This summer has flown by in the blink of an eye. So much going on and I’ve had no time to blog about it all. I always start the day with the best intentions for my blog. I really do. I always have grand plans of everything I want to share with you all. I take a million pictures and create a million posts in my head.
And then the pictures sit on my computer.
And the posts sit in my head. :)
Kind of like these Ficus trees that sat in our front yard for weeks.
Right along with these Camphors and Sycamores. Are you impressed with my tree knowledge? I have a post in my head all about my latest tree knowledge. (You’re glad I haven’t had time for that one.)
I have posts in my head about our latest backyard changes and additions.
And about Kole’s love of my camera.
I have pics waiting to be edited of our stairs…
and of our formal living room…
and of our master bathroom…
I have pictures taken and posts in my head all about organizing my playroom, office, girls’ closets, and pantry. Decorating my family room and girls’ rooms and on and on..
But something keeps getting in the way of my blog time.
Actually three somethings. :)
And they come first.
Before the organizing and the decorating and the blogging. Before the exercising and the cleaning and more often than I’d like to admit… before the showering.
While I love summer, sometimes it’s hard for me to let things go. To see my house a mess and projects undone and pictures sitting on the computer. And to have too many posts swimming around in my head.
But then I spend the day with these three. I laugh with my girls and get constant cheek kisses from Kole. And I remind myself that there will be a day when I don’t have another summer with them at home. I’ll have more time to decorate and organize and clean and blog and certainly more time to shower. Time to accomplish goals and to enjoy hobbies. And I’ll miss today. I’ll miss the laughs and the cheek kisses and deep down.. I’ll even miss the chaos. Really deep down. :) When I remind myself of this it’s suddenly a lot easier to let things go.
Besides, no matter how messy my house gets…
it’s a lot cleaner than it was last summer.
:)
xoxo, Erin
Amen to that! Someday our houses will be clean but our lives will be boring…
As hard as it is to let things go, it’s good to remember;
“Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
and out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
but I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.”
I love a clean and organized house, but I know all too well how fast they grow. This poem always reminded me of that.
xo
And boy, does the time fly by! My 2 girls and baby boy just started high school, 7th grade and 3rd grade on Monday. I can hardly believe it. They grow up way too fast! I still get plenty of cheek kisses from my little man though. ;) Keep enjoying the rest of your summer with your kiddos!
Ahhhh! My phone ate my comment. Let me try again! You have your priorities straight, although I miss your more frequent posts. We need to be irl friends so we can talk organizing and kids and life. :)
I am so NOT ready for summer to be over. My kids just learned to sleep in ;). Really though, there are more splashes to do, parks to visit, adventures to be had, and cuddles to enjoy. I understand even better now why my mom was always sad at back to school time.
Enjoy the last moments with that trio of terrificness you have going on. (yes, I invented that word.)
:) JC
My goodness I love your house. Can’t wait for more!
Your time with your kids is precious. I know it’s hard to keep falling behind. I feel that frustration too. But, like you said, “let it go.” And yes, your kitchen was a lot messier during construction. PS. I am doing an organizational folder like you and I feel so much more organized and on top of things. Thanks, Erin, for the inspiration!
Cathy – I’ve heard that before! Love it. So so true. Thank you for sharing it!
JC – thank you! We DO need to be irl friends! Trio or Terrificness – love it! Much better than most of the words/sayings I invent. :) xx
Thank you Kerri!
Missi – Yea! So happy to help! :)
Yes, the time will fly by all too soon. Our “baby” will be a senior in college this year. Take the time to be present with your kids now. They won’t remember what the house looked like, how popular your blog was, etc. But, they will remember the time you spent with them.
I feel like I never have enough time in the day. I can’t wait to see all the posts you have planned. –Hanna Lei
What do you use on your wood floors? They’re so shiny!
You are a wise, wise woman to realize this already! Mine were the three “most important somethings” too. Other somethings could definitely wait. My family has been at our beach house this week, including daughter, son-in-law, and two sons. With their schedules, it was the only week all summer that everyone could make it. And, it has been a very sweet week! The boys are leaving here tomorrow to go back to college as a SENIOR and JUNIOR. I cannot believe how the time has flown! I am so glad you have enjoyed your summer!!!
I think that good mamas have messy houses :)
Hi Erin! It’s all about perspective, right? It hit me this weekend that my ten year old only has 7 more summers as “ours”. (tears)
I see ficus, and I’m cringing. My advice is: return them! I am not even joking. When we lived in SW Florida, our NEIGHBOR had a ficus. It’s roots absolutely wrecked our pool and house plumbing (roots constantly creeping into the plumbing and clogging things up) and even caused damage to our pool plaster and cracks like crazy in the driveway. We learned that their roots can extend hundreds of feet when mature, and they are considered invasive water-seekers. Not to mention that they drop leaves constantly throughout the year. This killed all of the grass on our side of the yard under our neighbor’s tree plus it was an eyesore. to constantly have our yards covered in ficus leaves. When we saw our old neighbors a few months ago, they said they finally had to have it removed (a little too late for us!) because it was destroying their plumbing also and they were getting cracks in the foundation because of the roots. Sorry to be so long winded, but I’d hate to see all of that hard work and planning in your yard become a huge issue later down the road. xo Sarah
Enjoy. The years fly by so fast.
Amen sister! You have your priorities right in line! Kiddos are #1! If you spent all the time blogging you would be missing the moments that matter! I love seeing your posts! They always brighten my day! I am in the same boat. Something has to give for now! We will get to it! We always do! What a great poem that Cathy shared! How true that is! xx
Julianne – I use Bona! It’s a wood cleaner you can buy all over (I get mine at Target).
Dee – I’m so glad you had everyone together for a week! So important to make things like that happen!
Lindsay – love that. It means I’m a REALLY good mom right about now. ;)
Sarah I’ve heard ficus horror stories! But no stress. My landscaper does something to the roots when he plants them so they aren’t a problem down the road and they are a species that doesn’t drop leaves. We are using them as a hedge. But thank you so much for your concerns! I really appreciate you watching out for me and my yard! :) xx
I love those black and white striped bins that you use to organize your kids toys. Where could I purchase them at?
Hi, where did you get those adorable striped canvas bins? What color are they? Thanks :)
Fellow San Diego Mama of 3.
Erin – this is such a beautiful post! You are an amazing mother! I tend to get very overwhelmed when things aren’t organized, so I feel your pain! As you already know, the years fly by! Enjoy every moment with your kids! That’s what is most important!!
Susan – you are such a sweetheart. Thank you! xx
Ok friends – the striped bins are from the Container Store. They are the Rugby Stripe Bins. Love them!
:)