Somewhere between potty training a 2-yr-old, entertaining visitors, coordinating contractors, holding down the fort during Handsome’s 2-weeks-atta-time work trips, days at the beach and swimming with the kids . . . summer ate my blog.

Having begun this blog last November when the days were shorter and less full, I wasn’t sure what form it would take come summah-time. Turns out I’ve been DIYing more life and less projects lately.

On average, it takes me 2-3 hours to write one blog post. That’s just editing photos and getting the words on the page, not to mention the time it takes to actually do and photograph any of these things I write about.

So a sun that doesn’t set until 8:30, means kids that aren’t in bed until past 9. More nights than not that also means a momma who is sunburned and waterlogged and happy to be going to bed at 9, too.

At the beginning of summer we started our largest house project yet… an in-ground pool! It took less than 48 hours to have that baby dug, set, filled and running, but it’s taken 3 months to hound coordinate the six other contractors to complete the landscaping/irrigation/sod/fence repair/etc. In the end, every frustrating delay was worth. every. penny. There’s always “something to do” and we don’t have to leave the house to do it!

Another summer project was potty training Bug. We tried the 3-day method and, while he’s still working on his “aim,” I’m happy to report general success! This also resulted in the graduation from a crib to a crib with the side removed big boy bed! Sibling sleepovers ensued because I can’t even handle the cuteness of Bug begging to snuggle Songbird in her bed.

Grandma L came cross-country to play in the VA sunshine for awhile. She celebrated her birthday here and did all the things fabulous grandmas do…

I couldn’t be more thankful to have such a generous, positive, and loving woman as my mother-in-law. She doesn’t get to visit often, but we sure fill that time with the most rich and colorful memories.

Hard to believe that our next visitor was once under my care. At age 11, this beautiful lady and her sister spent a whole summer being nannied by yours truly. It was on their refrigerator that I first saw a photo of Handsome (their cousin) and they became miniature matchmakers! I’m eternally grateful that they finally convinced me to become a permanent part of their family. ;)

Because I can’t stand not having something to tinker with, a handful of projects have been completed over the course of the last couple months… Now if I can just find the time to sit long enough to share them! Until then, I appreciate you understanding that summer belongs to my kids; my crazy, wonderful, sun-tanned and smiling kids.