I remembered the other day that I had not posted in quite some time to my blog. I began wondering what happened and how I was so excited about something just to have it shoved off to the way-side. Then I remembered. It was summer and our life is BUSY! Just some of the things that have happened: Little man is now 8 months old, has 2 teeth and is getting where he wants to go by pushing himself backwards. Sporty Smurf has had a full summer of meeting new friends that have moved into the neighborhood, all boys and all between the ages of 4-6. Talk about FUN! We also have a new "hay house - play house" in the backyard so all the said boys tend to converge upon our yard. Brainy smurf has had a busy summer identifying snakes, leaves and all kinds of new things. He has gotten very involved in "star wars" particularly the Lego Star Wars and Lego Ninjago. So, between me getting little man out of places he's not supposed to go, monitoring fights outside between neighborhood boys and learning how to read Lego instructions, it doesn't leave much time for much else. Literally, not much else.
I have had the opportunity to go into some of our neighbors houses. I marvel at how they are able to keep it so clean. Maybe it's because their husbands are marines (they are known for being anal about such things). Maybe its because they don't have as much "stuff" or as many kids as we do. I don't know. I can't seem to understand how ours can be so dirty and unorganized and yet clean and organized all at the same time. I am on a constant roller coaster of getting things done but my 3 hurricanes come right behind me and tear it all back up. I want them to enjoy life and to have fun, but when does the cycle end? Does the cycle end? In looking and truly wondering what my neighbors secrets are, it made me realize something about myself. I can't finish a task at one time. I have to start, go back to it, then go back yet again and finish it. I am being pulled in three directions at a time and I have waaaay too much stuff to do. BUT, then I also realized something else. While I may not have the cleanest house on the block or the prettiest yard on the block, I have 3 kids who need me, want to be around me and want to be doing things with me and THAT is a whole lot more fun. So, I've come to a conclusion. I would much rather be outside with them, taking pictures of them playing and playing star wars with them. While I do want a clean house and nice things, I don't ever want my kids to feel like they are second to my chores. Chores are important, don't get me wrong, but for me, there is only so much time in the day that my kids are with me and I would rather be with them. Now, before those of you who are reading this that are my neighbors get all offended, I am not saying that is what you do. I am still in awe of how you are able to keep your house immaculate, have kids running in and out all day and be gone. For me though, it seems like I will not have that balance. I have realized that it is a choice I make on a daily basis. The school year is going to help me to keep my house clean. We get into a school routine of school and daily chores before play and that helps. I also know that we as a family have too much stuff. I am working on the boys and my stuff, but as all good military wives know, sometimes we have to wait till deployments or our honeys to get to their "honey-do" list to "de-clutter" the rest.
