So there is definitely an inverse relationship between the number of children a woman has and the number of times she is able to post on her blog in any given year---something like the following, maybe:

y = 52 - 3(x)2  (I can't figure out how to make that 2 an exponent), 

where y is the number of blog posts in a year and x is the number of children.

So if you have 4 children, por ejemplo, you are likely to only write on your blog around 4 times (and if you have five or more children, you may as well kiss the your blog goodbye for good).  Sigh....

And I'm not about to try and recount everything that's happened in the last however many months, so I'll just start typing and let the pictures do the rest of the telling.  

Did you know I love red onions?  In case you haven't learned for yourself, the best sandwich in the world consists of slices of red onion, tomato, and spinach with mayonnaise--all on some super good bread--like Dave's Killer Bread.  mmmm...   Thank you, Heather Murphy, for the introduction.

I also love cutting mushrooms--but that's neither here nor there.  (Brian taught me to say that.)  

Hmmmm....I kinda took a hiatus from running and exercise and stuff over the summer and finally got back in the gym last week (to try and prepare for the Tough Mudder that Brian signed us up for) and guess what, peeps?  I held my own :)  Turns out running around outside all summer does a girl some good, too.  It's the dunes, I'm telling ya.  Oh, and guess what?  I can do a pull up like Brian now!!  (I think I'll post a video as proof for my descendants.) If you've ever read my little side-bar description thing, you know that this has long been one of my dreams.  Granted, I still cannot do pull-ups (plural)  like Brian, but I can do one, legitimate, dead-hang pull up--all thanks to the pull-up bar Brian installed in our closet door way.  The man's got Tough Mudder preparation equipment all over our house.  For the love....

I cut my hair.  Or rather, Laura cut my hair.  It was time.  And I've loved it--except that while being outside does a body good, being outside in Florence DOES NOT do a hair-do good.  Too humid.  So the next time I'm somewhere hot and dry, I'll take a picture of my short hair to show you.  

I miss you, Brooke.  It was so wonderful to spend a couple hours with you, but it just reminded me of how much I miss you.  Please come back.  

On a date with my girl, Gain Goo.  She ordered chicken enchiladas and was loving that virgin strawberry daiquiri.  

The kids are doing fine, too.  They are active and creative and fun.   With all the things I have not done well to provide for my kids in the way of perfect motherhood, I feel very grateful to live in a place that-- despite the bad hair days and no Target-- allows me to let my kids be kids.  They explore the bear trails behind our house; they ride bikes naked around the block (or Skip does, rather); they sell artwork from our driveway;  they ride scooters and bikes on the skate park; they paint;  they swim;  they catch tadpoles; they have friends over; they eat popsicles; and yep, they watch TV, too.  Netflix.  So that's cool.  A little healthy variety to balance out my shortcomings.

Shugee leaving on her date with Daddy.  She made sure to wear her pink high-heels.  :)

And Brian seems to be doing well, too.  I say seems because even as his wife, it is sometimes hard for me to tell.  Brian prefers to avoid communication about feelings and stuff like that, so I've just got to watch for other cues.  He's stressed, I think, but he's always stressed to some degree.  But I think he's happy right now, too.  I hope.  He is gone a lot--super busy with work and church and service--but he is good to me and good to the kids and he is always willing to take time out for us when we need him.  I love that.  He will soon be building new beds for Camp and Skip that I designed, and I seriously can't wait.  I'm afraid I've become a little spoiled when it comes to designing furniture and then putting Brian on a timeline to build it.   Oh, well.  His fault.  :)

Barbie and the Rockers, anyone?

Cousins reunited.  :)

Ward Talent Show.

Sportin some briefs, baby.

That curtain pinned above the window was actually a shower curtain I scored at Grocery Outlet.  I soon decided it was better used as it was intended.

Janey spent hours creating a variety of games in her room for kids to play when we had our annual 4th of July barbecue.  She lay on her bed waiting and hoping for someone to want to come inside, and finally one child did.  Thank you, Alyssa.

d

Afton and Skip really hit it off this trip.  They were always holding hands.  :)

You did know that giraffes are my favorite animal, right?  I can't help admiring their long eyelashes...

but have you seen the tongues on those suckers?!!

My first race ever with my BSF (and BFF, too).  So fun...

Our 2-day, 16 hour drive was AL-most over...

First visit to Hugh and Theresa's.  Such a delight.

We seriously had a wonderful summer.  We visited Las Vegas, Utah and even Brian's dad's side of the family in Denver; and it was all just so wonderful.  I feel so grateful for my family.  

That's it for now, I think.  Skip is pulling on my arm.  He has played with his trains and eaten some toast, and now he needs my attention.  

Perfect end to what was possibly the BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

Thanks for reading.  I'll post a video of my pull-up(s) soon, and then I will be posting Camp's Room Reveal when the beds are done.  Like I said, I'm super excited.  This is the first time ever that I have ever saved my money up just long enough to have a small chunk of change to kinda re-do a room all at once.  And it was fuuuuuunnnn.  So anyway...