Dog Days of Summer

This is not a surprise for midwesterners, especially St. Louisians, but every year everyone stands around and laments the heat and humidity of this two-rivered town. And it is hot. Very hot. Today, all three of the kids and I have summer colds and coughs, which makes things a little worse. No outside water play, all inside entertainment. Difficult to say the least. We knew it was bad when Jack put himself down for naptime today. That has never happened. Caroline and Brooke both have colds, but are mercifully sleeping, which is good.

Brooke and Caroline are marching into the terrible 2s, learning the rules of the playground jungle, even if it is just in our house. The general stuff, no taking things away from others, NO BITING (that's why they are both in time out in the photo above.) Seriously, there is something in our DNA that produces biters. It's so mean and vicious, I am shocked when I see them do this to each other. Jackson is really a big boy. He is having a good time in preschool, though he only goes three days a week this summer. On Saturday, we had the first family movie night and watched the first Toy Story, which was enjoyed by all. I took them to the Merry-Go-Round at the local mall. Brooke and Jack loved the ride, Miss Caroline, who I fear has inherited my motion sickness, did not enjoy the ride and just rode in my arms. Today, school for Jack, naps for the twins, job searching and bill paying for me.

I've been thinking a lot about stages of life lately and how I was so smug in my early 20s and 30s, thinking that people who take time off or lower level jobs we just not ambitious enough. Recall, though that I also was in a sham of a marriage or getting out of one and really had no friends. Live for work, die for work. My life is so much more balanced now, but it is time to get back into work. The trouble is that I am starting over. I have the luxury of starting over, but I am starting over, yet again. I just read a book that  said that the Chinese word for crisis (which I of course do not remember) is the same work as opportunity. Viewing this change as an opportunity.....not just for a new career, but for a more balanced life that incorporates more joy. With more purpose.

In the pictures, Jack and Aunt Emmy on our back deck on the 4th, Emmy is showing him how to pull those champagne 'poppers,' me and Jack, Brooke and Caroline in aforementioned time out, rare moments of sibling love between Brooke and Jack (sickness seems to make them nicer to each other, go figure.), me and J in a rare shot.

Family Ties

We are very thankful this week to have Aunt Emmy visiting from Baltimore. We have been keeping her busy. Today we went to the Missouri Botanical Gardens to see the Dinoquest exhibit. Our dinosaur fan really liked it, as he has been roaring like a dinosaur and startling all of us for the last few days. MoBot placed dinosaurs within the plants, which was interesting and a little creepy. In the first three pictures, Emily and the kiddos in front of the Dale Chihuly (sp?) glass ball display in the sculpture garden (his beautiful artwork is all over the garden, it is a sight to behold.). Me and Jack in front of the T-Rex, Aunt Emmy and Jack in front of some other dinosaur. Great fun was had by all, although Emmy and I are exhausted tonight. We're planning on an early bedtime for Jack (we already got the twins in bed) and a nice movie with popcorn. J is on his Friday night boys' ritual at the Ol' Timer.

On Wednesday, we went to Forest Park and the Art Museum. Jack has recently become a fan of Olivia, who spends rainy days at her art museum and looks at paintings, specifically Edgar Degas and Jackson Pollack. (He gets a kick out of sharing Jackson Pollack's first name.) I knew that the art museum had Degas, I wasn't sure about Pollack. (No Pollack was found, though I think that the local modern art museum might have it, I'll have to look into it.) Successful art museum attendance by all.

It is great to have Emmy around for company and for help with the kiddies! I think the most difficult thing about being home is being lonely. It's hard somedays, that's for certain, though I am glad I have had this time with the kids. I have a big interview on the 14th for a lobbyist position, which is good and bad. Good, because I need to head back to work soon and bad because I have not had any luck in finding an attorney job on this side of the river. Any side of the river for that matter. And so, the worry does continue. I am blessed to have the luxury of taking my time and finding the right job, but it is hard to trust that the right thing will come along. I am working on my faith and trust, as always. Signing off.....