High temps are predicted to reach only into the mid-60s this weekend, so the realization that summer is ending has become impossible to ignore or deny.  I always say that Spring is my favorite season because of the awesome weather and – oh yeah – my birthday, but truly it’s my favorite because it renews my spirit and gives me something to look forward to…Summer.  In the same vein, Fall is kind of my least favorite season.  I hate winter more than Fall for a lot of reasons but it’s hard for me to get wrapped up in pumpkin-mania and chunky sweaters when all I can think about is the fact that Summer is over and Winter is chomping at the bit to get it’s claws on me. My disgust for Fall and is something I have written about since 2010.  Nothing has changed.

I guess that’s not entirely true – what’s different this year is that we’ve had less than five 90 degree days and just as it finally started to FEEL like summer, it is ending.

Regardless…that’s not the point of this post. My intent was that this would be a happy kind of post. A reminder of how much fun we packed into this short, mild summer and how many firsts we experienced together as a family.  If I had made a Summer 2014 bucket list, I think just about everything would be checked off!

– The unofficial start of Summer: Memorial Day. We took a road trip to Tennessee for the long weekend to visit my mom, sister, and my sister’s family.– Strawberry goodness: Strawberry picking and a few days later, a strawberry festival that we have gone to 3 years in a row.-Theo found his way into the spotlight, singing “Let it Go” at Karaoke night at our favorite local ice cream joint.-Simple Pleasures: Countless picnics and trips to the splash pad, pool, parks, and the farmers market.

-The YMCA: Soccer Clinics & Swim Lessons-Father’s Day weekend: Spent with friends at the lake. -Family: A very special visit from my mom and grandma. That’s four generations right there.-Sunflower picking. -4th of July/11th anniversary weekend. -Mini-vacation: We went with some friends to Holiday World for the first time. The boys and I camped in a camper for the first time. -Bliss: A beautiful backyard wedding. True Love. -First time bowling as a family: -Dexter started pre-school: – The Indiana State Fair. -Time spent with my long-distance BFF.-Fun celebrating a wonderful friend’s 40th birthday. -Fun with friends on the lake.  – Fun with friends at the Luke Bryan show. – Fun with family camping at a Jellystone Campground + Resort and Mammoth Cave. Looking through these memories, it’s hard to believe we squeezed so much into three months.  Summer, oh, summer. Why do you have to go?

xo,

~C~