Hello Sunshine.

We have been so lucky this week. The rain has finally stopped and we've been able to hit the pool daily for the past three days. The kids really needed it. They were starting to go stir crazy with all this time in the house and I'd like to add that it wasn't a picnic for me either. lol Our rainy day activities were cleaning, Legos, TV, video games and lots of reading. Not a lot of large muscles being used, so that energy went into fighting. Every little thing was ending in a battle. That has made me even more thankful to see the sun this week. Thank you sunshine!!!

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. School will be starting in just a few weeks. This year both my sweet babies will be "in school". Mallory will be in Kindergarten, while Mitchell technically will be in the third grade. I say "technically" because we homeschool. With homeschooling you tailor school work around your child's abilities. Mitchell ranges from grade level (spelling) to several grades ahead (math & science).

We are in the process of trying to make final decisions about our beach trip this year. Michael has to get approval for the days off at work, while I research hotels. After our beach trip with the outlaws two years ago, I learned that 1) Don't spend 24/7 with people that can't stand to be around you and 2) I LOVE less developed beach areas now. Since I'm not wasting my time thinking/typing about our fake family, let me get into #2.

Since early childhood I remember going to Myrtle Beach. We didn't go every year but when we went to the beach it was ALWAYS Myrtle. We lived in a small town, so the activities, crowds or people, tons of restaurants, and amusement parks were what I lived for. I couldn't imagine going to some quiet out of the way beach with not much to offer but.......the OCEAN. That was then.

Now my days, weeks, months, & years are filled with what seems like non-stop activities. We are always doing fun things. Things that when I was a child I rarely got to do. These days I want to go to the beach to relax. I don't want to be entertained the entire trip. I want lazy days spent in the water or sand with the occasional dinner out. I'm sure we'll take the kids out somewhere fun at least one day while we are there but for the most part, we will be total beach bums. I can hardly wait!