After scoping out the ornamental gardens on Monday afternoon, I took the kids to the water park. It was a tough sell, what with all of the water! and splashing! and fun! to be had.
I dragged them to the park kicking and screaming. I told them that they were going to have fun or they would pay dearly.
Emily was not sure at first.
Nathan was so bored that he was checking for belly button lint.
Graham was trying to fight the fun with his karate moves.
Emily was still wary of this “fun” nonsense.
We were finally able to force Nathan to try one of the big spray guns.
He hated it.
Graham thought he should run away from all of the fun.
It worked. See?
Emily battled a fountain of water.
The fountain won.
In all seriousness, Monday was an absolutely phenomenal day.
(So was Tuesday. Our baby chicks hatched! No photos. Yet.)
The reason for the astounding awesomeness in my little world? I think I finally have a bit of work/life balance figured out. It sure took me long enough.
My “problem” is that I am a Type A, organized, high/insane-work-ethic sort of person. This means that when I have work to do I want to get it DONE before I take time to play. The nature of my work, however, is such that it is never done. It swings between “crazy beyond all get-out” and a dull roar.
My usual state of mind is that even when it is at a dull roar, it is still nagging at me. If I do anything “fun” the good times are muted by the knowledge that work is likely piling up and I am probably getting behind.
What I have taken to doing lately is telling the Negative Nelly side of my brain to suck it. I give myself “time off”. Nobody will DIE if I take a break. I might be the one to die if I don’t take that break.
In addition to my epiphany, I am also a little excited that I only have nine days left on this contract. The light! At the end of the tunnel! I see it!
Honey’s work has also gotten busy. Hooray! This means that this next week will be a little more hectic than it has been, but once it is over?
I will be spending every single day having fun. Most likely at the beach.
I think the kids are pretty happy about the whole deal too.
31 Comments
Great pictures! Glad to hear that light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter!
Ashley’s last blog post..FaceSpace, MyBook…or something like that
Comment by Ashley on June 18th, 2008 @ 8:36 amI wish that Emily’s bikini came in my size.
Good for you for trying to find balance - it’s too easy to get caught up in all the non-fun stuff and then the fun stuff passes you by.
hills’s last blog post..And Draw One More Comic Tragedy
Comment by hills on June 18th, 2008 @ 8:38 amYup, the kids looked like they were miserable! 
Do they make Emily’s swim suit in adult sizes? For some reason I just don’t think it would have quite the same effect on me as it has on her….
Balance. Sometimes it feels unattainable! It sounds like you beat the “work ’til you drop” gremlins!
Have fun at the beach! (I’ll just sit here in the desert and try not to be envious. It probably won’t work though.:) )
-Andrea
Andrea’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday With a Twist: Vintage
Comment by Andrea on June 18th, 2008 @ 8:41 amThe balance thing is tough when you are self-employed. You almost have to force yourself to map out a workweek, with the hours you are willing to spend at it, and then “go home” and make supper.
witchypoo’s last blog post..More June Peeps
Comment by witchypoo on June 18th, 2008 @ 8:41 amOMG! That last photo is the BEST! I love that bikini!
It is hard to quiet that Negative Nelly. But sometimes you just have to shove her in a closet and lock the door and throw away the key so you don’t go crazy!
Kristabella’s last blog post..It’s A Rant!
Comment by Kristabella on June 18th, 2008 @ 9:10 amI love Miss Emily’s bathing suit - too cute! Waterparks are such fun!
Sharon’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday is coming? maybe tomorrow
Comment by Sharon on June 18th, 2008 @ 9:22 amIs it weird that I want Emily’s wardrobe, only in my size?
Rhi’s last blog post..Friday Bullets: Guess What? Edition
Comment by Rhi on June 18th, 2008 @ 9:32 amGoing to the beach is WAY more fun than working …
Jen’s last blog post..Multiples
Comment by Jen on June 18th, 2008 @ 9:38 amspending every single day having fun sounds PERFECT. how do i get me some of that??
Comment by ali on June 18th, 2008 @ 9:47 amThat bikini is awesome!
I wish I could kick-start my butt into tackling this set of proofs I’m supposed to be working on today…send some of your type-A vibes over here, will ya?
Assertagirl’s last blog post..A Father’s Day post without a photo of my father (oops).
Comment by Assertagirl on June 18th, 2008 @ 9:55 amLove that last photo of Emily! Can’t wait until I’m up there and can have beach fun with you guys!
songsinblue’s last blog post..No less than stellar
Comment by songsinblue on June 18th, 2008 @ 10:25 amAren’t water parks the best?
Love that last photo of Emily - stunning!
Don Mills Diva’s last blog post..My true companion
Comment by Don Mills Diva on June 18th, 2008 @ 10:39 amYeah, suck it Nelly! It’s hard to have the discipline to stop and give to yourself first, but it is always worth it (and improves our work in the end, truly). Good for you.
Kaza’s last blog post..The 5 Stages for New Parents
Comment by Kaza on June 18th, 2008 @ 10:45 amOh that bikini is adorable. I want one too.
Oh wait, I would look ridiculous in it, Emily can keep it 
Yay for only 9 days left! I am on the summer downswing too…finish up this case and then I am NOT working for awhile. (now if I could learn to say no in case anyone asks me to do anything….)
LOVE the pictures as always.
Kami’s last blog post..It’s All Michelle’s Fault
Comment by Kami on June 18th, 2008 @ 11:03 amoh, the bikini is adorable. My 3 year old has a bikini fetish. she loves them.
Shamelessly Sassy’s last blog post..The Drunk Tampon
Comment by Shamelessly Sassy on June 18th, 2008 @ 11:13 amCan she get ANY more cuter!? That little bikini…too much;)
Randi’s last blog post..Release Day
Comment by Randi on June 18th, 2008 @ 11:21 amThat first photo of Emily is AWESOME! That would be so good for the photography site!
The karate moves kill me. I’m hoping you have a good video of that some day
Way to go with the balance. In fact—I’ve just made a decision about something….must go edit my most recent post.
The Over-Thinker’s last blog post..And the popular choice is: PROSTITUTE (I’m starting to wonder about my readers…)
Comment by The Over-Thinker on June 18th, 2008 @ 11:30 amThe first picture, of Graham? With his little tummy? SO CUTE!!!
Also, do they have adult sizes of Miss Emily’s bathing suit? I love it!
I know I already said it on Flickr, but nothing’s cuter than a baby in a bikini. I can’t stand the cuteness.
Kristie’s last blog post..Do you ever wonder?
Comment by Kristie on June 18th, 2008 @ 12:11 pmYou put me to shame on taking pictures of kids. Sadly, I haven’t taken one pic of the girls in almost a month. I guess it would help matters a bit if I liked my camera.
Comment by gorillabuns on June 18th, 2008 @ 12:46 pmGlad the teeter-totter isn’t tipping too far off the deep end
Elizabeth’s last blog post..?WQ +2?
Good on you, finding that elusive balance. I’m so glad I found it when I did, as I have a similar personality to you! Yay for having fun in 9 days’ time
Love that last photo of Miss Emily - super cute!
Hannah’s last blog post..WW: week 1
Comment by Hannah on June 18th, 2008 @ 1:14 pmThat is great that you are learning to balance life.
The last pic of Emily it perfect, too cute!
Kristin’s last blog post..Our Fabulous Father’s Day.
Comment by Kristin on June 18th, 2008 @ 3:15 pmI am the same way! If I have anything that needs to be done, I can’t truly enjoy my fun time! This is very evident right now, as I take four summer classes at once. Crazy? Yes, I may be!
And I can tell what an awful time your kids had. Poor things!
Kate’s last blog post..The Stress
Comment by Kate on June 18th, 2008 @ 3:39 pmThose pictures are darling, great captures. Emily’s suit… precious and scrumptious. She is such a little darling.
Hi!
My computer is working again, i think. So I’m back, I hope.
Have a great night hon!
rachel’s last blog post..Pencil VS. Eye
Comment by rachel on June 18th, 2008 @ 5:07 pmThat bikini is something else! I wish (sniff, sniff) that I looked that good in a bathing suit! Looks like the kids had an awful time…They are really going to hate summer, aren’t they?
Comment by Michele on June 18th, 2008 @ 5:49 pmShe really is so freaking cute. But not that cute that you should…I dunno…bring her with you on any trips you might be going on in the near future.
Heather B.’s last blog post..What do you love about your life?
The work/life balance is so hard when you work from home, I hope you have a good journey figuring out what works for you, and that you can genuinely enjoy all the fun times! I know it takes me a week or two after the busy season to get back into ‘regular’ mode, but it’s so worth the effort! And that water park looks like so much fun.
I think we might be the same person when it comes to work and work ethic. Which is why I made myself sick a week or so ago and was miserable. 12 hour days are not sustainable for longer than two weeks at a time. At least, not for this girl.
Here’s to much needed breaks! And realizing the piles of tasks will always be there tomorrow.
Kerri Anne’s last blog post..Twenty-Six
Comment by Kerri Anne on June 18th, 2008 @ 11:21 pmLOVE Emily’s little toddler body in that bikini!!! So smoochable!
Comment by joyce on June 19th, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
Yay for balance. I’m glad to hear it.
These pictures make me want to run through the sprinklers.
sizzle’s last blog post..And Then My Ovaries Went On Strike
Comment by sizzle on June 18th, 2008 @ 8:33 am