Summertime Means Free Bowling!

Here Comes the Sun

Longing For Summer

Malia has started putting on her swim suit and “swimming” on the floor in the family room. As much as she loves the snow, I think she is ready for some warm weather.

Summer's a Bummer for Girls Who Like School

Malia is officially done with her first year of preschool. We ended the school year with a short program where the kids got to show off the skills they have learned this year by singing a few songs and reciting a couple of poems. Then there was a picnic at the park so she got to play with her preschool friends one more time before summer. Luckily for us, one of her friends lives right next door so she will have someone to play with all summer. And almost all of the same kids will back in her class in the fall so that is also a bonus.

Malia has absolutely loved school and is already asking when she will have school again. She's not the only one who will miss preschool. Having two hours alone twice a week has been nice. At least Daniel is almost done with school as well. That way I can still get out and run a few errands solo now and again.

Summertime, And My Kids Drive Me Crazy

Today is the third official day of summer vacation. So far, my children have fought, slept, bickered, eaten, quarreled, whined, argued, pouted, and fought some more. Oh, and they went on a field trip with Grandpa and Grandma. When Nathan asked how long they would be gone and I didn't know, he speculated that they would be gone for 305 years. Let's think about that for a minute. If they were gone for 305 years, by the time they returned they would have grown up into smart and responsible adults, completed all necessary schooling, married, had children of their own (hopefully getting a bit of payback for the whining they shower on me), lived full and happy lives, died, and maybe even been resurrected and perfected. That is my kind of field trip! But of course I had to settle for the 305 peaceful minutes that they were gone instead.

Seriously, this summer is going to be a trial. I have outings and activities planned, but it always takes more energy just to get everyone out the door than it takes to complete the outing. And projects often feel like a lesson in futility due to the constant disputes that accompany even the most entertaining task. But try I must, and maybe if I'm really lucky I'll come up with a way to nip the squabbles in the bud.

On the bright side, there are only 82 days until school starts. And then five days a week, Matthew and I will have nearly four hours all to ourselves.