Chris and I wonder. Our lives have become so full, that is seems there either isn’t time for much socializing or maybe it is just that we are so bad about making time for it? Our pre-baby friends were nothing short of amazing. I think of all these wonderful people so often. But when I finally get the time to write an email or make a phone call, there are at least a hundred things already in line for my attention. I am either so tired or prefer to be entirely selfish with my time – just vegging out knitting or working on a pet project of mine.

When do I take the time? At Christmas – I write personal notes to all of them lamenting my absence from their lives and they reply with amazing emails and notes. And then I am silent again until next Christmas.

Friendships shouldn’t be hard work, but they do need to be nurtured. And at this particular time, I just don’t know how to do it. Even now, I sit here wonderful how Jackie it doing – is she pregnant? How is Suzanne – she just had her second baby..how is that transition going? How is Alisha – she is pregnant right now. I missed her shower – they held one for her in May and I was going to contact Steph and see how I could somehow be a part of it (they are in Seattle). I never got around to it. And how is Steph – I missed her wedding – I just couldn’t make it at that time with the kids. How is life? I miss her a ton. How are the Vincera crew – the family of friends when Chris worked at that startup. What is Brad up to these days? And Jenn Walters – a doctor – about time!! She sent me a wonderful email of updates and I need to respond.

I know, I just need to do it – maybe it just seems like too big a task. Just as I was getting so comfortable in this introverted mode, the extrovert inside of me is restless. That side of me wants to make contact and check in on those relationships. But I have so much to do here and to shirk my chores – well that stuff builds up and makes the house chaotic which doesn’t do well for my stay at home job.

Actually, if all these people would just blog, then it would be fine. I always feel close to Laura-Cat and Elizabeth. I may be more of a lurker on their blogs (I am trying to get better about leaving comments), but I know they read my blog too. We co-lurk! But that knowledge somehow connects us. If I blogged some SOS message – they would pop right up in my comments or email. It is a cool feeling. So maybe I just need to work on that blog angle?? Everyone needs one!! :-p

Chris said he is in a slump and I don’t know where I am..overwhelmed maybe. But I think we are both feeling the need to have a little more community around us, but just aren’t sure how to go about that.

Having kids really changes everything… *sigh* Did I mention I am about to take on a small part time job? I know, I am crazy. You won’t be the first person to think that! :-p

A few additional thoughts:

• post-baby friends – you are NOT chopped liver!  This is more about our college friends and the those from the early days of our marriage.
• A friend on another blog has dinners at friends’ houses.  It sounds so blissful, but I don’t know how we could pull that off with toddlers at that time of day especially if the other family had young kids too.  Some times it works out and sometimes it doesn’t.   We just need to start calling people and doing stuff….

One of the many things I adore about Quinn is that while having an older sibling who very much influences her, she also does her OWN thing. As is the case with the bed jumping – she has her own style. One that looked so fun, that Tyler adopted it as well!

(and notice how in the second, Quinn decides to put the kabash on the hand holding..”do myself, do myself!”)

The videos might take a while to load – be patient – they are really fun!

Here is a pic of Quinn that Tyler took..

In my continued quest, I am learning how really, less is more. I had been planning this elaborate summer table and of course, hadn’t gotten around to actually execute any of them. What I learned at the summer rhythms class from Laura is that especially as the kids grow older, THEY will be making things for the summer table, so sometimes it is best to make a simple table that we can grow as a family. And if I have time to add fun things, then by all means do – but it doesn’t have to be an extravaganza from the get go. I still have several years of childhood to craft and add to our seasonal decorations.

With that I give you our seasonal table – a blue cloth, a shell, another shell doing duty as a boat, and lots of room for the kids natural treasures!

And to illustrate that it doesn’t take much – Tyler woke up the next morning, saw the table and said excitedly, “is it summer?!!”

I told Chris that May would fly by and it so did. June will be more of the same. I have to chuckle when my aim these days is to simplify and slow down because sometimes it seems I am doing just the opposite. Life is good, just really busy. Chris job continues to be insane and my house and personal projects are mounting.

In two or three weeks, we will begin visiting the kids’ new school twice a week. The aim is to spend about 5 to 6 weeks acclimating them before their official start date. I am most worried about Quinn and hoping that she will take to napping there. Thankfully, this school is amazing and I have no worried whatsoever about it..more just Quinn’s comfort level and how she will accept this new separation from me. Time will only tell.

I took an amazing summer rhythms class two weeks ago and man, it has had the best impact on our days. We can really stay home all day and have a great time. I will post more about that later. For now, I am going to try to get some “catch up” posts up.

Urg, well now I am pissed because I can’t find the directory with some of the pics I wanted to post. My first inclination is to suspect my son who loves to get on the computer and click away. And the kid can do some damage… he has ordered a book from Amazon (one-click ordering is bad thing with kids) and has selected several of my email messages before and deleted them. He has moved my photo folders inside of each other. And all he is doing is just randomly clicking around.. *sigh* I have some small pics of a few things that I will email to friends and will post those.

We have gotten some things done and here are a few picks of what we have accomplished.  The backyard project was a pretty ambitious one.  I still have the boat to refinish, but am learning from my hubby who is teaching me to enjoy what we have DONE and not keep looking at what is left on the list.   Not pictured are the sandbox covers to go over the 8 x 8 sandbox -those were more of a bear to build than I thought they would be.  My incredible hubby helped me get those done.

I have been working on the farm when time allows and am now getting the crops put it – yay!  Last but not least our custom-built bookbase unit arrived  It is so beautiful and completely amazing.  And of course the arrival of this piece has spurred the completion of that back room.   There is SO much to be done back there.  All in due time of course!