I can't believe that today is our last official day of summer break. Absolutely crazy. I also can't believe that just a few months ago that I was dreading this summer due to Lyla's age/whininess/clinginess because I have just LOVED every minute of this summer!
I'm not even sure what all we did... I mean, other than the ten day vacation in Florida and the lake days, the days at the pool and of course our wonderful week at camp (more on that later). Everything just kinda ran together and ended with me thinking "where did the summer go?"
This summer's pool time has been pretty awesome for me, because for the first time in 5.5 years, my kids were solid enough to swim on their own in the pool, leaving me to lay out on the side. Thanks to the weather (coolest summer I can remember), I was able to do this every single time we went swimming this year. Carson ended the summer diving off the diving board, and Lyla was doing many many cannonballs. Lil Bit would shout "cannonball!" And then quickly after, "Carson, come help me up!" C would run over and drag her up the side leaving her flopped on her belly, and then they'd do it all over again. It was super sweet. Even all the big boys at the pool would help out Lil Bit. Good kids.
We had a great week at Dwight Mission again. This year was also extra cool, because until Thursday (when Lyla got tired) I pretty much just followed my kids around. The first morning there I went for a quick run and came back to find my kids dressed and their teeth brushed. So, from that day on, I didn't worry if I was running (I was always CLOSE) and just told the kids to get ready if they woke up. They swam with the campers, played games with the campers, hung all over counselors (of course), and by the end of the week C had even basically joined a group who he had made friends with. I just love that they love camp so much, it is one of my favorite parts of the year. I get to watch them go from "MOM, what are we supposed to play WITH, to watching them play with NATURE and THEMSELVES in no time!!" It's really really cool seeing how much they grow being so disconnected to real life.
The kids have also had a blast at the lake this summer. Another first, I spent every weekend at the lake NOT holding a single kid and instead, hanging out with friends and family. Pretty cool. My kids just played and played. Lyla would most always fall asleep on the boat on the way home, reminding me that she is still little.
My main goal of the summer was to stay out of reality (aka stay out of town) as much as possible. Of course, my kids love vegging out at home, so we did that many many days. After seeing how tired they were at the end of last school year, I figured it was ok to let them be kids and just play, be a little bored, and just be cozy in their house. We tried to do "school" everyday, but C and I realized today that it only lasted like a week. Oops. Remind me to not homeschool.
Speaking of, I am SO glad C is SO excited to go to kindergarten this year. Because if he had the same attitude that he had at the end of the school year last year, I just may be homeschooling. Which would result in my kids being illiterate. I think he just got tired, like the rest of us. My number one goal of this year, is to figure out ways make life less rushed and crazy. We are starting by implementing the "no tv in the mornings rule." I'm hoping this leads to more peaceful mornings that involve me not feeling like a Drill Sargent trying to round my troops....we shall see.
While I find myself a little more bored than normal today since my play buddies are back at work already, I am SUPER sad to see this summer end. Time just moves way to fast these days...
