Long Live Summer!

Oh I love summer! After the craziness that is our school,sports, and lessons schedule... I LOVE the relaxing time to just chill with my family. I love that we can hang in our jammies all day if we want. Or go to the pool every day. I love that we can stay up a little later instead of having a strict bedtime. Most of all, I love just being with my children. I don't  have to share them with teachers and we can do things together all day!

One of the best things we've done in summers past is make a list of things we want to do. One summer we did a huge list in one week. That was crazy-fun! This summer we are doing another Lazy man triathlon as as a family. Its hard-fun... but the kids really want to do it again. So LONG LIVE SUMMER!

A Pat On The Back

We love the library summer reading program. The kids and I love books, the library, stories, snuggle time and all the fun that comes with reading. The only part I don't enjoy is the chaos that periodically rains in the children's section of the library. I usually go on quiet days that are not story times or craft times and I usually sign up early instead of going to the "kickoffs" to sign  up. Well today was the summer reading kick off and it involved ice cream... so of course we went.

I was waiting in line to sign the kids up (like a sucker, wishing I had done it earlier on those quiet days). The mother of the children in front of me were announcing loudly to the librarian (who was trying to help the people in the front of the line) that they were already done with the first page of their reading log and ready for a report. (The reading challenge had just started this morning). The mom turned to me and asked if I was there to sign up because If I was, I should go ahead because her kids were "already done with the first page! And ready to give their report."

The little girl looked pleased, like she was waiting for an approving pat on the head. The mom had the same look on her face. I had a hard time not laughing out loud. On the child it was cute and appropriate, on the mother it was hilarious and slightly annoying. All I could safely say with out laughing was, "Wow" as I smiled at the child.

Why do we grow up

Things have been stressful for me to put it nicely. On Friday, I had a choice... I could either curl up in the fetal position and cry or do something crazy. So I went outside with my four-year-old, grabbed a little plastic toy with wheels, set it down on our sloping sidewalk, sat on it... and went careening down the hill. It was so much fun that by the second ride I was in fits of laughter with my little boy.

After my "stress therapy session" with my son and the side walk, I began to think... Do children have less stress than adults, or do they just handle it better? Why do so many of us "grow up" into boring adults? It's so easy to lose that sense of fun, silliness, and knowing when to stop and play. But I think those qualities are what keep us young, alive and enjoying life.

I had a friend tell me that every woman should have a pair of shoes that makes her feel sexy. Well, I think that every woman should have at least one skirt that twirls. Remember when you were four, and a skirt was only pretty if it twirled out really big when you'd spin. When was the last time you had a good twirl?  Yesterday was mine. It started with great music and my husband spinning me around the kitchen and ended with me spinning all by myself... getting dizzy and laughing like a little girl.

It's proven that laughter is healing. So go do something silly, fun, and remember what it was like to be a child.