**What? It's Summer?**

This has been our busiest summer ever, but it really hasn't felt like summer.  We weren't this busy during the fall and winter months!  Summer is suppose to be for relaxing, but there hasn't been much of that going on.  It's not even August, and my kids have done three different week-long camps.  My daughter has had a weekly theater rehearsal (over an hour away), and when that's done both the girls start another theater rehearsal three days a week for two weeks, which is, again, will be an hour away.  We've had something going on almost every weekend for the last two months.  I feel like I have spent almost no time with friends this summer.  I've made plans to, but I've had to cancel almost all of the plans because something always comes up.  My hubby has been working alot of overtime - he's working right now, in fact, on a Saturday!  And he has to go to Colorado at the end of this month.  Next week we have to drive to St. Charles for my daughter's theater stuff Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday!  I feel like I spend more time in my car than anywhere else!  So, this is just not what I had in mind for our summer. :(  And there will be no resting today. When Dave gets home from work today we are heading to the cabin, and I'm going to clean it from top to bottom on the inside.  Dave is going to take care of the lawn, and clean the porch.  But tomorrow - tomorrow we will rest, and relax!  Tomorrow we're going out on the boat to spend the day floating on the lake, and I can't wait.  We haven't done that since July 3rd!  I am going to cherish every single minute!

**Sibling Fighting**

My girls have been fighting non-stop, and I'm so tired of listening to them!!  I swear, I was nearly in tears this morning because I'm so frustrated by the constant problems between them, and I don't know how to make them stop.  I feel like all I hear all day is - "Sissy, STOP!!"  and "Aubbie, I'm gonna tell, Mom!!" and "Sissy, get off me!!!!!!!" and "Aubbie, don't touch me!!!!!",  but, mostly, I hear, "MOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!"", which really annoys me!!!  I want them to be able to work out their differences calmly and quietly, and without screaming for me to intervene, but, maybe, I'm expecting too much.  They are only 8 and 10, but, jeez, the stuff they fight over is just ridiculous.  I know part of the problem is that they are, pretty much, with each other 24/7 - with being homeschooled they just don't spend much time apart.  They do go on playdates and sleepovers, but they always go together, so even though they are spending time with friends they are still, kind of, together.  So, my plan is to start letting them have separate playdates and sleepovers.  Hopefully, I can work that out with the other moms.  For now, the girls are grounded for the week.  In the meantime, I'm going to talk to them (AGAIN) about how they can handle their differences with each other in a better manner.  Things will get better, right??!