Gotta Have It

Yesterday I was merrily cleaning my countertops, like I do about 50 times each day, and feeling especially happy about 409 and paper towels. I found myself actually thinking, Man, what would I do without 409 and paper towels? I am totally dependent on them. I use them constantly. Mmm my counters smell so clean. How much of this stuff do I go through? And on and on. This quickly evolved into me wondering what other seemingly insignificant items of my life I am totally dependent on. Three things immediately came to mind, in this order:

The calendar. Seriously I can't live without it. I don't write down the built-ins (you know, piano, soccer practices, dance, scouts, bishopric meetings, etc) because those things happen every week--they'd hog all the space and make it look like I'm just trying to have a full calendar. But everything else? It's on there. (Wow I can't wait for August. July ended up with way too much scribbling.)

Chocolate. Not in an eat-this-whole-bag-in-one-sitting kind of way. I'm talking a touch of chocolate here and there. I've become a simplist, so milk chocolate totally does the trick. It's good for my soul.

Chapstick. Specifically, Natural Ice chapstick. I don't need to apply it 100 times a day, but I HAVE to have it at bedtime. Otherwise it gets ugly. I've never found a good replacement brand until two weeks ago when a friend introduced me to Burt's Beeswax (I think that's what it's called?). It's also good and minty fresh. If the world supply of Natural Ice dries up, I now have a backup. I am SO relieved.

If it were winter yesterday, I would have instantly thought of one more insignificant, yet absolutely necessary item:

Hot chocolate. Wait I need to write that in italics. Hot chocolate. I don't put marshmellows in mine, but you get the idea. This is my seasonal replacement for the milk chocolate. Words can't express the delight and comfort I glean from cozying up with a mug of hot chocolate to sip. Long sigh...

Well, now I'm just happy. I guess it really is about the simple things.

All is Well

I'm running out the door, but I've been meaning to get back to my blog for days--it's plaguing me that my last post was depressing and has been sitting there being depressing since last Wednesday, giving the impression that I continue to be depressed... Well, I'm not. Nothing like a family party, a pedicure with a friend, a giganto master list of all things family and household in the universe, an exciting new project, a surprisingly insightful hometeaching visit, and father's back-to-school blessings to remind me that I love my life, craziness and all. Thanks for the comments and conversations, friends. I'm blessed to have such great women in my life.

On the Couch

Life is wearing on me a bit lately. I decided it was time to sit down and figure it out after I found myself in tears in the Target parking lot earlier this week. I've pinpointed the possible culprits, in ascending order:

1. The much-needed break we've been "enjoying" from our regular schedule is actually depressing me. Plus it's just plain HOT outside. I think it's sucking the life out of me.

2. Too many aspects of my life are disorganized, neglected, or undone. The 'need-to-do' list is long and broad, we're bursting at the seams, and I need to GET A GRIP. I'm seized with the desire to send everyone away for 2 weeks while I tackle the list. This includes leveling the house, rebuilding one of my foolproof designs, and gingerly filling it with exactly what we need, in thoughtfully-organized and asthetically-pleasing order, of course. It would totally work because I will have sent everyone to a 2-week clinic called 'How to Maintain Thoughtfully-Organized and Asthetically-Pleasing Order'. They have those, you know.

3. I've been in one or more phases of baby mode since Sept 2005. And I'm not seeing the end of the tunnel yet. It's like I'm in a stall pattern. Or Groundhog's Day. Been here, done this. Oh wait, here I am again. It's blurry and exhausting and made more complicated because the older kids aren't waiting for the little ones to catch up. It's like our family is on this fast moving train and we're speeding along the track with me barely hanging onto the back of the caboose with one hand and clutching Logan behind me with the other. I want to get him on the train, but I can't seem to catch us up. Oh, and Fisher is teetering on the edge of the caboose and I'm blocking him from falling off with one of my legs. And the dining car is empty. Yeah, that about sums it up. It's putting me over the edge.

Sooo...time to rally. I haven't completely figured this part out.

The first thing I'll do is make a giganto master list of all things family and household in the universe that need my attention. I will quite successfully resist the urge to post this on my blog. Then I will.....pull myself back up and hit it again. Maybe I can get both hands on the caboose and both little ones seatbelted in this time. That sounds nice.

5 Things I've Been Doing Lately...

#1: Getting my wisdom teeth pulled.
Eww. Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE dental work? Well, I really hate it. Happily I went to an oral surgeon. Things we learned from this experience: Tracy and pain medication aren't the best combo. Also, getting your teeth pulled makes you drool. While you're sleeping, of course. Rick says I drooled so much he had to change my pillowcase, but I think he's just being dramatic. Then again, I was pretty out of it. The good news is I can almost open my mouth all the way again. Call it a victory.

#2: Fourth of July Traditions!

We kicked it off with a McGee family outdoor breakfast, saw Wall-E and BBQ-ed with friends, and later, walked over to lay under our awesome city fireworks. We love doing this every year and thought this year was the best yet. Really, the entire sky was lit up. Tyler & Katy visited and we finally got to meet our newest niece!

The ten (soon to be 11!) grandkids together in Mom & Dad's backyard

Brayden with Claire

Maddie with Leah & Lucy

Connor lounging

The 2-year old club

Happy4th!

(Can I EVER get a picture with ALL eyes open and looking at me?)

#3: Going to the JOURNEY concert!

So much FUN! It was a trip back in time with a few of our neighbors...and check out the new lead singer--he sounded so good! There's nothing like outdoor, live music in on a summer night. We're looking forward to Brian Regan next month...not music, but sooo funny.

#4: Being hot.
In temperature. Thanks, though.

And FINALLY,

#5: Girls Camp, Girls Camp, GIRLS CAMP!!
I saved the biggest for last. Lots of work, but the results were worth it, bear-sightings and brazen potguts included! I quickly learned that I can get hot and dusty enough to want to zipline into an algae-filled lake. Many times. And think it's fun. And then take a serious shower. Check this and this out for a glimpse (of girls camp, not the showers.)

Rick got to come up on bishopric day to help out with our amazing 'Are You Anchored?" race and experience the zipline and the challenge course. Since there's never a dull moment with Rick, he shaved the skin off his fingers on the rope swing, requiring humorous first aid and entertaining the girls to no end. He'll never live it down, but it's good to be loved. All and all, it was a successful week, with major kudos to Maverick! Good women, good girls, good times. I loved being part of it.

Riddle Me This

Along with being away from the blogging world lately, life has also kept me from my morning workout routine. At the beginning of the year (as soon as Logan started sleeping through the night), I started getting up early again to exercise. I am not a sunshiney morning person, but I had two specific goals in mind: 1. lose the babies weight and 2. lose the babies weight.

Upon starting my workout regimen, I quickly gained 3 pounds as punishment for exercising so early in the morning. I proceeded to work harder in effort to get back to my "preworkout weight." Depressing? Oh yeah.

Then I decided to increase my workouts to 1 hour per morning in hopes for better results. With that, I managed to "maintain" my preworkout weight, while adding some muscle tone. Muscle tone I like. Still being stuck at my preworkout weight? Not so much.

Here's where the riddle comes in.

In the last 4 weeks, I have visited the gym ZERO times.

In the last 4 weeks, I have lost precisely 4.6 pounds.

Sooo, now that I can technically get back to the gym this week, I am left to wonder: What in the WORLD is my motivation to get up at 5:40 a.m. tomorrow morning?? To work back up to my preworkout weight? I'd really rather not.

M.I.A.

I'm BACK! 3 weeks of nothing from Tracy, now this. While I get a grip about what's been going on lately, you can enjoy this little creation from Brayden & Maddie last Sunday afternoon.

Maybe it's only funny to their mother, but I LAUGHED. Plus, there's something about Bob that reminds me of my brother Aaron. It's endearing, really. Another look for the bored/intrigued...