The Summer in Review

Let's face it.

Summer is over.

Okay, maybe it's not.

It's going to be 90+ degrees out today and 70% humidity, so maybe summer isn't over.

And according to the calendar, technically summer isn't over until September 23rd.

But let's face it...

We all feel it slipping away. The evenings are dipping into cooler temps, the leaves and grasses are fading and yellowing ever so slightly, and the kiddos are going back to school.

Summer is on it's way out the door.

Up until, well, today, I was resistant to its departure. I wanted to cling to summer and cry out, "No! Don't leave me! Don't leave me you beautiful, golden, warm season of foliage and sun! Don't go, you giver of gardens and splashing in the water and freckled tan skin. And sandals! Oh, how I love sandals!"

I know that for some of you, in warmer climates, the end of summer is a welcome occasion. But for those of us in this land where winter is brutally cold, dark and deep, we're a little bit more resistant to it.

However, today I finally came to terms with the waning days of summer, and the approaching of autumn. Miss Peaches has been asking me about when we get to go to the apple orchard, both the kids' summer clothes are wearing out, and I'm looking forward to some things we'll have going on this fall. And I guess, I've realized, resistance is simply futile.

So embrace it, I shall.

But not before I take a little time to look back on the summer that was 2011...

After a long winter of riding his bike inside the house, Little Blue Eyes made the most of every moment he could be outside riding. (when he wasn't busy shoveling dirt and driving around his dumptrucks)

We had gobs of fun with the lab puppies at my sister's house.

We enjoyed our first strawberries from the patch I started last year. They were small in number, but big on flavor!

We went to a family picnic with my Uncle Bud Knute, and enjoyed additional visits with him. I love.

We hosted a garage sale with my mom at her house in town, and got rid of all kinds of junk treasures.

We hit the local parade circuit.

We hit it hard.

Actually, we went to three. But we scored enough candy for the rest of the year.

We took the kids to see their first movie in the movie theatre, Cars 2. (Coincidentally, this was the same movie theatre where Mr. Blue Eyes and I had our first date, the anniversary of which was thirteen years ago yesterday.) I think we were more excited about it than the kids, but they had a good time.

We were smacked by a tornado/straight-line-winds storm (otherwise known as 'the storm') that left damage for miles and miles around.

And it blew down all the money trees that were growing so nicely in our yard.

We celebrated a birthday.

And we hosted the corresponding birthday party.

We participated in a tractor pull.

We ran through the sprinkler.

We temporarily adopted The Cheech while my mom went through and recovered from knee surgery. (And the complications that ensued... An ulcer and infection. I didn't take pictures of that whole process, per se. I think we can all agree that was for the best!)

 

We purchased some goats.

Because evidently we have nothing better to do.

We purchased a hot new ride.

Seriously, it's hot. It doesn't have air conditioning, and the heater is permanently stuck 'on'.

We took an awesome trip to Nebraska for my nephew's wedding...

...where we reconnected with beloved family...

...followed by a quick pit stop at Mount Rushmore.

We watched our garden grow.

We celebrated a special anniversary... My mother and father-in-law's 50th.

We had a little plain old fun.

And I took a few pictures.

(I think this last one is implied.)

Wow. When I look back at all of this, I realized how this summer was completely wonderFULL. It warms my heart.

I think it just might warm it enough to get me through another winter.

Comments

[Tauna]

I feel it today. We went from 83 yesterday to 59 today. I am NOT ready for FALL. Winter for us is probably close to the same. Long dark and cold.

Your pictures show all the adventures you've had. I guess I need to pull mine out so I can make sure to think that we had some summer too, even though it was a blur.

Your children are so precious. These are truly the days.

[Lynell]

You have goats?!!! Tell me more! I've been contemplating getting goats for some time.