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.