Brando's made our room pretty

Part of our decluttering has been rearranging, and Brando rearranged our room to this. Pretty sure I mentioned this before, but it's worth saying again to me, my armoire is in our closet now and I feel like a queen getting dressed in our walk in closet. It's like having my own personal dressing room.

I miss you, friend

This felt a little too personal and raw for facebook where I originally intended to post it. We'll see if it makes it there:

My childhood and still best friend liked this photo and I had to repost it to explain something about me. This is why I generally don't say I miss you (unless I realize there's absolutely no way I can see you right now even if I bought a plane ticket), also why I don't call you friend. I'll show you I missed you or show you you're my friend. You'll know you're my friend and you'll know I miss you by the effort I make to spend time with you and the lengths I'll go to to make that happen (ie amount of time away from my family, drive time, schedule hopscotching, cost just to get to you, not just seeing you "when I'm free"), not by my words. I've had enough empty words in my life for a lifetime and I have a husband to learn from that proves every word he says or doesn't say through instant action.

...and a random photo from a month ago that I decided to finally text Brando today :) .

Transitions

Transitions are always hard for me - Christmas break, schedule or routine change, summer break. This makes it a whole heck of a lot easier.

Sleep

Man I used to sleep like a rock. Ever since I found out we thought we were pregnant my sleep has been anxiety filled, up early in the am, not able to go back to sleep sleep. And the past few nights have been riddled with nightmares not even related to my thoughts during the day but deep seeded insecurities only remotely visited during the day by a very very long rabbit trail. Craziness and I'm ready for it to be over!!

Work in progress

But an improvement. That far wall needs something. Maybe those two photos and a different photo over the dresser basket dealio, but this is what we worked on yesterday and I love it. Brando did all the cute little decorations. He has an eye for it. I don't. I kinda slap it all on there and hate it when I'm done. He thoughtfully arranges and places things and I love it when he's done. My armoire is in the closet now and OMG I love not having to walk naked across my room and sometimes open doorway to get to my clothes for the day. Only difficulty is Brando gets dressed in the same closet which can lead to being interrupted for me.. but that could also be considered a plus ;) .

I love my little garden!!

These caladium (I think?) leaves with the hot pink middles and another one we got with burgundy middle of the leaves are the prettiest leaves I've ever seen!

Summer!!

We've had one car for awhile so I've been chauffeuring like mad. Little glad for it to calm down a bit with the boys last day of school today.

Brando's promotion meant a bit of a pay cut in a way. He is getting paid more per hour but is now salary so no overtime. Fortunately he's also working less hours (I think :/) but has yet to make up for it in business hours meaning more money for us.

How do people *do* it with families??!! Somehow my parents did it but I'm starting to wonder how the heck they did!! I always thought we'd be further along by now but the bills keep getting bigger and even though the paychecks are bigger they still aren't getting bigger than the expenses. Part of my issue is I want my boys to have EVERY opportunity possible which quite possibly may have us going broke in the meantime. BUT we'd spend the money any way and they'd have no opportunities. My goal is for them to know what they want to do and do it, whatever it takes. But also to be able to do it with ease so they can still find the one God has for them and have a family (can't WAIT for grand babies when they are started on what passions God has given them).

Lots of fun stuff lined up this summer. Justinbustin is gung ho and Shawners is more laid back. Wisely Justinbustin did not want to book more than four weeks of camps or VBSs, and Shawners didn't want to do ANY camps, only two VBSes. In between time, I am wanting to take them fishing, wake boarding, and geo caching. Older boy things. Still learning what those are! We'll see how it pans out!