Farewell to Summer

It is with mixed emotions that I sigh goodbye to my most favorite of seasons.  I anxiously count the weeks until sunshine fills every crevice and pool days are plentiful.  I soak up and love nearly every minute.

Crocs and flip flops have filled our days, and our activities turnover as quickly as we slip on our shoes.
Eventually I do crave schedules, routine, and the ability to breath between activities.  I'm thankful we say farewell with full plates and memories to savor.

My highlights:

>99.9% of my highlights include people I love, as few things matter more to me than relationships.  But full disclosure, when I think of summer, one of the first memories that pops into my head is a solitude Saturday when hubby had the boys and I had a paintbrush and an old shelf to paint away in the sunshine. Ahhh.
Besides THAT single solitary moment (one of the few in the last 6 years post pregnancy),
I treasure these:

>Commemorating the start of summer with backyard camping.  I hold tender memories of our first Michigan summer in this home and our first summer with a tiny yard

>Watching little Chuck swim across the pool on his own -without floaties - for the first time

>Watching this three year old jump fearlessly off the diving board

>Walking out of the airport in Guatemala to see my brother's face in the crowd of Guatemalans (right next to a sign that said "Big Ass Party" -- in English.  (I'm glad we went home with my brother's driver))

>Strawberry picking with my college roomie

>The Critter Barn + a visit from Grandma

>Relaxing with a gluten free beer at a play date with two of my best friends.  The beer was good, but the friends were much better.

(Picture unavailable as it would incriminate us as mothers...use your imagination)


>Camping with my in-laws!  This is what 10 kids six and under look like:

>Cousin visit with lots of fun packed in

>Good ol' Wisconsin Dells, as cheesy as they come.  We obviously only wore these clothes for the picture, then it was back into our cutoff tanks and jean shorts.  Love my fam.  All 12 of us under one roof.

>Lest our suitcases get lonely, we left town one last time to help marry off a cousin.   Late night with the girls, ridiculous laughter with family.  Ahh...my heart is full just thinking of it.

>And, last but not least, the little in between moments like this one that declare summer, childhood, carefree days, and the preciousness of having a brother to play with that never fails to make my heart skip a beat