What is Up

The work continues on my kitchen, along with the rest of the house. There is so much work to be done that I will probably not get it done for at least five years realistically. Bruce put up another sub-wall in our bedroom (one of two to happen in there). Here's Justice and Clayton "helping."

My current project is texturizing my kitchen ceiling. I don't really know what I'm doing, so I hope it turns out well. I'm nearly done. Then I get to paint it and then I get to paint and affix all of the baseboards and crown molding. Then there are a few shelves to finish and hang in there and a ceiling fan to paint. Then I think my kitchen remodel will finally be done. Then I have a couch to recover, and some window covering to make, and a bit of spot painting in the living room. Then it's on to two complete bathroom make-overs, then I have to mud, sand, mud, sand, prime and paint 3 bedrooms and an office. (The bedrooms will also require some new window coverings to be made). Ugh. Can I just move?

Anyway, that's what I've been doing. At present I'm back to my old problem of not having anything to do at my piano. I go in cycles. I'll have a project / goal of some sort and I'll work really hard at it and grow in leaps and bounds until I've accomplished, ran out of ideas, or gotten sick of what I was doing. Then I get to where I am now. I'll sit at the piano and not really know what to do. I need a project. I really would like to learn more about how to write / arrange music, but it's hard to know where to start. I've been doing a lot of analyzing others' music, trying to see how they've put their music together. I REALLY NEED A PROJECT! Funny that I should say that after that other paragraph up there.

In the mean time my kids are all home for the summer and I'm having the usual problem of how to run my household. Sometimes I just feel so unorganized and hopelessly BLAH! I had a thought while I was in church on Sunday that I'm trying to put in to practice. It is this: During the school year, I get up EARLY (4:30) many a day to get my workout in and come home in time to make breakfast for everyone before school. During the summers, I enjoy not having to be home so early. I workout a bit later, and don't get home often until right before Bruce leaves for work. I hardly ever make breakfast, the kids pretty much fend for themselves (except for the little ones - I'll help them to a bowl of cereal or something). Anyway my thought was that we need to continue to have breakfast together as a family so that we can 1) Read scriptures together 2) Spend time as a family before Bruce leaves 3) Get an organized start to the day. I guess I'll have to give up my later early mornings, but it shouldn't be too bad because it gets light so early that I still will have plenty of daylight to enjoy by myself. I truly love to be outside early in the morning alone with some beautiful music and some exercise.

This doesn't help me with what to do with my children for the rest of the day ie, how to keep them from watching TV and playing video games ALL DAY LONG, or how to keep them from utter boredom (we REALLY need some good neighbors with children compatible with our children's ages and interests! There is literally NO ONE within walking distance for any of my children to play with.) I wish I were one of those supermoms who always had the patience and know how to do cool things with their kids. I do love spending time with my kids, but how do you ever get anything else done. Plus it can be mentally draining. I swear, if I hear the words "Mom, he's...(insert any quantity of complaining words here)" one more time, I'm going to change my name and hide in a closet and never come out.

Anyway, I'm waxing on in the complaining tone. I really shouldn't. I just wish I knew how to be one of those great moms. Well, here's a nice picture to end on: