In This Space Between: This Post Was Brought To You In Part By Caffeine

Focus. I'm having such a hard time focusing right now. Mostly because I didn't sleep well last night. Ian was up a lot with a fever...the highest fever any of my boys have ever had: 104.2. All day yesterday I alternated Tylenol and Motrin trying to get it down, put him in lukewarm baths, and fed him popsicles. He was flushed, eyes glazed, had a runny nose, and was drooling all over the place. I still don't know if it was a virus or teething. I didn't think teething caused such high fevers. Today he is fever free, but I keep migrating away from the work I'm supposed to be doing and getting lost in my own mind.

With the wedding behind us, I've been wandering aimlessly around the house, not quite sure where and what to start on. Being preoccupied with other things has left piles of clutter throughout the house, making it hard to see where I should start. Plus that, with the deadline gone to get things done by my focus flew right out the--SQUIRREL!

I'm not sure what I did last week Monday, other than pick veggies from the garden. Ah, I made creamy cucumbers and onions, one of Eli's favorites. That's about it. We've been harvesting a large bowl of produce from the garden every day or two.

Tuesday last week a dear friend informed me she was going to steal (most) of my children so I could get something done around here. I think only mothers can understand the excitement and guilt wrapped up in an offer like this! I can't thank her enough! This sweet friend is Liam's godmother, and since his birthday is tomorrow she took him, Aidan, and Gavin to Chuck E. Cheese's. After I dropped the boys off (minus Ian) I stopped by my brother Joe's house to see what kind of help it needed before he and Carly return from their honeymoon. Then we stopped by my parents' and ended up visiting and eating lunch there. So much for having a really productive day!

Initially, my mostly-boy-free day was meant to get packing or lesson plans done. Guilt-ridden at the detour, Ian and I left my parents' shortly after eating, and made it home to find the piles of laundry and dishes that I wouldn't have time to do. Since there's no need to pack at the moment, I got out the books and started working on lesson plans. I forgot that the first good hour of lesson planning involves skimming through books, separating them into subjects, and dividing the lesson planner into subjects. I took a lot of deep breaths as I realized it wasn't going to be finished anytime soon, and decided to make myself some iced coffee to help myself focus. I ended up getting Latin and art lit planned for the year. That is all. Next week when Eli is laid off from work I should have extra help to get lesson planning finished. Right?

Liquid sanity

When the boys got back they were so excited to tell me all about their day, and to give me a gift "they" had picked out for me! I love my new skirt, and they are so honored every time I put it on. Aidan has to hug me and say I'm so beautiful. The little things that warm a mother's heart....

Last week Wednesday I made the weekly Walmart trip. I picked up ingredients to make an Italian dinner, one for our family and one for Joe, Carly, and Ryleigh. I also picked up some vases, candles, and things at a thrift store as decoration for Ryleigh's bedroom for her birthday.

Thursday I was working on the meals...romaine lettuce salad (with pepperoncini, red onion, grape tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and garlic croutons), garlic, spinach, and three cheese stuffed jumbo conchiglie (pasta shells) in marinara sauce, and cheesy garlic bread. My brother Jim texted to let me know the new couple were headed home a day earlier than we thought. My Mom had been at their place Tuesday cleaning so it'd be fresh when they got home. I hurried to finish the food and raced out of the house with the boys. I stopped at Mom and Dad's to pick some fresh bouquets of flowers, and headed to their place. I saw Jim had mowed the lawn for them, and installed an air conditioner he and Cade got them as a wedding gift. The boys thought it was a great afternoon playing outside there, no traffic to worry about, only a cornfield to get lost in.... I left a box of nutty bars in their fridge for dessert, and some Blue Moon beer and a bottle of Cupcake chardonnay to enjoy later.

The table runner is one I made for Carly's bridal shower, but never used at the time.

Saturday we headed to my parents' to celebrate Ryleigh's birthday, where we had cake and Grandpa gave rides of all kinds. Gavin especially is intrigued by everything motorized.