…too bad they haven't made it to the computer.

First, we're having a problem uploading pictures.  Somehow the USB port no longer recognizes my camera. And I never think to ask Tech Support about it when he's home.  So this doesn't allow me to show you pictures of our Best Garage Sale Finds of the last two weeks (and they are some good finds–how's that for a teaser?).  Nor can I show you the pictures of our hike in the forest yesterday. (Ok, it was really a small wooded area near the playground area of one of the parks, but we'll take what we can get, ok?) 

Second, there is the time issue. The last few weeks I have been working like crazy to get extra hours to pay for extra things not in our budget (like curtains! or flowers for the yard!). When not working, we have been outside playing or planting said flowers.  So now our house is a mess. Not just cluttered (which, sadly, is pretty common) but dirty + cluttered. A bad combination. So the last few days I've been trying to balance playing/watching the boys play in the afternoon with cleaning. We'd play a little, clean a little, play a little, clean a little. (Play, play, play! Clean, clean, clean!…sorry, I got caught thinking of that song from the Music Man "Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little".)  

Why am I cleaning so much? Just for the good of our family, right? Um, no. We're having my parents, sister and brother over tonight to celebrate my dad's birthday.  (My sister is coming in from St. Louis!!! My brother drove from AZ for this–and to see all of us!!!)  Heidi is spending the night (so no scrimping and skipping on cleaning the guest room/play room).  Then Saturday we're going up to the family homestead for a day of picnicking (Oh, I didn't realize that added a "k" when going to the -ing form! Learn something new everyday.), hanging out and playing games.   Sunday, James' brother and his family are coming out to visit us for a few days.  I'm really looking forward to all the fun times we're going to have this long weekend.  But I still need to give the bathroom a GOOD cleaning (not the quick cleaning it's been getting the last few weeks). And clean off the desk. And maybe even clean out the fridge. 

So, happy beginning of summer everyone!