Having this second job is making gardening a little tricky lately. I started out the planting season with 4 days off every week and plenty of beautiful weather, now I have one full day off per week and alternating rainy days with hot and humid. Add to that equation two children and one adult with a summer cold, and I've been burning the candle at both ends, physically and mentally.

So, I've had to up my game. I know the boys have been missing me with this change in routine. We've always had time in the morning together even on the days I worked at my main job, usually an hour or two. Now I leave before they wake up three days every week. So I've been taking time to write them a note every day that they all read together when they wake up, and pack them a special lunch that they look forward to.

As soon as I get home usually, we all go for an evening walk around the property. They often just find the nearest stick and proceed to wave them about cautiously, until the "Thing-that-makes-little-boys-do-things-they-know-they-shouldn't" rears its head and I catch pointy projectiles sailing across the yard out of the corner of my eye, or I hear the familiar minor yelp of pain which quickly turns into a heated whispered discussion of whether or not I'M GONNA TELL MOM. I manage to get a few weeds pulled while I try to discern whether something I didn't even see was an accident or an "accident"(complete with wide eyes and small voices primed with the fear of losing games). Or one of my favorites, seeing the sticks in batting position while they glare at the large green plums hanging off the lower branches.

All too quickly, the evening fades into baths and stories and goodnight songs. Then, if it's nice, I go out for another few minutes and enjoy the garden - in peace this time around. Or lately, I get met at the door by a few wee shining faces, turn around to grab some cat food and milk, and spend the time sitting in the rocks looking at one of nature's finest creations: the Kitten.

But one day they'll be charming and strange and soft and sometimes annoying like all the rest:

Yes, he defies gravity even in sleep.