Going MIA

I went MIA this weekend, heading up to our family's cabin, partly because - well, it's not exactly stress-free when you're home with a toddler and a newborn. It's an endless and wonderful and difficult job. I try to keep us busy with fun activities during the week, which is often 30% fun and 70% hassle. I struggle to get the dishes in the dishwasher and keep the laundry at bay - only to turn around and have to do it all again (I swear I just heard my mom in that sentence). I've managed to make a special dinner or two in two months (believe me, this is a huge accomplishment). I've got sweet and wonderful, fairly 'easy' kids--and it's still an enormous job, which at times I love and for which at times I would like someone to tap me on the shoulder and call in a sub.

This isn't a new struggle for ANY parent, working or not. For the most part, I'm really enjoying being home. Even those mornings when I enviously watch Andy walk out the door, a few minutes later I'm giggling with Maren or glimpsing a smile from Luke, and the outside world is forgotten.

I can't tell you how many times I've said "I don't know how my parents did it..." Or many other parents, for that matter. My folks had four kids; Andy's parents had five! Wow, the jump from one to two is not a small one - and as challenging as this is, it's probably a piece of cake compared to the chaos of my home growing up. But when I heard it was going to be 80degrees, I didn't hesitate to take advantage and make the most of the weekend.

Life at the cabin tends to move at a different pace. Maren stays blissfully busy, the kids tend to sleep really well there, and I manage to get in a hot tub during nap time, beer in hand. Yesssssssssss~!