Miami Trip

We made our usual  summer pilgrimage to Miami this month.  We were there for 11 days.  It was a much more low-key trip this time because all three boys got sick, which left us inside for about a week.  As a result I didn't take very many pictures.  Before the sick monster raised it's ugly head, we spent time at the beach and pool every day, took Adam and Matt on a boat ride, saw a couple of movies and swam some more.  While the boys took turns being sick, Rob and I took turns at the beach and pool. 

 Matt, Adam, Robert's dad and Robert on our boat ride.  We went around Miami's port, Key Biscayne, past all the rich & famous homes and other small islands near Miami.  Adam enjoyed it; Matt was bored.  Exciting side note--I saw a dolphin jump up out of the water and then dive back down--first time I've seen one in the "wild". 

 This was the view from our bedroom.  Not too shabby, eh! 

Adam and Matt on our drive home from the airport.  We were all going a bit crazy.  It's no fun living seven hours away from the airport.  Another exciting side note--we drove right past a tornado.  It was literally right across the road from us.  As we were approaching it, we kept asking in unbelief, "is that a tornado?" and hoping we would get past it before it crossed the road. 

Finished Bannister

Our bannister is finally finished.  (sigh of relief)  We started it back in November. . . .and finished it in July.  We installed it in November and then it sat there unfinished (unstained) for the rest of time until I got fed up with looking at it, knowing it still wasn't done.  It looks much better than the original.    

Summer T-ball

Matt played t-ball this summer.  He enjoyed it.  He said he liked the practices better than the games because during the games he had to wait around for his turn, where as at practice they were constantly doing something.  Four of his friends from his kindergarten class were on his team.  Their team was called the Cardinals (not sure why they were given yellow shirts).      

 Fielding a ground ball.

Matthew is the fourth from the right.

Life is a Teeter-Totter

I feel like my current life is one huge balancing act--teetering between my family and my calling.  I spend a lot of time on the phone and away from home now, either at meetings or on visits.  I can tell it's been hard on my kids.  A lot of things have had to take the backburner, both for me and for Robert.  My projects go undone because I'm too busy; Robert's go undone because he's covering for me and/or with the boys.  We didn't plant a garden this year and I don't want to even talk about the rest of our yard.  Matthew has always been a momma's boy, but lately he's much more attached.  He's been playing t-ball this summer.  He likes it but doesn't like to go to the games without me.  He's refused to go to a couple of them because I had meetings.  Tonight is his last one and it will be only the second one I'll have attended.  Oftentimes, he waits up for me to get home, trying to stay awake in his bed.  I think it will just take time for everyone to get used to our new "normal".  We leave for Miami on Monday.  It will be really nice to have that time together as a family.