Five kids – and I still can’t keep up.

Life with only five kids is odd.

When I had just five, life was busy. My oldest was eight. But I've gotten entirely used to the amount of work we can accomplish as a crew, and we're greatly diminished this week. Food consumption is also greatly diminished. It's rather amazing. It doesn't feel like nearly the chaos with these five. Very strange, since the three missing are big enough to be more help than work.

We've spent much of our week at the creek. It's been ridiculously hot, and we haven't run the air conditioning – we just work in it until we can't stand it anymore and then head to the river to cool off. It's been fun. I've gotten lots of exercise. Beckett is learning to walk on the leash.

I watched Stellan climb into the kennel of dog we're sitting for this morning. Suddenly, he was splashing. I'll leave that one to your imagination. Hint: it wasn't water. Every shade of gross, one thorough scrubbing in the bathtub, and many threads of my unraveling sanity later, he was clean. And furious that I'd ruined his fun.

Liberty made 100 waffles for the freezer stock this morning. They will last roughly five breakfasts for kids only. The numbers are still shocking.

I bought a new to us leather reclining couch tonight. We officially only have leather living room seating. For children, this is undoubtedly the best option. I also ordered dye for it… I'll keep you updated on that project. The couch is not the shade of brown I'd hoped for but the price and condition were right. Bonus points was when we realized it comes apart into three sections for easier carrying it up the stairs and into the house. No one died in the process of getting it up the stairs – a feat in and of itself.

Saturday my Dad brings back Eden, Sterling, and Charlotte and trades for Liberty and Ruby. The girls have been making to-pack lists for days. I think they might be excited. But I think all of this child-trading kids-missing business is for the birds! I'll be glad when it's over and everyone is home again.