One down for a week, as Evie goes to camp...

We took Evie to Girl Scout Camp on Sunday - what better way to celebrate Father's Day than to drop one of them off for a week or so, right? No worries, Matt was properly feted Sunday morning with French Toast whipped up by Evie, and some shirred eggs. It almost sounds like I planned all that, doesn't it? In reality? While he went running I was drinking coffee, looking through cookbooks, hoping for inspiration. Thankfully there was a loaf of cinnamon bread in the freezer, buttermilk in the fridge, and plenty of eggs to bake in the oven while we cooked the toast :) Shirred eggs = yummy and easy! Bake each one in a greased ramekin, with a tablespoon of milk or cream on top, if you like - 325 for 15 minutes!! Hands free while you do other stuff :) Harried Mom likes that.

Harried Mom also likes wine and coffee, but you probably already know that. I'm thinking I'm liking wine a little too much lately (if such a thing is possible). While I used to crave coffee throughout the day, I find that recently I'm ok with less (which is good because Matt's drinking it again and I don't have the pot all to myself anymore and I'm really too lazy to make more...) however my wine consumption is up - which is NOT good for the bottom line - neither financial or booticular (I think I made that word up). Pardon me while I babble.

Anyway - so Evie is at camp this week, and things are uncharacteristically quiet here. I have to say - the kids have been out of school for about 2 weeks now, and I'm REALLY enjoying summer vacation! Nowhere to be until 9am, and half the time I just drop Evie and William off at the pool for swim practice & return home to finish up breakfast with Sarah and Jason. We're kind of taking it easy after the insanity of what basically turned into a remodel of the whole main floor of the house. Of course - I have a hard time separating 'taking it easy' from 'eating and drinking whatever I please'. I ran a half marathon 2-1/2 weeks ago with a friend and yet the scale is in my personal red zone - AGAIN. Why oh why are pounds so easy to put on/back on and yet SO difficult to lose? I like food - and wine - and I struggle.

I think part of the problem has been that while we've been working so hard on projects, it became all to easy to order a pizza, Chinese, or my own personal downfall, a ham and cheese calzone - large! - and then nosh away. Top that with a half bottle of wine, if not more, and there you have it - call me Mrs. Tightpants :) But I digress.

I cannot convey how much I am enjoying being a mom of kids who are getting bigger. Yes - they still make me crazy, and I think the days are busier and more chaotic than ever - but it is SO nice to not be hauling babies and all the gear they require around, feeling trapped in the house at nap time - or guilty because we should be home so they could nap. I love hearing all the thoughts and ideas that Sarah and Jason have, now that they can express themselves so well - smart cookies! - and watching them grow and blossom each in their own way is just taking my breath away. This time is so fleeting and short, I cannot even comprehend that Sarah starts Kindergarten in August and Jason turns 5 in November - how is that even possible?? I guess one of the gifts of life is that you don't see these changes occuring in the day-to-day, otherwise we'd all be puddles on the floor. Now if someone could tell me who that lady is that needs to color her roots that I see in the mirror every day, I'd appreciate it. Because in my head I'm 20.

:)