(almost) 2 years later.

In an effort to post pictures more easily, I decided to give this blogging thing a-go.  Again.  From my bed.  On my phone.  After working my 2nd night shift and needing to sleep for a 3rd one tonight.  So, ya know, impeccably planned and thought out after a two year hiatus.  

Just...whatever, man.  I can't always predict when the spirit will move me.

The impetus for this post is Memorial Day pictures!  There's nothing particularly fun or exciting about them, but I know there are a few people out there who might like to see our happenings (Judy Kay Oakes), know our comings and goings (Judy Kay Oakes), and gaggle at our mundane little weekend (Judy Kay Oakes).  So, basically, this post is for my Mimi :)

First, let me say that these pictures show a really cute and fun family who had a weekend celebrating the life and love we share afforded to us by men and women who died for our freedoms.  And while the latter part of that is true, the pictures themselves kinda lie.  It was a weekend of hard work and (at least for me) sleep deprivation!  But if you choose to believe the story the pictures tell, I can't blame you - it's a cuter tale, for sure.  

To start the weekend, I picked up a Friday night shift at the hospital because apparently I momentarily lost all sanity.  I don't like working Friday nights for a lot of reasons - if I had to rank them, not getting pizza and having to sleep on Saturdays sit firmly at the top.  Unfortunately, working Friday night left me going into the weekend in a night-shift fog.  And because I live a glamorous, Kardashian-esque life, I got up "early" (noon *is* early to a post-night-shifter!!) on Saturday to mow the grass.  You see how exciting we Hurlimans are??

Saturday night perked up a bit when we volunteered to watch 5 boys, four of whom are Tanner's age or younger.  Talk about your organized chaos!  Keeping tabs on eight kids is an exhausting task when you are the most responsible of adults, let alone when you are us.  (side note:  Hurliman Daycare was held at Chuck and (the other) Sue Hurliman's house - and the 5 boys are their grandsons.  Chuck, Sue, and their kids and spouses went to a 90th birthday party for a family friend.  And if you want a narrative on who Chuck and Sue Bloo Hurliman are, our knowing them is a whole 'nother blog post!   But I digress...)

What is more fun than kids riding down a drive way on tiny-tot toys, being shoved off by a toddler with a wiffle bat?  Safety and responsibility really are #1 priorities at Hurliman Daycare.

Ellery pulls a reluctant toddler back "home." It was actually quite endearing because she was really worried about where he was going and how he was doing.  She's such a care-er, that one :)

Two boys "playing orange tractors" in the dirt (not to be confused with simply "playing tractors."  After all, orange is Cooper's newly designated "fave-wit ca-lowr."). Sorry, Chuck's yard, for the fresh trenches.

All the kids had a blast playing and running and being scoundrels while John and I chased basketballs and wiped scraped knees and kept them from going inside and raiding the snacks.  Until their parents and grandparents came home, that is, when I promptly settled back into "mom of three" mode (which includes grabbing an icy beverage and stopping counting eight little heads over. and over. and over. and over again). 

Once there were more adults than kids, we had a lovely dinner....(are there eight little heads?!?)

followed by s'mores....

I think Coop's face says it all.

And thus concludes the "fun" of our weekend.  Thanks, HurliBloos!

We spent the rest of the weekend working in our yard and avoiding rain clouds.  It looked something like this on camera, but decidedly less Pinteresty in real life.

Worms, dude.  We love ourselves some worms.  And here in Central Illinois, we have ourselves a lot of worms.

Digging for even more worms.

And what's better than worms??

Rocks.  Lots of 'em.

We all had our turn being King of the Hill, of course (the Middle was still on worm patrol so she missed a photo op!)

And at the end of the dayS, ultimately, the only real, noticeable accomplishment was this:  

Two.  Moved.  Bushes.

But somuchmore. (cutting out bushes, digging up roots, more weed spray than I care to think about, digging holes, moving rocks rocks rocks, and so.much.more!)  

But we still smile, even though our backs (and spirit?!) are broken.

Now.

This has been loads of fun, downloading two new apps and staying awake all morning to post what all both of you will read, but now I must sleep.  Because broken back or not, momma's gotta work tonight.