I hope all of you are having a good weekend. Things around here are a bit off. You see, my brother and sister and their “significant others” left on Thursday, after a long and busy week of visiting. We had a lot of fun and it’s always nice to see family (even if it was more like having four more kids in the house than four more adults) :)

But, when they left on Thursday, they took two of my kids back to NY with them. Each summer my Dad brings out one or two grandkids for a week of spoiling. Nathan had the first turn (and had a blast!), then Ryan had a turn, as he was the next oldest (and he also had a blast), and then last summer the whole family went out to New York so all of my extended family could meet Marcus, Mercy and Des, who were all new additions.

So this year if you went by the “original age order”, it was Shane’s turn, but then we had added in “new” kids who were older than he was… complicated, isn’t it?? So we decided since Mercy is now the oldest she should definitely be “up”, and since Shane had been promised he would be next that it wouldn’t be fair to skip him, so we sent the two of them together. (My Dad also pointed out that with 10 kids we better “double up” on the summer trips or else Nate would be in college by the time his turn came around again.) :)
It actually was a great plan, because Mercy (11 years old) and Shane (6 ½ years old) get along fabulously.

So they are off having a fabulous week going to fun places like the beach, amusement parks, the aquarium, miniature golf, movies, go-carts, etc. etc. etc. and we are all home here missing them like crazy!

The first night they were gone, my poor Nathan (who is my sappiest and most tender hearted for sure) was crying because he missed his brother and sister, Des was out of sorts because it is the first time she has ever been away from Mercy for more than a one-night sleepover, baby Marcus was laying in Shane’s bed crying out “Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaane,” over and over and over, and truth be told, I was feeling pretty sad too.

You would think it would be a bit of a break to have two less kids to cook for and clean up after, but gosh, it sure has thrown me off.

So, that is what is going on around here. Oh, and did I mention that my kids go back to school just one month from tomorrow?? It’s crazy how fast summer is going. I love having them home with me and we sure have been having a great summer. Of course fall means we’re getting closer to bringing Belane home…(I’ll post a Belane update tomorrow with some pictures.)

Thanks for all the nice comments on my “venting post”. I am feeling better. I just needed to remind myself that all that really matters is that Josh and I do what is right for us and right for our kids. We’re happy, our kids are fabulous and life is good. So those who choose not to support us, it will just have to be their loss because I am done letting them bring me down. My life is too wonderful to waste time feeling badly because of other people. Thanks to all of you who took the time to offer your support.

Happy Sunday!