OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP

Em and I have continued our cleaning frenzy. What do you see here? Nothing!! Yes, nothing!! It's nice to see a clean patch of carpet for a change. Every summer is a little different. This one may be one of the craziest ever. That's hard to believe after years and years of 3 kids playing ball all summer. Still, now everyone is working. The girls have practice every morning. In the time that the kids are home, they want to relax or be with friends. No one feels like they should have to spend their precious free time picking up the house. Trust me, I understand, but it still feels like I am the one and only person focused on keeping the house picked up. This week, I put my foot down and demanded that at the very least, everyone pick up all of their stuff that had been cluttering up the house for days and weeks. Seeing this clean patch of carpet gives me hope for a clean house by the weekend!

LIKE SLEEPING ON A CLOUD

It has recently come to our attention that MK's bed is lousy. It is old. It creaks. The springs seem to be just under the sheets. Since this is the bed that Grandma uses and she will be coming this weekend, I feel that something really has to be done. A little investigation told me that a new mattress set is about $500! Sorry, but that isn't in the budget right now. Em and I did some shopping and we decided that a pillow top mattress might not solve the whole problem but at least it would be a start. We put the new mattress pad on the bed. It ought to be a fun surprise for MK when she gets home from camp!

PIG HEAVEN

MK is a pig lover. She's been collecting pigs for years. Everyone knows that she loves pigs, so every birthday and Christmas, friends and family look for fun new additions to her collection. Some are cute as can be. Some are kind of ugly. She has pigs that talk and pigs that squeal. Some are soft and cuddly. She has quite a few Piggy banks, too. She never seems to tire of them. MK cleaned her room before leaving for camp, so the "pig pile" is looking pretty neat and tidy!

THE CLEAN SWEEP

Alex's family is coming next weekend and there is plenty to be done to get ready. It seems that the house gets too little attention as we go about our normal day to day living. All of the sudden when company is coming there is so much to do to get things tidy. Now granted, not all of it really has to be done right now. Still, when you get in the mood to clean things up, you should take advantage of it. It sure seemed like a good idea to clear out those boxes that I had ready for Goodwill and get them out of the basement. Now, if only I could clear out the cobwebs as quickly as I did these boxes!

A TASTE OF DORM LIFE

MK and her friend are spending the week at distance camp. You have to be a little crazy to sign up for a running camp. You KNOW that they are going to work you hard. You KNOW that they are going to ask you to tackle some of the hills that are everywhere around campus. You KNOW that the people who sign up for distance camp have to be pretty hard core or they wouldn't bother to come. Still, the girls were excited. They packed Gatorade, water bottles and plenty of running geat but they also brought along some cards and brownies. As soon as we got them settled, they decided to go out in the common area to be social with the other kids. After all, camp is camp and that it time to make new friends and have fun - even in your running shoes!

SHE'S A FIRECRACKER!

MK ran in the Firecracker Run. Not everyone would like to run in the rain at 7:30 a.m. on the 4th of July but to MK, it seemed like a good idea. She did quite well. She knew that she couldn't run at full steam because she leaves for camp tomorrow and it wouldn't be a good idea to show up at distance running camp with tired legs. Still, she is determined to run as much as possible this summer and she is looking strong. Sure, she enjoyed the fireworks later on but in the morning of the 4th, you've got to make your own firepower!

BASKETS GALORE

"Do you like baskets?" Em's friend asked me the other day. I had to laugh. Em's friend is always full of fun. I am sure it was her way of saying, "I can't believe that you have so many baskets everywhere!!" It's true. The baskets are as much a part of our home as anything that I can think of. The kids have heard me tell them to grab a basket for this or that for years and years. Sometimes they do seem like a bit much and then again, I can't imagine our home without them. So yes, the answer is that I like baskets. I like them very much indeed!

NOT AGAIN!

It's not surprising to see Em at the computer. Like most kids, Facebook is a huge part of her social life. It's her way of keeping up with countless friends. This time, though, she's at the computer for a more serious reason. She's applying to colleges!!! I can't believe that the time has come so soon. She and I worked on the applications for Iowa State and Kansas State. In my heart of hearts, I'm pretty sure one of these two schools is where she will choose to go to school. I can't really think about that yet. Right now, I'm excited for her and I know what a thrill it is to be thinking ahead to the fun of college. I have plenty of time to be sad but for now, Em, let's fill out those apps!

BOOKS ARE FOR FUN!

I am so glad to be done with my test. I am back to reading for fun again. I think I only read about three books in June. That is absolutely unheard of for me. Between my test and being on the go, I haven't had much time. It's okay, though, I have a stack of fun stuff just waiting for me as soon as I get a free minute. I am excited to have some of summer's bestsellers on my TBR pile. I hate the feeling that I don't have anything that I really want to read and perish the thought that I might get caught somewhere without a book at all!

Ooops! This is a gorgeous picture but not the one I had in mind!!!