Well, summer is nearly upon my family and I, which means I will be pulling out my hair right shortly. Last year I did the 'calculations', and in the immediate family, including in-laws, there are 8 birthdays, 3 holidays, and 2 wedding anniversaries (mine and my sister's, actually that might be 9 birthdays, I forget when my sister's husband's is) from May 30th to July 27th.  That's busy, ayup.  Then throw in family vacation and camping plus 'Art Show Season' and life is just a mess.  Fun, but a mess.  Stressing over art, over food, over camping spots, over coordinating vacations so families can go together, and what have you is not easy!  No, not easy at all!  Never mind the fact that my yard is currently torn up in need of a new sprinkler system, rolling, more sod, one or two trees and a retaining wall for the garden we are trying to put in ... Oh!  And a fence needs replacing!

Then, on top of everything, our fridge was leaking, and we had to have mold removed, the floorboards are starting to warp and swell, which means the flooring will likely need to be removed, ... so the siding project for the house is turning into a kitchen remodel.  So budgets are being looked at, for all manner of thing.  Sorry kids, only 2 pairs of shorts this year!   Still, it does mean I have to look carefully at which art shows I am going to, and WHEN they are.  Because who knows where I am actually going to be during that time!  And I can /FORGET/ trying to keep people's birthday's clear ... very likely we'll be celebrating ONE of my kid's birthdays somewhere other than at home!

And on top of all that, with gas getting expensive, I am seriously looking at getting my own printer, rather than driving the hour to visit my parents and print things.  Because it is more economical, but where am I going to get the money for that from?

Oy vey.

The joys of families and home ownership!  ... And it all seems to boil down to Summer.