Goodbye summer

This week I have been feeling slightly depressed about the end of summer.  This has been such a fabulous summer filled with so many fun things and good memories.  I asked the kids what their favorite things were we did this summer and they all said "playing on the circle with our friends" as one of their favorite summer memories.  When we decided to buy our current house it was because of the unique street filled with wonderful neighbors and friends and lots of kids.  We liked the actual house okay, but we LOVED the location and street full of friends and lots of activity. 

Because of Elizabeth and the craziness of getting out the door with a baby and 3 kids I didn't sign the kids up for any lessons.  We didn't do swimming, sports, music or anything. We didn't even go to the zoo, museums, water parks etc... I thought the kids would miss it, but no one did.  We had laid back, relaxed days, and sometimes we wouldn't even leave the street for a few days.  Danny would make fun of me, and say I never leave the steet anymore!

We feel so grateful  to live where we live and to enjoy having such an amazing place to live.  We are so blessed!

Here's to an amazing summer full of sleeping in, night games, playing in the backyard, running in the sprinklers, eating several popsicles a day, sidewalk chalk, bike rides, climbing trees, Taylor mowing the lawn for $2.00, potty training Isaac, trips to the "Shiver Shack",  Wii parties in our basement with lots of smelly boys, lemonade stands, making cookies, fushing, hikes, the boys playing "Army" in 95 degree weather and dressed in full camoflouge,
read-a-thons, swimming, afternoon naps, cousin sleepovers, BBQ's with friends and family, boating, staying up late, and having
NO schedule. 

Anyone that knows me understands that I like having some sort of schedule and structure for my days. I usually thrive on a schedule for the kids.  But this summer I learned to sit back, relax and see where the day takes us.  It was a wonderful thing for me to learn and it made for a fantastic summer break!  The kids loved days when they could sleep in, leisurely do their chores and a little homework and we had no where to go. Then they could play outside all day long using their imaginations, being creative and enjoying the long hot days of summer. 

Fall is great, but with fall comes structured schedules, sports practices, cub scouts, homework, school commitments, cold weather and less time spent outside. 
 Luckily we have the wonderful memories of summer to last through the cold winter.