I sometimes find myself defending my parenting to the social workers in my head who would try to take my kids away because I'm such an irresponsible parent. A friend of mine told me the other day that she was registered with social services. She left her napping kids in the car once while she ran into the store and all I could think was...if social services only knew....

"I'm sorry Mrs. Social Worker, my baby was screaming and exhausted and when she finally fell asleep it just wasn't worth it to me to wake her up to take my son to preschool across the street this one time."

"I'm sorry Mr. Social Worker, I do let my kids play in the back yard unsupervised, but I make sure I can always hear them!"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Social Worker, for letting my children run around at the grocery store, and yes sometimes they are out of my sight for a second. But I always call out to make sure I know they are safe..."

"Alright, Ms. Social Worker, I only bath my baby once a week and sometimes don't change her wet diaper for a few hours and after changing her outfit for the 4th time that day finally allow her to be naked."

"Yes Mr. Social Worker, I got so frustrated the other day that my child COULD NOT figure out the difference between the number 12 and the number 20 after 3 hours that I threw the workbook on the ground." (that was a particular low point)

"I know, Mr. Social Worker, I shouldn't let my baby eat dirt and sand on a regular basis."

BUT Mr. Social Worker, these kids are my life. I have no life outside my family. My world revolves around them....hey look at this cute picture of Afton sitting on my kitchen counter playing with the can opener! What's that you say? Should never let baby sit on the kitchen counter and play with dangerous kitchen tools? Would it help if I did her hair and put a humungous brightly colored flower in it?

Today Brad came home from work and I hadn't even started supper. So, he asked,

"What did you do all day?"

Lucky for both of us he was joking, but it got me wondering, what would really happen if I did nothing all day. Watched TV and such. Well, it just so happens I fell asleep for twenty minutes while reading books to the kids this afternoon, and I got a small sampling, as this was my floor when I woke up:

Yes, Afton is in the pull-herself-up-on-stuff-and-get-into-everything stage. This time it was Breanna's leftover peas from lunch, her water, her entire container of yogurt spread across the floor and the dirt from the plant-less plant pot. Luckily she is also in "THE CUTEST STAGE EVER!!!!" (I couldn't help myself) because it's barely even frustrating she's so dang cute. Not to mention she was the happiest baby in the world when I woke up after letting loose on my living room. So I washed my floors, and that's what I did, Brad.

Here's my happy baby at her happiest:

Mom she is like you! When I looked at this series of pictures her eyes are closed in almost every one! Maybe it's genetic...

This is why I love Calgary:

Swimsuits on the beach in the morning, thunder and downpour in the afternoon. Sunshine and backyard fun before supper, thunderstorms and rain after supper. Decide I can't go for my run and start another workout in my basement after the kids are in bed. Go upstairs for some water, see the rain has stopped. 

Go for my run. Home just in time for the rain to start again.

I know I talk about my runs in fish creek park lots but they really are heavenly. One thing I love is the chance that I might see wildlife. Yesterday I was all alone down there. Except for the birds and the deer, that is. This deer parked itself right beside the pathway. That's when I stop thinking "aw, look at the pretty deer" and start thinking "oh crap. Look at the scary evil deer." I shouted and stomped my feet and did jumping jacks but this deer was not going to move  (can you see her in the picture? She was actually much closer than it looks in the picture but I couldn't zoom in because I was using the iPhone). Worst of all, after all my jumping and shouting this deer did not take her eyes off of me! So it was either turn around and risk getting rained on (it had started to thunder again at this point) or pass the deer. It took all my courage to creep past that deer! I thought I was going to die, but I said to myself, if I die, I die happy. The deer didn't move but she sure stared me down.

And that is my deer story.

After the rain after my run stopped:

Summer is...

Friends, cold water and cherries in the back yard on a HOT day!