(If only I was in the rhyming mood this Ode could really be great...)
I had visions of a new routine with lots of character building chores and worksheets, extra piano practice and schedules. Those timers were going to be well used! We'd go to the park, maybe play at the beach and Carver would be insanely difficult. I worried about how everyone would get along, how I'd ever do anything again.
Summer has been anything but what I thought it'd be.
There has been NO routine.
No piano practicing at all, only regular chores.
No time and money practice for Ellie, no multiplication for Lydia.
No more naps for Carver.
Not much blogging for me.
Carver has done so well, learning and growing in many ways.
I've started exercising again - with an audience.
We had lots of adventures and outings that I meant to blog about.
We've SLEPT in. Sorta.
We survived a drive to Utah, lots of shorter car trips.
We saw Grandmas and Grandpas, aunts and uncles and cousins.
The floor needed to be mopped every day, but I didn't even do it once a week.
I even stopped reading in August so I'd finish my projects.
We finished lots of projects!
But the really intangible beauty was in the late afternoons, watching the kids play on the swingset and eat otter pops. The house shades the backyard in the afternoon, making it the perfect time to wear out kids before dinner. I LOVED seeing all 4 siblings interact successfully out there, digging in the sand, learning to pump on the swings and then pushing the little ones for their turn. They played pirates, snow storm and super-heroes. I loved our evening bike rides as a family, as the sun got even lower in the sky. The cool air after a hot afternoon and dinner outside, the clear skies and togetherness.
We've had so much fun together!
Alki Beach:
Eucker Reunion in Portland:
Camping at Zion's Camp:
Spokane 2 weeks ago:
Mt. Rainier over the weekend:
Each of those could've been it's own blog post, but it never happened.
In just 2 days I trade all that beautiful, glorious freedom for the routine of school. It's always felt like a major celebration to get the kids back on the bus, but this year I'm just not done yet. Sure, I'd love to run errands with fewer in tow, I'd kinda like to sew and mop the floor without kids running through my work zones. I'm looking forward to quiet afternoons once Carver starts preschool in a week. I'm thrilled for Ellie to be in 1st grade, playing on the big playground and eating her lunch at school like the big kids. Both girls are going to learn all sorts of great stuff, they are starting swimming and soccer and picking up piano lessons again. Autumn is such a great season - it feels like a new start and so full of promise.
But I'm going to miss my girls.
And I'm going to miss my little boy.
I'm not ready for backpacks and rainy days.
I'm not ready to give up summer.
