Sweet Summertime

The look of Summer after coming in from a full morning in the sun.

At the Zoo.

Good-bye Summer!

It always goes by way too quickly, and most of the time the things we do on a day to day basis are not captured through photos, but are still thoroughly enjoyed. Activities like the walks around the neighborhood to visit neighbor friends. Impromptu sprinkler parties with nudie baby friends. Picking fresh vegetables and herbs from my very first garden. Lots of yummy BBQ dinners. Trips to grandparents homes for dinner and AC relief. And new creations in the kitchen, including helping Momma make weekly, what we call in our home, Silly Juice! (a.k.a. Kool-aid..)

Here is a look into our world this summer....

Audrey's first movie at the theater--Toy Story 3!! Courtesy of Grandpa Gerry on Father's Day in, while on vacation. She LOVED it. And by "loved it" I mean that she has been reciting and recalling her favorite parts, DAILY, since June.

And that, my friends, is not an exaggeration at all.

Playing with Grandma on my first vacation.

Daddy teaching about fireworks.

Swinging with Grandpa Tom.

Cousins on vacation.

Things, you too, can learn from my Summer:

1. You will never, ever sleep as well while away from home with children. Just expect that from now on. Infact, you might as well plan for something different than usual to happen at night. I.e. Teething, potty training mishaps, fevers, scared, etc.

2. Don't even bother packing those books/magazines you've had saved up for this trip, you will inevitably be spending your time just like you do at home, corralling children, only busier since you will now be trying to prevent new hazards from happening for the duration of your stay in a new place.

3. Don't worry if you forgot a few important things while on vacation. There is a store close by that sells those minor details you forget, like extra diapers, diaper cream, deodorant, shampoo, and thankfully they will also sell Porta Cribs... (Yeah, OOPS. But you can later return for full price..boo-yah!)

4. Quit worrying about trying to shave your legs before you get in the pool or hot tub.

No one cares, so just GO!

You will forever have sweet memories of biking just your toddler daughter with snacks and drinks to the nearby pool, spending quality time and cherished memories of bobbing around together and cooling off. Oh and, water always equals lonnnng naps afterwards. Remember that.

5. Capture the things you are most proud of, if nothing else, for your own sake to look back on. Your handsome husband in all his swat gear, coming home from being away, in the heat of summer.

Your very first vegetable garden.

Adventures you take your children on by yourself that were difficult
(like the beach! more on that later), these moments boost your confidence for future adventures! And of course, your children giggling, shoving, crying...these are all fleeting moments. Capture them!

6. Yes, it's been 3 years and your husband still has a hard time sleeping after a night shift when the sun is shining bright in the morning. Now is a good time to invest in some (cheap!) window drapes and remove the scotched-taped on "light blockers"... Hey, it actually looks better too! (Also, if you transfer the tape to your children's windows, it will cause them to sleep longer. But not by much--it's still Summer & they somehow know there is much to be done.)

7. If the home was a chaotic mess & dinner was microwavable, but you got to be outside & the only time you got peace in the day was to just sit & watch your daughters play in their blow-up pool, giggling and splashing, consider yourself truly blessed.

Because you are.

8. Close your door & try on all your old VS string bikinis and remember your youthful self, pre-babies. Then go pull out your "post-baby" second hand store tankinis and skirts and cover-ups and feel comfortable with yourself. Or at least the small parts of yourself that aren't covered up... Then buy the adorable frilly polka-dotted bathing suits for your little girls and no one will be looking at you anyway!

9. Keep Praying! When the sun is shining really bright, and your family's health is fabulous and your mind is busy with the go-go-go of Summer activities & plans, it's sometimes easy to forget to pray for upcoming trials and sicknesses. Keep praying. And continue to look for reasons to Thank the Lord for life and all these precious memories.

Sweet Summer has come to an end almost as soon as we really dug our feet into the fun chaos.

We enjoyed it while it lasted!

Bring on Fall!!