no school, no pool

The good news is that it is summer. The bad news is that the pool is broken. Let me repeat. The pool, the sanity saving element of summer, is NOT OPEN. This is testing my motherhood skills to their very limit. In order to survive, I am relying heavily on the summer schedule I put together as well as gallons and gallons of ice cream. The kids are coping by lots of reading (this is good) and jumping in the sprinklers on the trampoline (also good) as well as sneaking downstairs to watch TV (not good) and developing extensive dried worm collections (not good, see attached photo).
After struggling to find our summer mojo, we finally achieved a sort of zen last Thursday. The kids had chores done and lunches packed by 9:00, so we did "money jobs" for the rest of the morning. They were excited about the summer goal punch cards I'd made (thanks to Betsy's great idea) and self initiated practicing their piano or working on scouts or cutting quilt blocks until "mandatory rest hour". Since it was Thursday craft day (oh yes, I said craft day), my three big kids spent the afternoon painting ceramic dishes. Then we made burritos, grabbed a few extra kids and went to the lake. We had no swimming suits, towels, or life jackets which didn't stop anyone from getting in the water. Our neighbor Skip and a few of his slightly inebriated fishing buddies from town were there with their big ol' plontoon party boat and offered to take us for a spin around the lake. We came home and made nutella smores to top off a near perfect evening.

Friday while Wilson was on a wood cutting Boy Scout Campout I took the kids roller blading on the Chipman Trail. I can't wait to do it again, this time with a stoller without a flat tire and Eliza on a bike. We ended the day at the dollar store where the kids purchased taboo items such as swords, guns and press on glamour nails with diamonds.
Zen is short lived at the Lundberg House of Construction and the usual chaos returned in full force within 24 hours. I am happy to report a functioning tub and shower upstairs as well as a toilet and sink downstairs. My new remodel dream is to brush my teeth somewhere other than the bathtub within the next 6 months. Cameron keeps leading me on with the phrase, "we are so close to drywall." I have to repeat to myself often that this was all my idea and that someday I won't be hauling laundry up and down stairs. The electrician is coming tomorrow to add a second electric panel (unforeseen expenditure) to power the heat pump (unforeseen expenditure) in the attic. I have to admit from the outside it is starting to look awesome.>
Wilson has had a few opportunities for work this summer that have been great teaching lessons. He mowed a lawn for the neighbor across the street, but left a lot of dead grass and mohawks. The neighbor came over to pay him and to mention that the job was substandard. Wilson, on his own, returned half the money and fixed his mistakes. Although my pride was ruffled, the neighbor was so kind to emphasize that this was not about the grass, but about the boy, and it turned out to be a great experience. The next time he mowed, he did a much better job and earned more money. I learned the important principle that correcting our mistakes is way more important than preventing them from happening. Today I gave him the opportunity to shovel pig crap and mow an eternal lawn at my friend Sara's house. Teaching children to work is some of the hardest work I've ever done--ironic.

I forgot to get a good picture of Tony on Father's Day, but his grey hair is becoming more pronounced and more handsome. We celebrated the day with Mom and Dad and a pile of T-bone steaks. We presented Tony with a fancy flashlight and document signed by every member of our family promising to never touch the sacred light source. He was ecstatic.

This same awesome Dad spent a day with Cooper at cub scout day camp where Cooper discovered a latent love of archery. With the encouragement of several prominent males in his life, he has spent a hefty chunk to purchase a compound bow. He is also obsessed with tennis right now as he prepares for lessons next week. Cooper's plan-ahead brain and serious approach to life is fascinating to watch.

agua

We went to Moses Lake Aquatic Center yesterday with Workmans, Jose and Nayeli and Jeff and Stacey. Weather was perfect. The camara shot I was most sorry to miss was: monster carp jumping out of the lake onto a concrete block and it's subsequent rescue by Kenneth and 10 multi-colored children.

It was also yet another painful experience watching Wilson try to socially navigate the waterpark situation with his family, while maintaining his coolness among his peers.

Overall wonderful day.

pig out

The season of entropy we fondly refer to as "summer vacation" officially begins tomorrow. To mark it's initiation we ate a spaghetti dinner without plates or utensils and used our worst manners including elbows on the table, burping and throwing food. It was awesome.

Eden and Eliza had a marking pen war today. They were covered from head to toe in colorful penmarks and were giggling like geese. I would rather not be the grown-up in these situations. I wanted to laugh and take a picture and join in the fun. Instead I asked them in my serious voice how Pres Monson would feel about desecrating their holy temples like that. Would you have written on the walls of the temple I somberly asked? The consequence was separate baths--oh the horror. I hope to nip this in the bud so it's not tattoos when they are 16.

Both big boys came home today proudly wearing honor role medals around their neck. It's amazing what turning homework in results in.

They also made a good showing at the county track meet. Wilson had two first place and a second place in his three events and Cooper had a first place and two seconds. And yet one more reason to be grateful my kids don't have my non athletic genetics.

warm, warmer, warmest

This is the time of year when time speeds up and we try to wring every precious moment out of summer. We officially kicked off lake season on Memorial Day and despite frigid bone chilling temperatures, Tony skied and the kids jumped in the lake.

The work on the house continues. Cameron and his guys nearly killed themselves getting our roof on in a timely manner and last week when we had two big summer storms, we were snug as bugs. The house project has been enlightening as it has provided a lot of work opportunities for our kids. Last Saturday was a real low point in our parenting journey. It was Saturday and we had a whole lot of cedar shake to pull off the roof and clean up. The murmuring and complaining started early and ended poorly with two very discouraged, disappointed parents and five confused and unhappy children. In an effort to push my buttons Wilson told me he didn't want to work because, "it was boring and that's what we hire people for." That was indeed a large red button and everyone within a five mile radius got to see the physcho side of me. Tony and I realized we need to make sure that we are clear with our expectations when we start a project and use rewards less.

The following Saturday went much better. The kids and I tore out a wall of double thick wood planks, busted out drywall, and pulled out the carpet to take to the dump. They worked as hard as I did. Later that night we saw a movie but I was careful not to associate it with the work project. No one gets paid for Saturday work projects (part of being in the family) and allowances have stopped until the kids have proven their work ethic. It was a good wake-up call, a humbling experience and a realization that there is still time.

Last Sunday we spent the afternoon with Mom and Dad and Jeff and Stacey. We had the nicest afternoon at Manito park. The boys caught turtles from the pond, while the little kids played on the swings. Summer felt official when we sat on the patio enjoying homemade ice cream and fresh rhubarb cobbler.

We are being eaten alive by mosquitos. Poor Marcos was unrecognizable with the 20+ bites on his face.

The kids are done with school this week. I'm not as ready this year as in the past. I have to work hard to find the balance between having a fun summer with the kids and getting the house back in order. This is when good routines and traditions really pay off. Already scheduled: camping trip with Workmans, our weekend at the lake with Hainsworths, Cousin ski camp and family reunion. I bought Jungle Book to read to the kids at night and am committed to doing at least one craft a week with Eliza. If we endure swimming lessons, learn to do our own laundry and make one meal a week, summer will be considered a success.