Cloudcover

Trying to sit up

It's been heaven, this weather. Perfect t-shirt temperatures and rain every single day for over a week, I think. I feel peace even though our car is in the shop and will cost us about half its blue book value and the washer broke down the very same day. I am buying a new used one this weekend. Laundry for a family of 6 at the laundry mat gets old quickly. But we've been through so much worse during our construction years that these types of things don't really have the power to stress me anymore. I have this Jedi mind trick when things feel tough. I am sure I'm not alone in doing this. If I feel inclined to whine about anything in particular I imagine how much worse it could be. For example, when I want to gripe about not being able to wear anything but backless, flat, boring shoes or being very limited in what type of physical activity I engage in (like no long walks) because of my chronic Achilles tendinitis, I imagine that I have been a paraplegic until TODAY when I could walk for the first time. When I feel like whining about excess pounds left to lose from pregnancy (daily), I imagine that I was 300 lbs formerly and I reached this wonderful (ahem) weight today! So with issues regarding [lack of] money, I imagine having been homeless with the kids and suddenly landing my current life. WOW! So much better now.

Anja 2 yrs, Julia 3 months

When we moved this spring Mark rewarded himself with a very cheap dirt bike since we now live right by the onset of the path that goes to the river. He and Isak ride it about once a week. I have found that it is quite relaxing to go up and down the street 3 or 4 times (bet the neighbors love us). Gets my mind on something completely different. Anja is okay when Mark rides, but throws a giant fit when I do.

Isak can shift the gears. And yes, cool cat daddy needs a helmet, too...

The picture of Elina and the pony, below, we took today. Elina has been BEGGING me to let her go and feed a horse a carrot. So today we did. Awwww, horses.....