8 Summer Things

1. Today the sun gave us a warning. It said it's back after all the cool days we've had and will begin to beat on us relentlessly for the remainder of the Spring and Summer and half of the Fall. The accompanying breeze today was lovely while it lasted.

2. This summer, we've got a salsa garden. We planted lots of tomatoes, some serranos, some anchos, and jalapenos. We had poor luck with cilantro last year so we didn't bother this time. The tomatoes are getting bigger and are a bright green with golden fuzz. I can't wait to slice them up and eat them warm from the garden with just a bit of salt.

3. Yesterday I tried on a maxi dress - see below. I looked ridiculous in it. And scandalous (thanks, Maria for the word that described it perfectly). And I will never try one on again. I could be way off on this but I think they must be for very tall, thin young women with small chests, or if they have large chests they don't mind looking scandalous.

4. My goals for summer: Hannah to be able to swim - lessons have been planned. James potty-learned - a little white potty is in my bathroom. Me - to read Scripture everyday. I've always been so hit and miss, reading much at a time and then almost none at all. Morning and evening prayers have become habitual, but I have a tendency to skip the daily readings and keep thinking I can get to them later once I get busy. I have made up my mind so I WILL make time for it. My priest once told me during Confession that praying but not reading is like having a relationship with someone that you constantly talk but do no listening. I don't want to be like that...especially with God! Lord have mercy.

5. I've been toying with the idea of chopping my hair off and sending it to Locks of Love. But I'm so torn because once I have short hair, I really have to do it every day or it poofs up and I look like a marshmallow head. My hair, though long, is very easy to deal with right now. I'm just hating it the most at night. It gets caught beneath my shoulder and I have to yank it out when I roll over.

6. Phillip is the cutest little rolly poly baby right now. He's fat just like the other two were at his age. He's full of big grins and lets everyone hold him and I do think he's rather therapeutic. I'm diggin on the oxytocin bursts he supplies me. Oh the love!

7. James is super cool. He's the funniest, most charming young fellow I've ever met. He's talking lots and still wakes me up for "Dodurt!" in the morning and thinks his brother, "Phoot cute". Yes he calls Phillip cute. He fights over toys with Hannah, likes to work around the house copying the antics of his daddy, and probably makes me laugh the most out of anybody in this world. And he's also terribly pious. He plays priest regularly (in case you haven't seen it already.)

8. Hannah is like rocky road ice cream. She may be as sweet as little girls can be, but she displays many of her mother's weaknesses and flaws. All my eye rolling and attitude has been passed down, unfortunately. However, she is extremely caring and sensitive. If someone is hurt, she is pained as well. She's bright and loves to be read to and to practice reading and writing. She spends her days on puzzles, drawing and coloring, making villages for fairies in the back yard, practicing ballet, dressing up and coming up with scenarios for us all to play along with her. She's also a big helper and will sit and entertain Phillip gently and with love. He looks at her with his bright eyes and I can see he adores her as he dances his limbs to her voice. I love how she can focus on something and practice it over and over again. She is much slower to become frustrated and quit than I am. I'm so glad to have a daughter, even when there is more drama involved than I have patience for. The two of us are on a little journey together as we both learn how to not flip out on each other. Her soft little face with her full cheeks and big blue eyes and all their dark-lashed fanfare brighten my days.