Labor Day

Hope you aren't checking in for that certain "blog thought" I promised.  I didn't take get the opportunity to work on it this weekend.  It would have required me to sit down at my computer and think  . . . and labor.  It was Labor Day weekend after all, which I believe means that we are supposed to take a break from laboring, right?  I'll get it finished eventually, I promise.

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It's amazing how one particular seven year old can turn my entire house into his playroom.  It's insane, actually.  I miss having a basement.  When we lived in St. Louis, we confined the girls and all their thousands of pieces of Barbie paraphernalia to the basement. I have no place to confine Eric and all his crap stuff.  For example, today my family room was invaded by army men.

Eric somehow convinced Mark that he needed these army men because he certainly doesn't have enough toys to play with already. Or maybe, Eric wanted a reminder of his Uncle who is in the Army (Ohio National Guard) and who will be leaving shortly for Iraq for his second year long tour.  Except that Eric really has no clue who his Uncle is because he lives in Ohio and we don't see him too often. So, that's probably not it.

Whatever the reason, Eric managed to entertain himself for several hours with these guys, so I guess it was worth it.  They've all been neatly thrown packed away in their container for the night.  

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I promised Jack a trip out of his room this weekend.  Poor kid rarely gets out of his room, let alone his house (and yes, this fact is accompanied by much guilt).  We went for a walk around sunset, with camera in hand ... of course.

It was a typical, beautiful Arizona sunset.  And, just in case you are wondering, these pictures are of a neighborhood within walking distance from where we live.  We do not live in this neighborhood.  We live on the other side of the tracks street. But, it's nice to pretend on occasion. :)

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And for my friend Dana and anyone else who is wondering - Hilary is doing well.  She doesn't seem to be missing us at all! Her first official day of school was today (what's up with that!) She is beyond thrilled because she is on track to get into the school of film and animation next year (which is highly competitive) and she will spend this year taking classes to prepare her for the program.  I've already made reservations for Mary and I to fly out to see her the first weekend in October because that's her birthday.  I've also  booked her flight home for Thanksgiving.  I should own stock in Southwest Airlines with the amount of money I will be giving them over the next four years!

As always, thanks for checking in.  Have a fabulous rest of the week!

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I already posted this on FB, but I'll share it again here because it made me laugh out loud:

May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts; and if He doesn't turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping.
(Irish Blessing)