Oh right, my blog

(I thought the photo might get your attention, I'll explain later)

It has been a little while since I posted. I had to get serious about getting some things done. I'll play a little catch up though.

Several weeks ago a mischievous plan of mine came about, well in part anyway. I thought this was a new idea, but looking back at an old journal entry shows that I had thought of this not long after my first baby was born. The idea? A week at home alone. I didn't want to take a trip without my family, just wanted to be at home where all my projects were. Nearly six years without a 24 hour stretch to yourself takes a toll. Think of all the things I could get done! I pictured it like an Extreme Home Makeover episode. All my cleaning, and organizing, decorating, odd projects, all things getting taken care of.

How was this to come about? Could I convince my husband? I wouldn't want him to go on a fun trip without me and take the kids. Would he survive out there alone with all three little ones? It would never happen. Forget about it.

Then, hubby started talking about a trip back to his homeland and the wheels in my head started turning. Safe environment, he would have help...I didn't want to miss out on the trip though. To wrap this story up, I convinced him to make the 8 hour car trip after work on a Friday- hoping the kids would mainly sleep- and I would fly in Tuesday morning. Not quite a week, but still some time.

So, what would you do with the freedom of three full days to yourself? It might only happen once every 6 years, so think about it carefully. I love my family, but I admit it was kind of fun. However, I worked so hard. I didn't let myself turn the TV on, or pick up a book, no internet surfing, no leaving home to shop, I wanted only progress. I barely stopped to eat- and they were quick meager meals. By the end of the time, I was exhausted. I decided I needed to get back to my family before I made myself sick. I was able to crawl out of the project hole a little though, so that was good. Basically I learned what I kept telling myself before. The success to seeing progress and having an organized life comes with the daily habits, not in crazy hard three day stretches.


While on our trip we rode The Incline Railway. A touristy thing to do that Michael had never done because he was from there. Built in 1895 with an incline of 72% at one point, to take people up to the peak to view old Civil War battlegrounds. My dislike of major heights, and Michael's care for his life may may make this our first and only ride. The photo's not great, but you can see how far below the city looks at the top of the picture.



I threw these in for kicks. Everyone's always playing with my laptop's picture taking effects. A little distortion goes a long way.






and just so you remember how we normally look: