Anyone else falling off the wagon?

No, I am NOT talking about drinking....though my kids are about to drive me THERE, too.

What I am dealing with is the determination I always make at the beginning of the summer, EVERY YEAR, to not give up our hard-fought schedule, because I *KNOW* how hard it is to get back into that routine at the end of the summer.

We tried. REALLY tried. I am actually still retaining parts of that routine. The little ones still go to bed (most nights) by around 8:00 pm. The older ones are in bed by 9:00. Most nights.

Except that the husband is enjoying having the kids to watch movies and TV shows with him, because I just don't watch TV.

And I am TRYING to get up in the mornings, and go for my walks before it is unbearably hot....and the oldest *wants* to walk with me. Until she is spending the night with her friends. And then the second oldest *wants* to walk with me...but he is practically impossible to wake up in the morning.

And then, when I need peace and quiet during the day to work, the kids are all trying to kill each other, or fussing with each other over stupid things....

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
"WHAT IS GOING ON UP THERE?!?!?!?!?"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAA....."
"FRANCES, please find out what is going on up there!"
(yelling, screaming, and slamming of doors ensues....)
(Frances comes down the stairs, looking innocent....)
"Frances, what was going on?
"huh?!?"
"GO BACK UPSTAIRS AND FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON!?!?!"

Yes, having a teenager in the house has its moments. She's GREAT, sometimes, at babysitting, and supervising house cleaning, and cooking meals. SOMETIMES is the operative word. When she wants to....or when she wants something....

Speaking of teens...my second will become a teenager in April of next year. I am more than a little frightened...he already has a WAY worse attitude than his older sister...

So, I have about given up on keeping the routine. I think we have a new routine for the summer...
Dad up and out of the house by 530 am
Mom up and walking before 7:00 am
littler people wandering out of bed by about 10:00
Breakfast, house cleaning, etc., finished by noonish
Everyone playing outside all afternoon so mom can work and not kill anyone

I think I need to go dig my wine out...I am finding I need something to help me get through this afternoon!!

The weather outside is beautiful....

I am loving this weather! I wish I could be outside in it all day long! Today is clear and sunny and it's 47 degrees....compared to the 36 degrees of Helena...I'm happy! I am ready for sunny and warm...and taking walks on the beach. I am NOT looking forward to the bugs. We haven't had to deal with bugs for the last 4 years, and now I am remembering all the nastiness that are known as "waterbugs" in the Southeast!

I started working from home in January, and I am still learning how to balance working and keeping up with the house, and NOT being "on the clock" after everyone gets home in the evenings. I had a bad couple of days, with some jobs that had to get finished, and I let my vitamins go, and was just sitting at my computer all day, and late into the night....last night I had a "moment"....well, okay, it was more like an hour....My body can only go so long without enough sleep, working long hours, and sitting in one position...and then I just lose it. Hopefully today, I can get back up, and get back at it...since this is all a learning process...

I just got a phone call from the school...my kindergartener is having hearing issues...the nurse said that the cold she has may be affecting her hearing, but what she saw was outside of the range of what it normally affected by colds. The nurse was also concerned about the 5th grader....it seems he showed up at her office with bruising on his arm, and said something about some other students hitting him in the lunch room. She encouragement to call about any "bullying" that happens...there is a person who handles it and can make sure that the students involved do not know who "told" on them.

I am overwhelmed. House upkeep. Kids that are sick. Dealing with learning issues, and bullying, and baseball practice, and my own work, and church...there is just too too much. I am just one person, and I can NOT do it all. Yeah, hubby's here...but he's learning a new job, and his schedule is erratic right now.

Okay, enough whining. Back to work....because it is still there waiting for me....