Summer

Into week five of summer vacation? Have I lost my mind yet? Not quite but certainly I need a mini-vacation. This full-time mom stuff is hard work. I am camp referee, camp counselor, camp superintendent, camp, bait person, fish line De-tangler, and mother!! Last week we went to the cottage for the first time this year and it was grueling. First off, it was quite painful to be there without my dad and knowing he would not show up mid-way through our vacation like he normally did, he past away months earlier and he left a big void in my life. That on top of mothering my two plus two cousins. Preparation, Preparation, Preparation. I needed at least another half day to prepare and verify all was packed because my son supposedly couldn't find the UNO cards perfect for rainy days and long evenings in the wilderness, younger son ran short of clothing, and our food supply was scant. On the brighter side, my younger son caught the biggest trout of the trip and the biggest one in years. The smile on his face was priceless, just thinking of his smile and all the it said makes me smile. He lit up the cloudy day on the shore of the brook. He beamed with pride and rubbed it in to the others that he caught the biggest fish. I forgot my camera ^*&%$^$^%$. But Hot Husband heard our screams of joy from the cottage and made his way to investigate the ruckus. Another day as we were changing into swimsuits, wails of screams and cries echoed in the musty humid second floor bedrooms, then three kids stampeded to my room, hiding behind me like a monster was in the cottage. Surprisingly, there was, a chipmunk jumped out from behind one of their beds! My boys immediately got into hunting mode so naturally, it took me aback. They had fishing nets and proceeded to catch the rodent to the girls delight. The thunder of their feet echoed now and the rampage down the stairs made the second floor move to the beat of their feet. And as fast as they ran down stairs was as fast as the little bugger ran upstairs freeing itself from the nets. Then I seen the bravery in my boys that was so clear, my little not flinching a bit and my older one, with such authority written across his face, chasing the chipmunk around the the rooms, only to have the girls flinch,scream in terror and hang on to their aunt for dear life. I reminded them, they were a hundred times bigger than the chipmunk and he was terrified of them!! That fell to deaf ears as they clenched my arm so fierce, I thought Oh, this is what men feel when we're in labor holding their hands. Poor guys!!! The screams were so loud my ears hurt. As I calmed them down, my boys capture the monster and put him outside, never to return to such a chaotic place again. The children were sad to leave and begging to stay a few more days, hot husband said one more day but I had it, I wanted to go home, go from four kids to two and sleep in my own comfy bed. We will return in the weeks to come with back up in the form of adults and more alcohol. So now I am on to the next adventure. Up until now, I have spent five consecutive weeks with my children and it's great, four week with Hot Husband and that a blast. So as we leave to yet another leg of summer vacation, you read it here, I am having the best time. Catch up later.