Anyways

The boys are visiting grandparents this week. So, it's just been one child at home. WOW! So different. I'm anxious to have all my kids back home – but I'm not looking forward to the mess that comes with all three kids.

Last month I took the plunge and hired a housecleaning service. I gave it to Fritz for Fathers Day. Ha! Actually, first: I sat down at my blog and typed (for the 10th time about how I was *thinking* of hiring a housecleaner. Then I thought to myself: stop talking about it and just do it.

And I did.

So, now we join the somewhat ridiculous ranks people of cleaning for the cleaners. Due to the boys being gone all week, the prep only took, like, 45 minutes this week. But the first week of service, we spent a whole day cleaning for the cleaners. We will see how this goes. Hopefully it will at least (somewhat) lower the level of stress this summer. Because it is definitely stressful around here.

Probably: May was a bad month to start a new job. Have I already mentioned that? Probably.

I recently planned to put pegs in a grid in Trixie's room to hang up a few of her 300 accessories. Honestly, she has more bags and hats and what-nots than me. Some family members find it irresistible to visit without bringing her another accessory. Then I got cheap and lazy about my peg grid. I used NAILS instead of pegs. It still looks pretty cute, I think. And, did I mention, cheaper?

We visited Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons this last month – it was only for about 4 days – way too fast, we will certainly need to return! We saw all the major touristy things. Yet I have the feeling there is a whole hidden Yellowstone to be discovered. The kids did pretty well with traveling so far and camping and etc. We have finally reached that golden age that everyone talks about, I suppose: where you can do things with the kids, and they can keep up, and they're not too cool to be spending time with us.

We also got to visit my brother and see his almost-finished kitchen remodel in Rhode Island. You may notice there is still protective wrapping on his appliances. And painter tape instead of cabinet handles. Good move, brother: show the kitchen to your niece and nephews BEFORE you remove the wrap. Or, you know, just leave it on there forever, like people did in the 60s and 70s with their plastic sofa covers in The Parlor. Well, honestly: the kitchen is super cool. Now, not only do I want to go live in the woods AND do yoga on a red mat in my kitchen, but I would ALSO like some fancy cabinets and shrink-wrapped appliances just like this.