The Week of Alexis and Justin

The day after Rachel left (yes, the very next day), Alexis and Justin came to town. So for another week, we ate too much, played too much and had a lot of fun. One day Alexis, Clara and I met Angela for lunch at Humble Pie (yum) and then did a little shopping. It was fun to have some one-on-one time with her because that is pretty rare. I still can't believe how grown up she is, so I just keep pretending she's not. That weekend, Angela, Alexis, Lily and I got pedicures. Have I mentioned before that's one of the greatest things in the world? If I wasn't such a miser, I'd probably get one weekly.

{Who needs change to make a wish when you can just grab someone else's straight from the fountain?}

While Alexis and Justin were here, we also celebrated my mom's birthday. We pretended Sunday was her celebration but really had a surprise get together Monday night at Ryan and Kathryn's.

Ryan made a lovely chocolate cake.

I wish my brothers would let me take pictures of them so I didn't have to be sneaky about it.

As we were leaving, Elsa and Lucy got all suited up for a scorpion hunt. Their outfits made me laugh, but that's probably because I thought they were getting ready for bed.

It was fun having you here, Alexis and Justin (over a month ago) and Happy Birthday mom (over a month ago). Slowly but surely, I'm catching up.

I needed a treat really bad

Unfortunately, I turned the wrong burner on.
Fortunately, my house didn't burn down.

It's always fun when Rachel comes...

Rachel asks, "Seriously Anna, how long does it take you to clean your room?"


So Anna explains...

Well, with my personality, forever. The truth is, my room will never be clean enough. This house will never be clean enough. Because no matter how organized I am, no matter how much unnecessary junk I get rid of, there just isn't enough storage in this house. Just ask the vacuum, he has no home. He is either in the hall or in a bedroom because not even so much as a coat closet is found in this house of ours. Also, if I can't do something the way I want it, I don't do it. Obviously, I don't have an extra fifteen hours to clean my house from top to bottom. Plus, "quick" tasks are never quick. Like the clothes that need to be hung up. Why don't I have ten minutes to hang up clothes? Well, I don't want to put them away until I can clean my closet. But, I don't have an hour to clean my closet. I don't want to clean my closet until I'm able to sort through the things in my closet and get rid of half my stuff. But, I don't have an hour to bag clothes for DI. So you see, it'd take me over two hours to hang up my clothes.

And how, you wonder, did my room become such a mess? Well, before Clara was born, her room was our office. When she was born, we moved our "desk" (tables) into our bedroom where Jason worked from home. He went back to work but I started working from home and we never did get things organized to begin with because we had to move it so fast. Then, we got a real desk and making that transition was done by throwing things around since we were again, short on time. I have three filing cabinets, a desk, Jason's computer, my computer, two printers and several contraptions with blinking lights that allow me so many wonderful conveniences. So you see, there just isn't enough room and it's not necessarily stuff we can get rid of. Our room was the extreme example but I have felt for a long time now that every time I do something, it's in a rush so that I don't have time to clean up the aftermath. I would make enough time to get the urgent things done, but there was never time enough to get anything else done. It just kept getting worse and worse until I couldn't handle it anymore.

I have made serious improvements and my blog neglect was not in vain. Almost every night, I've been able to get everything on my to do list done. I think time management is a lot like money management. If you waste money, rack up debt and don't budget, it gets harder and harder to stay on top of things. As it is with time. When I am doing good at wise time management, I can get more things done each day and as long as I stay on top of it, I don't feel like I'm just trying to survive. By disciplining myself and doing what I committed to do, I have found I don't feel like I'm rushing from one task to the next. As far as cleaning, I got the toys (which were invading the front room and Clara's room) under control. I got my room much cleaner. There are still corners that I haven't touched and I'd still probably be humiliated if anyone saw it, but I wouldn't have an anxiety attack. Plus, I no longer feel overwhelmed and even though I don't have eight hours to clean it how I want it, I can get motivated to clean a little here and there.

Now where did I leave off? Oh, with Rachel. Rachel came to town. Several weeks ago. Other than nap time, a few Scout obligations, sleeping and work one day, we spent pretty much all other time hanging out with my family. We swam (a lot), ate out (a lot), went to the Zoo (I was able to get three adults and all eight kids in free which was neato), watched movies, had a sleepover (Rachel spent the night at our house, he he), attended Leta and Annie's baby blessing, visited and laughed. Next time Rachel comes, I'm determined to get Emily here also. It's been almost three years since all our siblings have been together. Clearly, way too long.

Here are the highlights (although I left the picture of Clint in my robe out of here, but don't think that means it wasn't a highlight).

The Zoo

Swimming

Ah-So

Queen'sOne night, the kids went scorpion hunting. About thirty minutes later, they brought 14 or so scorpions back in a jar. That weekend, there was something in the newspaper about a scorpion hunt at San Tan Mountain for a "small fee". I laughed. Who knew people are willing to pay money for something we did/do all the time.

Pita Jungle

Brunch after the blessing...

Brother-in-lawly love. No Clint didn't scoot close for the picture. He sat this close to Ryan for quite some time and ne'er was it because there wasn't enough room.

I'm pretty sure if this were three women sitting in a room together, they'd all be on one couch. Oh, and they'd probably be visiting too.

Two things Ryan and Kathryn's house will never have a shortage of: estrogen and dress-up clothes.

See?

I told you so.

Connor is awesome. He's pretty sure every smile, every laugh and every camera is for him.

I do not lie...

Good thing someone was cleaning up instead of just taking pictures and holding babies.

We always take pictures of these four. They were all born within six months. I was thinking how fun it will be for Clara to have cousins in the same grade as her, but nope, these three will be a year ahead. That's how I was, I had three cousins in a grade above me and some below me, but none with me.

Bottom line, I love it when Rachel and her family are in town. On top of good quality sibling time and hanging out with her kids, I can justify throwing schedules and to do lists out the window.

Wewsh, glad I got these pictures posted before Rachel comes for another visit...