Summer Livin'

It’s been a while since I’ve sat down to pour some thoughts into this blog.  It’s been for good reason though- we’ve been busy doing a lot of summer livin’; busy cramming as much as we could into my last few days of summer off before I head back to work.  I’d be a huge liar if I said that I have enjoyed every single second home with Kennedy.  Sometimes I feel like as a mama whose lost one of her children I’m not supposed to feel like that; like my kid annoys the crap out of me.  But there you have it: she does sometimes.  This is not to say that I don’t eat those moments up too, it’s just that they give me some wicked indigestion.  Four has brought us some challenges; strong-willed, question everything, argue everything, eat nothing challenges.  So we made sure to mix in enough fun that if we look back on this summer that will be what we remember-not the battles.

Some highlights from the last week and a half:

There is something magical about fruit patches and picking you own; it all just tastes better.   Seriously though, I really think that if you gave me a blueberry I’d picked and one I’d bought in the grocery store I could tell you which was which.  

Ask me how long it takes a four year old to pick a quart of blueberries…go ahead, ask me….

We made our way back to one of our favorite spots of summer.  Kennedy is in it for the horses and I am in it for the first rate people-watching but either way the track is a family favorite.  Opening day was packed but Kennedy put on her best retro sundress and shoes and picked out a hat and made her way right up to the rail every race-whether I could squeeze up there with her or not but as crowded as it was the sea of people parted to let her through every time. 

This week we spent a day in the park getting boldly close to the ducks, riding the carousel, and grabbing some ice cream with Daddy.  A lot of our summer is just Kennedy and I so the rare days where Sean can join in makes the little lady’s day. 

Kennedy and I made our way up to the Adirondacks to our favorite place in all the land.  We made our yearly visit to my best friend’s family camp to visit with a family I have come to love and look forward to spending a few days with every year.  

As with everything else we do annually, this trip changed a bit with Kennedy being a year older.  Jumping off the dock was a new one and making sure we had crafts and games to play with will probably all be staples for years to come.  As Jen awaits her own little man, making his appearance in a few weeks, she is happy to show my little girl all of the best things camp life has to offer. 

The days are long and the nights are sleepy, cool and full of sounds you can only hear if you download a good white-noise app for your phone.  Watching my fearless one nuzzle the horses and swim without her puddle-jumper I am amazed at how much older she seems than four sometimes.  When Jen’s aunt asked about my tattoo and I fumbled trying to explain it, Kennedy simply said, “She got that for my baby brother so we always remember him.”  There. Just like that.  As we packed it up and headed home, she complained that she didn’t want to leave camp, that she loves it there and why can’t we stay there longer, I thought, “Same here, kid.”

Monday brings another new school year.  I really need it to be a good one, since this last one was pretty tough and I already know that I am putting too much pressure on it and everything but the truth is that life in the summer makes it really hard for the rest of the year to measure up to it.

So if you need me, I’ll be sorting through my photos; deciding which ones will carry me through the next 200 school days….