Friday, July 9, 2010

We've Only Just Begun

Despite the fact that the stores are packing away all the red, white and blue merchandise left over from the 4th of July weekend and replacing it with back to school supplies, for me it seems that the summer has only really just begun.

Sure we have already finished up All-Star baseball and swim lessons but we only just went to the river for the first time this last week. The kids and I are joining Joe down at Pendleton next week, meaning a one week hiatus for me at the beach in which we are also going to make good use of our season passes to Legoland and visit the Science Center museum in Santa Ana. Once we return, I have aspirations to also visit the more local Children's museum, visit Pump it Up during it's pop and playtime, take the kids to the water park in Palm Springs, the Alpine slide in Big Bear and go to the river as many time as we possibly can. My goal is to have a fun relaxing summer with plenty of pool and playtime right here at home but to strike a balance, I plan to do one camera-worthy activity every week.

And I refuse to let the summer get away from me like last year. I am using the time that is freed up from carting the kids to school and other structured activities to start walking again and boy, does that feel good. It feels really good to live in a neighborhood where I enjoy going for walks and don't fear for my life that I might be attacked by rabid pit bulls. Moreover, after giving the kids a 2 week plus break, we are working out of curriculum books almost daily and Jake has been reading a couple of books to me every day after lunch. Even cuter, is that after he is done reading his books to me, he is "helping" Jadyn learn to read too. Seeing them read together is about the most precious thing ever!



So the stores can go right ahead and start packing away to the sand toys and pool supplies in favor of glue sticks and composition books. For us, the time for back to school shopping will come. It may serve as a reminder that summer will be over before we know it. But I refuse to let it pressure me. For now, I want to live in the moment and enjoy my summer. Because it does seem like we have only just begun.

3 comments:

Joanna said...

Awesome picture of the two reading. How sweet. Big brothers rock.

LOL about not being attacked by rabid pit bulls. I've encountered a few dogs like that, and it's scary!

You know what's weird? I encounter a few pit bulls and other large dogs while running in the park. They are all really well behaved and their owners control them. A few of the small dogs, on the other hand, really should not be brought into public.

Heidi O said...

Max is trying to teach Maggie to read. I think it is pretty cool to see the older one teach the younger one.

Beth said...

Such a cute picture! And sooo sweet. And I love your plan for making the most of summer. It's so easy to let time slip away. I kind of look forward to the kids starting grade school so we get a real flavor of summer.