WHAT THE HECK HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?

I feel completely overwhelmed with the enormous amount of crap we have to do to get our lives back on track.  Still haven't settled with insurance companies (more our fault than theirs),  just thinking about what we have to do -- regardless of our decision to remodel (the least favorite option) or to rebuild (hands down our first and favorite option!) -- both require thinking and follow through.  But the moment I start formulating a plan I feel like Homer Simpson -- and suddenly a happy little monkey playing the cymbals pops into my head. The next thing you know it's the weekend -- crazy --! WOO HOO! mmmm....donuts...

The key to successful planning something of this magnitude is to have a clear mind.  Really, the only way to organize your thoughts and find your 'focus' is to sleep on it.  Once the kids are at school, my day is already laid out for me -- I know if I don't get my nap on now, it just starts to pile up.  The next thing you know it's 2:30 -- and time to get the kids.   It never fails, when you are this busy, time seems to evaporate into thin air. Even after a full day of 'planning to plan something' I still feel like there aren't enough hours in the day!  I know you're thinking I'm being too hard on myself  -- nothing happens overnight -- just step back and allow the process to evolve. I know, I'm trying -- baby steps.   You guys will be the first to know if an actual thought happens (no, talented little monkeys playing beautiful music don't count)--  Promise.    

Aside from the daunting task of 'planning to plan something', we've been doing stuff like this:

Celebrating birthday's!  Sophie is SEVEN this week! 

Hangin' in the Oppe gym -- donating blood in Johnny's memory. 

Proudly watching Sophia's Kodak moment!

Hosting yet another wild party --  luckily, our neighbor's didn't have to call the cops -- this time!