Will somebody tell me how it is already halfway through summer break? Honestly, it feels like I blinked 5 times and June disappeared. It feels like we just got back from our cruise, but nope! It’s been a whole month since then. As the old adage says, though, time flies when you’re having fun!
So, what has our family been up to this past month? I figured today would be a good time for some old-fashioned blogging. A little “glimpse through the window” if you will. I’ll give you a hint, though. There’s been a LOT of swimming.
Fun Stuff
This month, Greg and I had our 19th wedding anniversary! That third week of June is crazy for us, as it usually happens that Father’s Day, our anniversary, and my birthday are all right up on top of each other. So that picture of the two of us? It was from a dinner out for a combination 41st birthday, 19th anniversary celebration. Cheers to a whole bunch more years, my love!
Josh was promoted to senior altar server this year and now joins Adam and the rest of the more experienced kids who get to wear the scapular on top of their alb. I thought maybe the added responsibility may have intimidated him, but he seems to have taken it in stride.
Last weekend was the first Father Daughter Dance for our parish and it was a smashing success! Both girls and and their daddy had a fantastic time. The boys and I did alright, too, enjoying a night out for burgers and shakes.
Adam is now a licensed driver. In other news, I about had a heart attack when I called the insurance company and found out how much it costs to insure a 16 year-old boy. Yowza!
Leah is our hero and one truly tough cookie. She managed to sprain her ankle and get a bone bruise on her foot the night before her dance recital. Thankfully, she was able to power through and still danced beautifully. Gosh I love to watch her dance!
Lucy got some cool new blue spectacles and a great report from the optometrist. She has a condition where the optical nerve in her left eye doesn’t speak nicely to her brain. We didn’t find out about it until she was 5, but we’ve been working on correcting it ever since. This was the first time she was able to see all 9 of the 3D images presented to her! Thanks to lots of patching and the intercession of St. Lucy, our girl is doing great. She will always need vision correction, but at least she’ll be able to see!
Josh is living his best life this summer playing lots of video games, making s’mores at the fire pit, and hanging with his friends. It’s good to be 13, man!
Father’s Day & Visitors
Let me tell you how much fun it was to have my parents here for Father’s Day! Hanging out, going to the dance recital, and lots of playtime in the new pool was how we spent the weekend. It made my heart just about burst to see my dad roughhousing in the pool with my kids! They’re some pretty lucky kids, I tell you. The best dad and grandad in the world belong to them!
On another note, I was so honored to write a Father’s Day post for Blessed is She! You can read it here.
We’ve gone to the beach, played innumerable games of Sorry and Crazy 8s and King’s Corner. Lucy’s built a whole town’s worth of Lego mansions. And we had some friends come to stay with us who are even more musically inclined than we are! Every day there seems to be some instrument being played, a new dance being made up, or imaginations being explored.
Maybe not surprisingly, I used to be the mom who would really prepare for summer. I’d buy all the workbooks, make the chore charts, and schedule all the things. This year, though, I didn’t have time to do any of that before summer actually started! And, what I’m finding is that I actually enjoy this more laid-back break time. All of the playing, the relaxing, the reading…it’s been just what we needed, I think.
Of course, in and amongst all of this has been…
Swim Team!
Four days a week, we practice. And by we, of course, I mean the kids. I just drive back and forth from the pool a billion times a week, serve on the board of directors for our neighborhood team, and cheer like a fool at every meet. This season has been amazing so far! I almost hate to admit that we are in the last two weeks of practices and meets.
See, I’m not going to kid myself or anyone else that my kids are these amazing athletes or anything. But on this swim team, they work hard and have an amazing time, all while learning more life skills and lessons than one paragraph can cover. Team work, persistence, sportsmanship…I love it all! This is our 9th summer living this chlorine life and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s truly a gift to watch my oldest coach my youngest… see their joy when they touch the wall first… witness all of their hard work pay off as times drop week after week.
And then, when they aren’t at the pool for practice? You can find them hanging in our new pool that, I’m happy to announce, is finally finished!!
So, friends, here’s to the second half of summer break. May it be fun, safe, and hurricane free!
Look out, July…we’re coming for you!
