Weekend Wrap Up.

We had a wonderful weekend, time spent at our favorite nursery of all time....family owned....they serve breakfast stuff and lunch stuff at a snack stand so we kind of make it a 'date'...

walking around with our coffee, taking in all the colors.  I can't describe how it makes me feel - except that i think maybe it's kind of like when you were small and got a brand new box of crayons....staring at fresh colors and blank paper....yeah.  That's it.

These pots are tall. Or I'm short.  That red one reached my shoulder.  I wanted to carry one of those turquoise pots home but i had to choose - groceries for the month, or one beautiful pot.  Darn those children that want food like 3 times day.  

Here's a few shots from last weekend too - camping with my son and a some other family friends at a wonderful place called "Wallaby Ranch".  It's a hang gliding ranch where you can rent a weekend cabin - in the smallest, cutest cabins ever - and learn to hang glide.  

My friend Lori has over 400 hours logged hang gliding.  Yea, I'm in awe.  I will never do that. ever.  Especially when this dude landed and then said "i thought i was going to be up there forever..."  yea..again...no.

I instead focused on all the pretty scenery. Florida has some beautiful, unspoiled land.

    And look at these sweet cottages you can rent....

and many swings to unwind on....

 We didn't rent cabins, we "tented" it - that's our line of tents you see in the background up there.  And they called us to dinner by ringing the bell in this bell tower.  Very cool.

Sarah comes home on Spring Break this week and the boys come home from their dad's tomorrow and life gets very full, very quick, and i love every minute of it.  

They start ripping the oaks out of the back yard tomorrow for the pool and i'm a little saddened by it.  It's hard for me to justify killing something older than me for my own selfish wants.

We're having neighbors over for wings and sliders and games Friday night - so i'm looking forward to that.


What's everyone else up to?  Anyone trying any new recipes or diving into any new projects? 
 

And then, the rain came.

I'm tired of the sound of my own voice

And I'm weary of adding to the noise
And I'm fearful of missing the point of it all 

 That pretty much sums up my feelings that began Saturday night and went through this morning, and when i heard this played on the radio on my drive back from dropping the kids at school this morning, the tears just came.

It was one of those weekends where the boys were at each other non-stop, and by day 2, my nerves were on edge and I just.couldn't.take.it.anymore.  Big time mommy-fail.

I had no wise parenting phrases eschewing out of my mouth. I did have plenty of "How MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO STOP IT??!??"  flying out left and right.  And "stop it' could have meant stop hitting your brother, stop spitting on the ground (or at your brother), stop slamming doors, stop yelling at each other, stop Stop STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, tired of hearing my own voice. Tired of adding to the noise. And so very afraid of missing the point of it all.

And the sad part is, that seriously, in the midst of all of the referring, all I wanted to do is put myself in time out.  Give them to their dad for the rest of the weekend and hide.  I did not.  Even though I got "You're the worst mommy EVER." a couple of times.  And "I HATE Saturdays here" (chore day, which btw, takes them all of an hour and half if they would just stop the moping and get it on with it).  I troopered on. 

After church we changed, grabbed the basketball and sandwiches and headed to Phelps Park - my thought was to get away from the house, outside in the sunshine and just play. Yea.  Well, that was just the crowning moment, let me tell you.  While Nate and i were shooting baskets on the court, Walker wandered off, skulking about in all of his pre-teen angst.  I tried numerous times to re-engage him and finally when i did get him to talk to me about what was going on - he started crying.  He said being at the park reminded him of when Dad and I were still together and lived a few streets over and it was just too sad being there.  What do you say to that?  We packed up and came home. No words.  Just silence.

I had defrosted chicken for dinner and when we walked inside - i put it back in the freezer.  There was no motivation to cook a great Sunday dinner anymore.  I truly felt like there was no point, the weekend was trashed, and there was no salvaging it.  And then, over left-over pizza, and watching a repeat of Cars, laughter returned.  Snuggling commenced and the rain started to fall outside.  

We needed the rain at my house. I needed God to wash away that which i could not. Thankfully, his grace allows to keep starting over, again and again. 

  

Whirlwind Weekend

I think I'm still recovering from all the activity over the weekend.  Note(s) to self: Self, do not under any circumstances plan more than 2 big events in one weekend. And, further, by no means whatsoever - make those events on separate Florida coasts. sigh.

 This is what i get when i fail to put down every event on one master calendar.  Do not let the men in your life manage your time or you will find that you won't have any left. For important things.  Like sleeping. eating. blogging.  You know.

We cleaned like a family possessed Friday night because we knew we wouldn't have time over the weekend - much to boys' dismay.  "CLEANING? ON A FRIDAY NIGHT?? Good grief woman, have you lost your mind??"  Ok, they really didn't say that last part, but the look on their faces said they were thinking it.

I didn't get pictures of the football game from Saturday afternoon because i ran errands - but from what i hear, it's probably best.  Major loss.  Upset boys. Fighting.  Glad i missed it.

But i picked them up, stuffed them into the car and drove to Tampa to pick up "the teenagers" for the last hockey game of the Lightning's season.  This is my future step-daugher (can i say i despise the word "step"?) - she's the 3rd one back with her mouth hanging open. sigh. 

                                                                                  

and the little "almost" teenage trouble maker - Walker...too cute even when he gives me that look....

and then we got up bright and early and drove BACK across the state for the Cub scouts Blue and Gold banquet at Fort Christmas for the little one.  He is crossing over from Bears to Webelos this year - I am so proud of him and i love his den - it's a great group of kids and parents.  I heart all of them :)

I present Den 8...

 My baby....

Linking to Tara's weekend recap at Between You & Me - come on over and show off your awesome weekend!