Sunday, June 10, 2012

Summer


       For the first time in a very long time I looked forward to the beginning of summer with the same excitement and enthusiasm as my two children.  Like them, I counted the days until the end of school and the beginning of summer.  I wasn’t in school with them, but I still thought the last weeks of school dragged at a snail’s pace.  All of a sudden time speeded up and my son graduated from kindergarten, my daughter went fishing with her class, and the last day of school was upon us all.  I celebrated with them with war whoops and high fives. I proudly displayed the end of year awards each received around the living room and awarded them with hugs and kisses for their end of year report cards filled with perfect scores and A’s.


       Here I am, in the beginning stages of menopause embracing summer with both hands.  Hello late nights and sleeping in!  Goodbye to the daily 6 hours of silence and solitude.   Hello to roasting your happy a$$ off in the summer heat and the threat of another heat stroke to mark this year like the last.  Hello to turning into a Popsicle in the cool, artic temperatures of the house thanks to the air conditioning.   For me, summer began officially this past Wednesday morning.  It was the first day of summer break for my kids and the first day the alarm clock was silent at 7:30 am.   Bust out the sun block and the bug spray!


        Summer is filled with long warm hazy days of swimming, reading, exploring, and playing.  For me, it wouldn’t be summer without signing my kids up for the local library’s summer reading program.  It encourages the kids to read over the summer by awarding them with prizes for their dedication.  Thursday the library planned a family story time at my hometown’s newest attraction, the Wellfield Botanic Gardens.  I took the kids and was amazed to find such a lovely place so close to home.  Sitting on a blanket, we enjoyed stories, dancing, clapping, and singing silly songs in the shade of a big ole tree.  The best part was when the last story ended and we could explore the winding trails of the garden and waterways.  I took great pleasure in capturing the beauty with my camera.




         It wouldn’t be summer without a trip downtown to the spray pads and city parks.  The kids and I ventured there on Friday after running the necessary errands.  Garbed in swim suits they raced amongst the dancing shooting fountains of cool refreshing water that sprayed up at random drenching them.  I watched them race from one to the next squealing with delight as yet another fountain appears and blossoms from the ground.  I watch from a nearby bench, smiling at their exuberance as I read my book.


        Summer breezes caress filled with the fragrance of flowers, tantalizing aromas of barbecues, freshly mown grass, and the tropical smell of sun block.  The nights are lit by stars and bursts of fireworks.  Summer is when the boom box makes its way outside and my favorite tunes provide a rousing backdrop to whatever we do.  The garden is planted, watered, and weeded as we eagerly anticipate the first ripe tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and green beans.  We walk to the school playground, swim, prepare for the 4H fair, and when my husband arrives for a weekend home zoom around the neighborhood on the golf cart.

         Fresh berries, corn on the cob, elephant ears, drippy ice cream cones, cotton candy, and barbecued meat sizzled to perfection on a hot grill.  Picnics, fireworks, carnival rides at the local fair, splashing in the pool, and sitting around a blazing campfire roasting marshmallows.  Time spent with my husband and kids enjoying the rodeo, races, and outdoor concerts.  Making memories, time spent together, laughing, living, and loving in the summertime until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.




24 comments:

  1. Gosh, thanks for reminded me about the libary reading program; we have the same one. Need to sign the boys up! An yes, these
    Ast weeks are-snails pace. Feeling everyone else is out of school but us!

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    1. Sandra, thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments. Hang in there, hope school will be out for your kids soon! ♥

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  2. Kathy, it sure sounds like you and the kids just had a fabulous start to Summer! Wish I could enjoy the same, but have to work for a living...I hope that you all have a great time together and enjoy the long sunny days!

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    1. Susan, here you are wishing you could be me, and I kind of wish I could be you and work like a responsible adult. Instead I am here having fun with my kids. There will always be a part of me that will miss the paycheck I made when I worked full time before having kids, but then I realize what a gift it has been to be with them each and every moment of each of their lives and I realize I wouldn't have missed it for the world even though there have been plenty of struggles. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  3. Thanks for hosting, now following :)

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    1. Mrs. Tuna, thank you for stopping by to read, comment, and for the follow! ♥

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  4. Kathy - I'm sorry but as soon as you mentioned the word heat every other one of your words turned into the word snow for me.. ;) I HATE summer. I hate it more because we don't have a/c, not even window units, we would only need them about 6 days out of the year but on those 6 days, holy mother of frogs I WANT THEM! - Your summers sound very much like mine did when my kiddos were little.. You enjoy every minute of that. Take lots of pics.. You will one day miss it.. <3 - I love this post. :)

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    1. Magical Mystical Mimi, maybe I was looking more forward to not getting up at the butt crack of dawn to get my little darlings out of bed than the actual HEAT of summer. Like you I love the ice and snow. Still, I love flowers so I guess I love something about all seasons. If we didn't have a pool, I would stay in the house 24/7 during the summer months because I just don't do extreme heat very well. Still for some reason I was really happy about the start of this summer. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post!! ♥

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  5. I love summer enough that I wish it were summer year round; however, I haven't written about it.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. Joyce, I love something about all the seasons. I hate the heat, but as long as I have an icy air conditioner or a pool close by I am good to go. I think I looked forward to it because as crazy as it sounds I wanted my kids home with me all the time. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  6. Your post is great. I can feel it is summertime! (Kenny Chesney...oh my!!!) Enjoy each moment of it. I hate the heat, so I am looking forward to Fall! I do ok in the air-conditioning, but taking the trains and subways in the heat always drain me. I love two things about summer...Corn and watermelon...

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    1. Winnie, I hate the heat too and don't usually do well in it, but I love the flowers, I love my kids are home with me all the time, and like you...I love the food. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!

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  7. I used to enjoy summer a lot more when I was a kid but the older I've gotten, the less tolerant of the weather I've become.

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    1. JoJo, I have to admit a little heat goes a long way. The older I get the more susceptible I am to heat stroke and sunburn. :P On the other hand, this summer I welcomed the sunshine and the warm weather. Warm weather equals warm swimming pool equals swimming. I am still leery of extreme heat. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  8. I feel like I got a whole plateful of summer served up with corn on the cob, with your post. Tasty!

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    1. Beverly, your comments make me hungry!! LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  9. I love summer ... I am inspired to write one now ... Your post reminding me of bbq and fireworks on 4th of July.

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    1. Journey of Life, I am so pleased to be a source for your inspiration! Go forth and write something spectacular as I know you can. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  10. Oh I could feel your excitement. Summer is a fun season.

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    1. Suzy, to me all the seasons have something wonderful to offer. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this post and am thrilled that you enjoyed reading it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  11. As you know, I am not an all season person, but I surely do love the hot, humid, sunny days of Michigan summer! This post is so exciting and so happy, I love it.

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    1. Jo, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. If I had a pool that looked like yours I would love summer too. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  12. This is a great post. How fun and that you embrace our just a little older years....hee hee

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    1. Laura, might as well embrace them. There is no going back. :D Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!

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