Thursday, August 14, 2008

Back to School

Fall is here, hear the yell
back to school, ring the bell
brand new shoes, walking blues
climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we're going to be friends

We're Going to be Friends by The White Strips


Well it's not really fall, but we are back to school. Each new school year seems to come so quickly, which means my kids are growing up quickly. This will be the first time in 11 years that all of my children will be gone from me all day,5 days a week. C is in first grade, A is in third grade and J is in sixth grade. Ever since they have started school someone has been here with me at least for half a day. I know I will fill my days with many things related to PTO, volunteering, work, home improvements, etc but it is still bittersweet to know the days of toddlers, pre-schoolers at home everyday are gone.

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Sunday, August 10, 2008

Summer Fun!

We have enjoyed our weeks of summer vacation with no rigid schedules, homework or many extra activities.

Here are some of the highlights:

In June, we took two one night camping trips--one with several neighborhood families and one with A's Brownie troop. A enjoyed a drama camp, while J took some golf lessons. J went to boy scout camp the end of the month. We enjoyed our neighborhood 4th of July parade.

July kicked off with 4th of July parties and my grandma's birthday (on the 4th) and our annual viewing of the fireworks at a local country club. The next afternoon we got on an airplane and headed to California for our annual trip to see dh's family. We were gone 10 days and the kids had a blast. We visited our favorite beach went to Disney and California Adventure where I went on California Screamin! Wow, that was fast!

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We spent lots of time playing and swimming with grandma, aunts, uncles and lots of cousins. Grandma also took us to the Long Beach Aquarium and we enjoyed the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival.

We were able to see special neightbor friends who now live in San Diego and enjoyed a night watching dh's brother and SIL perform at a local taco restaurant in Dana Point. The time always goes much too fast and we miss our family a lot.

The end of July we took in two county fairs, pooltime, BBQs with friends. J enjoyed 3weeks of band camp to get ready for middle school band class and the two girls went to farm camp for 5 mornings one week. We also enjoyed lots of playdates and sleepovers with friends.

August brought a trip to a friend's lake house, trying to learn to waterski (J) for the first time, a beach day with a night-time beach bonfire, back-to-school shopping, more playdates and a last hurrah trip to Michigan Adventure.

Of course, we stayed up later at night, often playing with friends, the crickets and fireflies outside way past our usual bedtimes. We then "slept in" and cuddled all in bed in the mornings. We love summer and it went by way too fast.