By the end of the last school year, I was SO ready for the switch to summer. I couldn't wait for the laid-back, sun-filled days. I couldn't wait to let go of the extra-curricular activities (two for each girl) and homework assignments, not to mention the special projects (i.e. science fair) that can become way too intense for my liking. I couldn't wait to have some time to clean out some closets and organize some spaces in our house that have become way too cluttered and filled with unnecessary junk.
And then I figured, that like always, I'd be just as ready to usher in fall and the beginning of a new school year. Certainly after an entire summer, I'd be fully ready for the changes that the school year would bring.
But as it turns out, I'm not torn this year. I am one hundred percent in favor of letting the summer linger. I'm not really feeling ready or excited about school and extracurricular activities and friends taking my girls away from me this time. And it also turns out that most of the reasons I thought I was excited for summer, didn't have a thing to do with why I loved my summer with my girls so much. While we did let go of most of the extra-curricular activties, not many days were laid back and lazy, and absolutely nothing (closets, drawers, rooms, papers) was organized over the course of those glorious twelve weeks. Boy, was I ever shocked when I came to the realization that the closets were just going to have to wait. But how satisfying it feels to know that I put those things off in favor of spending time with my family.
It's been crazy busy. Just as we've finished one thing, we've had another event, activity, or visitor right on our heels. This summer has been filled with vacations, family, birthdays, and activities. Friends have been in the picture too, but somewhat sadly for my girls and amazingly for me, there hasn't even been much time for those. Not that I don't love my girls' friends and not that I don't love to see my children nurture friendships, it's just that I have loved all the time that has been dedicated to family over the past few months.
I'm sure all of the activities we did this summer are part of the reason for all the fondness...
Jared and I went to Hawaii
Leah and I went to Idaho with my mom and dad
Leah had a smashing birthday party that she and Brita planned
Jared and I sailed the skies in a hot air balloon for Jared's 40th birthday
Chad & Julianne (Jared's brother and his wife) and their family visited us for a few days
We hosted most of Jared's family for a BBQ and watched fireworks for the 4th of July
I got to redeem my Christmas present at the opening night of Wicked in Salt Lake City with Jared
Anne (our niece) got to stay with us for five days
We painted ceramics at Color Me Mine - Leah & Brita painted mugs, Anne painted a vase, and Meg painted a butterfly trinket box
Jared and I took the girls to their first Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert for Pioneer Day
Doug and Isabel (my brother and his wife) and their family visited for almost two weeks
My family rented a cabin in Midway for a few days
Leah spent every spare minute of the last part of the summer baking and cooking
We paid several visits to the library followed by hours of reading
The girls loved swimming for fun at the SCERA pool (especially when their cousins were with them!)
We spent a few days roller skating and bouncing at Classic Fun Center
We hiked Stewart Falls with Doug and his family
Our annual tradition of spending a day in Park City when Doug is here was continued
We rode horses along the trails at Soldier Hollow with Doug and his family
We camped at Yellowstone Campground in the Uintahs with a bunch of Jared's extended family where the girls got to ride horses again
We ate lots of yummy treats and occasionally went out for lunch
I got to go out on a couple dates with each of my girls by themselves and I had special "book discussion" dates with Brita and Leah, which we all loved and want to do again.
There were also many learning opportunities and growing experiences spread throughout our summer...
Jared ran a marathon
Brita spent two weeks in St. George with my parents
Brita spent an entire week at 5th grade camp Camp Big Springs
The girls all took two weeks of swimming lessons, then Meg signed up for the optional additional two weeks because she loved it so much
Leah attended a BYU gymnastics camp
Brita and Leah continued with piano lessons, totally against their wills but with good attitudes anyway
Brita and Leah started to learn how to sew by making pillow cases
Jared spent an entire week at scout camp
There was also some work mixed in with all the fun...
We spent a lot of time cleaning in preparation for family get togethers and visitors
The girls got new timecards at the beginning of each week that outlined their daily jobs for that week
Last year we bought a rental house and this summer our tenants moved, which meant lots of time cleaning and getting the house ready for new renters
Brita and Leah spent lots of time babysitting Meg and they have both improved so much as babysitters
We had our family room remodeleded (including floors in the kitchen), which had us displaced from our main living area and kitchen for almost three months - it was crazy hard but totally worth it because we absolutely love it now.
While I want more than anything to be able to keep my kids close and under my wing as much as possible, I also know a lot of good things will come from the school year ahead of us. I know each of us will grow, we will all have experiences of some kind of another that we never saw coming, and we'll continue to bond in different ways. And whether I feel ready or not doesn't really matter - school is just around the corner and since I'm going to have to say goodbye to summer no matter what, I might as well take a stab at giving a hearty hello to fall.
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