Do you ever feel...

overwhelmed?  Crazy (okay, crazier)?  Under appreciated?  So exhausted that you can't even sleep?

Ya, me either.  I'm trying not to whine.  

Okay, I'm going to whine.

I'm not having a banner day.  But don't we all have those days?  I'm having one today.  Well really, I'm having one of those weeks, and I'm not sure why.

Well, maybe I know why...

I wish I was still in Arizona.  In the sun.  With my cousins.  With a mimosa in-hand.

Can I still be battling jet lag?  For some reason, my not-so-spring-chicken-like body just isn't recovering like it once did.  Of course, being able to actually sleep would really help things... but, that would make things too easy.

I'm missing my husband something fierce.

I'm trying to adjust to the boys' soccer schedule.  Would it be too much to ask for all siblings' practices to line up on the same day/time?  Who's with me??!  ;)  I know that's an impossible feat, but wouldn't it be great?

I've been cleaning my house, and while you can tell, you can't tell as much as I'D like.  For unknown reasons, I decided to get into some small detail stuff -- y'know, the things that no one else will see except for me?  Ya.  It's easier to focus on little things like that instead of 5000 sq. ft. of a looming-laundry-filled-needing-to-be-vacuumed-dust-bunny-ridden-messy-kitchen house.  I'd love to think that by now, you could eat off of the floors.  Although, I wouldn't recommend it.  I'm not mopping until Saturday night.  Eat at your own risk.   

June Cleaver, I'm not.

In my mind, I picture Peg Bundy... minus the big red hair.

Thing 1 is being Confirmed on Sunday.  This is a big milestone, and one that I couldn't be more proud of him for accomplishing.  But, Mike won't be here to see it.  That makes me sad.  Thank God for technology... our church is providing a live-stream, so he can log on half-way across the world to see his first son Confirmed.  That makes me happy!  I just wish he'd be sitting beside me though.  He would squeeze my shoulder when my eyes would tear up, and then I'd pretend to have just yawned.  What?  I'm not crying. (sniff sniff)  He knows me too well.

We have family & friends coming in for Thing 1's Confirmation.  Nothing makes me happier than sharing this day with family & friends.  So, I'm having an Open House after church to keep the celebrating going.  Hence, the extra cleaning.

I have decided, as my friend Val put it, to outsource my cooking duties.  With everything else going on, I have realized that I don't have the time to cook what I want to cook for Sunday.  Thank you, Kroger, for your deli trays, veggie trays and fruit trays.  You just made my life 12x easier.  Yes, it's more expensive than doing it myself, but you know what?  My time is worth $$, too!  My friend Rachel is making Thing 1's cake because she's awesome like that.  Her cakes are amazing.  Is it wrong that I'm more excited for the cake than the actual food?

Okay, I got all of that out.  I feel better now.

I've decided that as soon as everyone leaves on Sunday, I will change from my nice dress, straight into pajamas.  I will then hold down the couch until it's time to go to bed & start all over for another week.  ;)

Spring Break!

The boys & I just returned from our Spring Break vacation.  And wow, what a vacation it was!!

This vacation was much needed for many reasons.  It was our "half-way" point during Mike's deployment, it was a time to be spent with family, it was a time to relax, and it was a time to change the scenery from our everyday lives.  And, I think we accomplished all of those scenarios!!  

The boys & I flew to Arizona to stay with my parents at their winter home.  As the always-appreciated extra bonus, we also get to see my grandparents, aunt/uncle, as well as another uncle.  Little by little, my dad's family is moving out west -- and into the same retirement park!  

We had planned on going out all along, but this year, other family members joined in, and it turned into quite the family reunion!  I think the last head-count ended up being 30 people all together.  And while that number sounds high, that still wasn't even everyone!  However, getting that many people to one destination is quite a feat -- and a special one at that.  Both of my parents come from large families -- my dad being one of 5 children, my mom being one of 6 children -- and those children had children, and those children had children... I love big families!!  Yes, it can be chaotic sometimes, but it's a good chaos.  

I digress.  Here are some things I took in during our week away:

1.  All diets go out the window when your grandmother loves to bake, bake, bake; and your parents/aunts/uncles love to cook, cook, cook.  I mean, who am I not to partake?  

2.  It's always 5:00 somewhere.  Even at 8 in the morning.  

3.  Some days are meant to be spent either in your pajamas or in your bathing suit.  Or both.

4.  The game "Draw Something" is addictive.  And I may be responsible for a few family members going to Draw Something Anonymous meetings...

5.  Laying out in the sun with cousins & cocktails is mandatory.  Oh, and so are Real Simple & US Magazines. 

6.  Cousins are your first friends who love you and completely understand your crazy family members!  

And our kids getting to know each other & hanging out like we did when we were younger is priceless!!

7.  The "Game of Things" played Beyers-style is the BEST. GAME. EVER.  Pair that with margaritas, and well, the game took on a whole new meaning.  I think my face & stomach still hurt from laughing so hard!!!

8.  Having grandparents who are 90 & 94 years old is amazing.  I only hope that I'm half as active as they are when I reach either of those ages!

9.  The Grand Canyon really puts things into perspective for you.  Just when you think you're big in this world, stand next to the Canyon.  You become very aware of just how small you are.  You also become very aware of how few fences/guard rails there are, and become an instant nervous wreck & hold onto your children for dear life!!  Another observation... I was amazed at how eerily quiet it is at the canyon.  Aside from a random person talking next to you, all you hear is the wind blowing through the trees.  The view, the quiet... if I could sum it up into one word, it would be "amazing".  

10.  Visiting one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" with your children & your parents is a kind of special that you just can't put into words.  It's a moment in time that I'll never forget.

11.  Visiting Sedona and climbing a small mountain with your children is one of the best feelings in the world. 

12.  Meeting an old friend for lunch makes you realize that some friends really are for life.

13.  No matter how old you get to be, staying with your parents makes you feel like you're a kid again.

14.  I get sappy & nostalgic when I'm low on sleep, jet-lagged and still in a partial food-coma.

Here's hoping we have more trips like this one!!!