StorkNet is very pleased to bring you Cheryl's parenting journal. Cheryl (44) and her husband Brian have been married for 21 years. After three miscarriages and six years of unexplained fertility, the Butlers adopted a daughter on the day she was born. Soon after, the floodgates opened and Cheryl conceived her first son. The rest, as they say, is history as Cheryl and Brian are now the proud parents of 8 children between the ages of 3 and 16. Join Cheryl as she shares the ups and downs and all arounds of parenting a large family. Entry 33 ~ June 29, 2009 ~ School's Out for Summer! They're out! All eight of them! My kids' last day of school was Friday, June 26th . . . about a week later than they should've gotten out due to the long winter we had here in Rhode Island. Sadly, we haven't seen the sun in nearly a month! No kidding! We are stuck in some pressure system that is cloudy, drizzly, gray and humid. For those of you that live in the Seattle area, I want to know how you do it? A few days of this weather is fine, but we are now going on a month and I don't know if many people will be able to survive an entire summer like this. Oh well. Weather is completely out of our control, so I can't spend my time worrying about when it will change. Right now, I have other worries. I have been without my washing machine since last Saturday (that would be nearly 10 days now!) and our hot water tank also keeps shutting itself off, so we are sometimes without hot water to boot. My biggest fear is that things like this break in threes, so something else is surely waiting to go. I just can't imagine what it will be since this past year every single one of our appliances including the flat iron has gone kaput. The part for the washing machine was ordered last Tuesday. Four days for it to arrive they tell me! I've been this route before with our dryer that went on the fritz last fall and that four days turned into three weeks! With summer laundry of beach towels etc., I am trying to remain calm and positive, but the gray, icky weather and taking cold showers nearly every day for the past week is starting to make me a little cranky! (Just a little!) We are going to have a very low-key summer this year. Last year we went to Disney World, the kids went to various camps all summer long and I just ran from place to place transporting them. This year, only one of my kids is even interested in camp. He will do baseball camp starting next week but that's it. Otherwise, it's going to be the beach, the pool, a quick getaway to New Hampshire and just enjoying our own backyard. Sounds good in theory, but in a couple of weeks I know they will all be bored and I'll have to start playing "Cruise Director" again! Some things never change. Since it's Monday (and happens to be my son Connor's 15th birthday today) I am going to go do a light housekeeping and then get ready for his party. My son, Austin, has an All-Star baseball game tonight, so that will interrupt our birthday festivities. My big news is that I'm training for a 10-mile race the end of July. I've been walking at least 5 miles a day every morning and will increase to 8 by the end of this week. I go early in the morning before the kids get up. I have to say, it's quite invigorating and I am really loving it, not to mention loving the pounds that are finally coming off! ha ha Before I do anything else, however, I must bravely enter the "cold shower" and get rid of my morning walking sweat. The kids think it's gross! I hope all of you are enjoying the beginning of summer and have lots of sunshine in your neck of the woods. Send some to New England, won't you please? Happy 4th of July everyone! P.S. Getting my camera shutter fixed so I can start sending photos again! Something always in need of repair. Take care!    ~ Cheryl StorkNet's Parenting Channel Cheryl's Journal Entries Introduction Meet Cheryl Entry 1 Back To School Blues . . . and Reds, Greens and Yellows!! Entry 2 They're All in School . . . So Where are my Bon Bons? Entry 3 The Beach, Bon Bons and an Unexpected Guest Entry 4 Never Take Your Appliances for Granted Entry 5 It Comes in Threes! Entry 6 It's Time to Say Good-Bye Entry 7 The Third One's a Doozey! Entry 8 Mrs. Fix-It Saves the Day Entry 9 Another Halloween Under Our Belts! Entry 10 When Mom Gets Sick, Will The House Come to a Screeching Halt? Entry 11 Finally Feeling Better Entry 12 Happy Thanksgiving! Entry 13 Let the Holiday Season Begin! Entry 14 Our First Snow of the Season Entry 15 Harbor Seals & Christmas Decorations Entry 16 Merry Christmas to All! Entry 17 Another Christmas Under Our Belts! Entry 18 Happiness is . . . A Brand New Year! Entry 19 Spending Time with the Grandparents Entry 20 Christmas Decorations & the Inauguration! Entry 21 Falling Off the Exercise Wagon Entry 22 Today's the Day Entry 23 Today's the Day Entry 24 February Vacation--Over in a Quick Blink! Entry 25 Time for New Undies Entry 26 We Finally Got Sick This Winter! Entry 27 Spring has Sprung, and so has Strep Throat! Entry 28 Strep Throat Go Away & Never Come Back Another Day!! Entry 29 A "New Attitude" for Easter Entry 30 Six First Communions Down-Two To Go! Entry 31 Much to Remember on Memorial Day! Entry 32 Chaperoning 8th Graders to NYC--A Refreshing Blast! email Cheryl return to journals index StorkNet Home | return to top family planning | pregnancy | parenting | family life | for fun | shopping | tools | community Copyright © 2008-09 Cheryl Butler. All rights reserved. Site Design by StorkNet Please read our disclaimer and privacy policy. Your feedback is always welcome.