The Best Day Of Summer

I have been SO busy lately!   Busy squeezing out the last bits of fun from summer, and busy getting stuff ready for the 3 sales I'm participating in.  One was a yard sale at a friend's house.  That was yesterday, and even though we didn't make much money, we got rid of a lot of stuff, so I'll call it a success.  Now I have 2 consignment sales to get ready for, plus school shopping, plus vacation.  I am loving August.  If I'm honest, I had trouble with July.  The unbearable heat and humidity took its toll on me.  I was irritable and low on patience, and not enjoying my time with Dylan as much as I usually do.  But, this month, I am back to my normal self.  He seems back to his normal self, too (adults aren't the only ones affected by unbearable heat and humidity).

This past Wednesday was my favorite day of summer up to that point.  It was the first day in the 70's since... I don't remember when!  The air was perfect, the sun was shining, and my sweet boy and I set out to enjoy the outdoors.  First, we went to the farm.  It is the same farm that my parents took me to as a child, which always brings back so many memories.  I walked along that same beam, carefully balancing, my parents close by, in case I fell.  I hope to take my grandkids there someday and watch them walk on that same beam!  I got so many great shots at the farm, but I'll just share a few.

After the farm, Dylan had a special request.  He really, really wanted to go back to Bill's Golfland.  My parents took him there last week to miniature golf, so I assumed that is what he wanted to do.  When we got there, he surprised me by saying "Mom, I really want to hit the golf balls!"  He didn't want to miniature golf.  He wanted to drive golf balls!  My first reaction was to say no, thinking he wouldn't be able to do it, and he would get frustrated and bored quickly, and it would be a big waste of money.  But, I could tell he really wanted to try, so I gave in, figuring I would just hit most of the balls in the basket, once he got tired of it.  I didn't get to hit a single ball!  I wish I would have had the video camera, so I could show you how happy he was, hitting those golf balls.  So you could hear his excitement as he shouted, "Mom!  Did you see how far it went!  I'm good at this.. huh, Mom?"  So you could feel the cuteness as much as I could in that moment.  Sometimes, your heart just overflows with love, doesn't it?
Sitting there afterwards, watching him eat his ice cream, thinking of all the times I had sat in the same spot, eating my ice cream as a kid, made me ridiculously happy and content.

Just An Ordinary Day

When I am stressed, often the most calming thing I can do is to spend some time at home, doing some quality bonding with Dylan.  Today, we painted...

Read a ton of books in our "tent"...

Sat for a really long time, eating lunch and enjoying the sun, which made a rare appearance through the clouds that have persisted this entire stinkin' month so far.  The longer I live, the more I realize that I am a sun worshipper.  "Oh, most glorious orb of warmth and light.  Why do you forsake me, leaving me hither whilst the clouds darken my foul demeanor?  I beseech you to stay yonder, to warmeth my declining dispostion mucheth.  Glory to you, forever and ever, Amen".  If the sun had a church I would be in the front row every Sunday, waving my arms and talking in tongues.  (I can hear my parents now... "Where did we go wrong with that girl?")

After lunch, we went for a "bus ride".  This is my view, from the back of the bus, looking at the driver who seems to be confused on exactly which way is the front of the bus...

We went to the karaoke bar, ("the singing place")...

Then, to the "drawing place", where you "need to make silly pictures"...

To the "pet store to look at some animals"... This is a PET store?!  Um... isn't this the same guy who was sitting in front of me on the bus?...

We finished the afternoon by "selling some cookies".  Oddly enough, Puppy was our only customer, and Puppy looks like he needs more than cookies to perk him up...

So often, we are rushing about, trying to get things done.  To accomplish something.  To cross things off our precious lists.   Sadly, we probably don't write "Spend quality time with my kids" on our lists, but we should.  It really should be listed as Number 1.