but most of the time it is just him doing the swimming thing. Starting swim lessons at 6 months seems silly to many friends and family, but it was definitely money well spent in my eyes. He's a little fish--and it makes me proud! Sunday we went to visit T's parents. We hit the pool there, showed Grant the sailboat, a delicious lunch, shopping with Pam. It was relaxing and fun.

Work has been trying this week. I'm not incredibly busy, which is frustrating for me. We've also got some morale issues in the office and we've kind of split into two teams. I find that frustrating. I get a lot of my energy, positive or negative, from those around me. One woman in particular is pumping off negative energy and it frustrates me. We don't live with the rest of our division, which is great most of the time, but in the summer when there are only three people in our house and one of them is a super sourpuss, it zaps you. Pushing through and trying to remain positive and find something to keep working on. Read an article this morning that reminded me that blogging is a great outlet for frustration. Hence my posting revival.

Hard to leave the boys on days when work is crabby. Also on days when the weather is amazing, as it is today. beautiful summer week. other than the tornado warning on Monday. normally i would have just ignored it, but in the wake of the last tornado that hit a mile away from us, i paid attention. must like the devastating one that hit us six weeks ago, i was literally on the streets a few towns over from ours that are still closed with downed trees and power lines when i was at the dentist. i apparently leave a trail of devastation in my wake. wow. but today looks like another beauty. can't wait to get outside for lunch to enjoy. i like thinking about G out on the swings with his little buddies on days like this. I'm jealous of his summer days-and his amazing summer tan!

thinking of starting a reality show for our student workers. something real world/road rules challenge. would be great! we've got some characters this summer, some dramatic student story lines, and another coworker and i would write great dialog. this is what i do in my head sometimes on days like this when I'm unfocused and unexcited. also, I'm going to find G a dentist and start pricing how much to move a piano from my parents house to my house. my mother might literally fall over if i make it finally happen!

Time moves so quickly and despite wanting to document ever minute, I've simply been living in the moment and enjoying being present. Someday Luke will complain about the lack of baby pictures and I'll remind him he's the youngest (like his father and I) and so he's spoiled rotten and the lack of baby pictures is just what he'll have to live with for the life of leisure! Here is a photo from yesterday of my two sweet boys together




I adore this photo. Grant looks just like he does in real life-full of excitement and wonder with a beautiful smile and big brown eyes. Luke looks a little chunkier than he really is in this photo, but it is well worth it to have a picture where they are both happy and smiling. Luke is a super smiley baby-very happy-but a mama's boy for sure. If Mom is around very few others will do. He's growing so fast and is very physically advanced for his age-rolling over both ways at will and desperate to sit up. He's getting a set of matching dimples on his cheeks, which he'll use to make the ladies swoon in another 20 years. He's also started laughing a little and we've found he's ticklish on his tummy and his neck. Big brother loves the little guy and often includes him in games of pretend. This weekend he was Cubby from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. I have a feeling the nickname may stick. Luke also goes by nicknames Luka-Pooka, Pooka-Nut, and Lukie-Poo...the last from his big brother. Luke likes nothing better than watching Grant run around and play. He's facing forward now in his front pack, so he's happy to be able to see more of the world around him. My guess is he is an early walker (unlike Grant who was our lazy boy and didn't walk until 14 months) and once he starts moving he'll never stop.

Taylor and I try to enjoy ever moment with them and keep up with the demands of real life. I've been back to work for a few weeks and Luke is doing well at Laura's. He's exhausted when I pick him up most days from being with all of the big kids all day. He seems to be thriving though and Grant has adjusted to having him there full time. I like knowing that they are together throughout the day and have each other to lean on. It seems like just yesterday that Grant was this size and we were finally moving into our new house and yesterday for the first time I suggested we've outgrown our space and need to think of expanding. Three years goes by in the blink of an eye and I try to be very aware that in another three we'll be at tee-ball games and getting ready for the first grade and preschool and this will be a simple memory.

Other aspects of life are doing well. I'm excited to become an auntie and godmother in a few short weeks to sweet baby Elinor and to become an auntie once more in January. That the girls and I will have three new babies in under a year seems unreal. talk about live moving fast and things changing. it was just G for so long, then G and Sam and next time we're blessed to be together there will be five of them! I can't wait to have the noise and the craziness that goes with it. That's what family is supposed to feel like-sprinklers and Popsicles and bare feet and laughter from children who wear nothing but swimsuits all day and glasses of wine and burgers and early bedtimes and adults catching up around the fire. We're not quite there yet, but peak ahead two summers and you can see the simplicity and ease of it all. I can't wait!

Summer days are rolling by and we would love to see any and all of you. We're sticking close to home this summer with no vacations planned. If you're nearby, please connect with us. So many of you have had changes in your own life and we would love to reconnect and learn about what makes your life special.