The big news for me is this past Sunday I got released from serving the women in our ward.  Whew.  I am so excited - my schedule just got MUCH more clear!  I feel like I finally have time to clean up the house and finish moving in.  We never really settled since I received that calling about 8 weeks after moving in.  So, what have I done with the past 3 days?  The kids started swim team and even though nobody has had even a lesson, they are doing fantastic and adjusting and, most importantly, enjoying themselves.  Here’s to a glimpse of summer! 

Look at these pictures from Hen & Hammock - a UK gardening site I just found tonight. What cute swings! I love the phrase on the edge - so cute and fun. Plus, be sure to check out the ideas at the UK gardening magazine called Country Homes & Interiors - great ideas, all!

I’m extremely sad today. My boys are growing up. No more kindergartner for 2 years (and then I’ll REALLY cry!). Not to mention that my kids are about to wreak havoc on my life for the next 3 months! I absolutely love having them home but — let’s be honest — I’m not going to enjoy cleaning even MORE than I already am for showings, etc. I think we’ll be playing outside. A lot. I think I might pull out some summer plans that we made last year that we never got around to doing for one reason or another. The kids had some great ideas:

- talent show
- visiting an old folks’ home
- plant a garden (we’ve put off too long thinking we’re moving)
- surprise a family with cookies
- study birds
- visit a farmer’s market
- make homemade syrup night (elderberries, anyone?)
- pumpkin patch
- art night at a museum
- bike night
- rolfson track & field
- numbers night (I don’t even remember what this is!!!)
- tent in the backyard
- camping
- dance night
- cooking night
- campfire night
- no tv week
- reading night (okay, so we practically do this one every night)

Not a bad list to start, right? I’m going to aim low - one special thing a week. I can handle that!

Look at these pretty beach-y pictures mentioned at Home Workshop. It makes me want a vacation so badly (and boy do I deserve one since hubby left for Houston without us over 2 weeks ago!). The thought of an entire year or longer living like this makes me swoon (and not in a romantic way!)…I’m going to my happy place…in my head, anyway, and it’s A BEACH RESORT!!!