A Month of Summer

Four weeks of summer was all I needed. 

To get my sanity, my joy, my self back.  

On July 17th, I sat back and thought, "I am so happy.  Content. At peace."  I thought about how hard the fall, winter and spring truly were with our boys learning {mostly} at home, and I felt so grateful that summer had come exactly one month earlier (June 18th was our last day of school) and ushered in the relief we all needed.

Week after week; day after day; suffering at the hands of my children COVID and quarantine and distance learning, it turns out all I needed was an entire month off. 

Hah.

We watched movies. We went camping. We swam.  We slept.  We laughed.  We lived together.  We loved.  We didn't argue once over Google Classroom, attendance log-ins or Class Meets.  We had not one conversation about cameras being turned on; work being turned in; or music being turned down during assignments.  And it was a blessed relief. 

We celebrated Father's Day; got the twins' second dose of vaccine; spent time with cousins on both sides; and hosted a super fun fourth of July party.  I continued with my bi-weekly counseling; took all four kids to the dentist where we had zero cavities; and we hit 90 days post-medication for Logan (a big deal! He was most likely to have a breakthrough seizure during the first 90 days following him being weaned off his epilepsy meds, but he didn't! He has officially outgrown his seizures!)  I got to meet for book club in person; made cake and celebrated Josh's birthday; and sent the twins to a Mariner's game with their dad, much to their delight.  I (nervously) watched my sister's girls (ages 3 & 6 months) so she could take her boys (and Wyatt) to the water park and cross it off their summer bucket list.  We also went kayaking; made smores; rubbed sunscreen and aloe on each other after long days in the sun; and collected fresh, tiny, red strawberries from our garden. I read books; wore the bikini; ate cold watermelon; and fell in love with Carly's vibrant, colorful, uninhibited art. I watched my dahlias bloom, and started a paint by number (thanks to my friend Kristina who sent me one. Love you girl!) 

I started Mine To Tell, something that is all my own.  A writing class where I am attempting to pull together all that I lived through during our time in the village in Alaska.  I prepared for a garage sale that has kick started the most intense home organization/simplification that I have ever executed. I have faced what fall will bring (all four kids in school for the first time ever), which leaves me feeling both terrified and ecstatic, and am content to just take each day as it comes.  I am soaking up all the days of summer, and am not borrowing trouble worrying about school, sick days or masks.  What's coming will come and we'll face it when it does. 

I have dealt with heartache that's left me sobbing, gasping for breath; and I have experienced the euphoric joy that comes from knowing (down to my bones) that I am beloved for just who I am. 

Here's hoping my second month of summer vacation is as calm, relaxed, soothing, and fun as the first month was. 

***

Camping with the Raatz'

Every year we go camping with my family-- my parents, my nephew Isaiah and my sister's family.  It's one of my favorite traditions and we always make a lot of memories.  We usually go to Cougar which is in Washington on the Yale Reservoir.  But this year the water levels are so low that our swimming hole has all but dried up. So instead we opted for a KOA in Culver Oregon, where there is a pool and nearby river.

The great thing about the KOA is that they have a ton of activities, like Ice Cream Night & the Glow Light Parade.

But of course the best part of our trip is time with our cousins!

And our Nanny & Papa!

Ferris, my little sister's oldest

Logan, my oldest

Antonio, my nephew Isaiah's best friend, being silly

We love that kid!

Jack, my second oldest with Nanny

Milo, my sister's youngest

*

The last time we were at this campground, Wyatt was five weeks old and we camped in a tent.  I loved snuggling that sweet baby of mine at campfire.  This time I was 10 weeks pregnant and we stayed in cabins, thanks to my parents.  Both trips hold wonderful memories for me.

The boys, of course, enjoyed the pool the most!

While we were there, the twins made friends with another set of twins, William & Vincent. They were the sweetest boys, and seeing the four of them together kind of blew our minds.

There are horses along the back of the KOA property so we spent a lot of time trying to convince them to come to the fence to be fed carrots and apples.  They were so beautiful.

So grateful for all the fun memories we made this summer!