Are We There Yet?

I know summer is almost here because my hair is suddenly huge again. I almost forgot how much "fun" it is to tame this wild bird's nest on top of my head every day with only minimal flyaways so that I don't block traffic. It's worth every frizzy lock, though, to have summer at our fingertips. I've said this before -- I love, love, love the Pacific North West. It's a small sliver of heaven up there. The only sad face emoticon that accompanies our time there, though, is that summer isn't quite summer. I will tame all the irregular curls in the world in order to have our New England summers again. I am ridiculously excited that school is almost wrapped up for the year -- I am the most giddy one in this house by far. Jack finished up on Friday and as we pulled out of the parking lot on the last day of the year, he asked when he would get to go back and see his buddies. I'm your buddy now, my boy! Molly has another week and a half and while she's ready for school to be over so she can kick that yellow bus ride to the curb, she's also going to bummed not to meet up with her pals and write love notes to her teacher. It's really me who can't wait for the dirty feet, the afternoon ice cream treats, the lazy mornings, and random adventures. But I know my kids and they are up to the challenge of sticky fingers, late bedtimes, and wet bathing suits. Our summer schedule is most certainly not everyone's cup of tea and I'm conveniently ignoring the inevitable hum of being bored or the meltdowns that will ensue when I explain that we can't have slushies for lunch, because, well, those pesky realities don't penetrate my giant helmet of hair. Even excessive frizz has it's benefits.

In all seriousness, these days of having my little people still be little enough that they want to hang out with me are fleeting, so say the old timers. I'm soaking up our relatively unencumbered schedule while it lasts, because I know that it doesn't. I also know that I'm fortunate to have choices in how much I work so I want to honor the choices that feel best for us and keep my monkeys kicking around the back yard as much as I can. Because, really, they are pretty cute monkeys.

Wow, our lawn looked awesome earlier this spring. Thankfully it looks green now (even if it can't actually all be called grass) and is ready for the backyard aquatic madness that these two will concoct. 

Yes, please. I want lots of this...

And this, of course.

So does he, apparently.

Coming attractions this summer, right in the comfort of your own home: our traveling circus! Yes, we will show up on many of your doorsteps. My apologies in advance. 

This will be the summer of selfies, I just know it.

Meeting up with old friends without requiring an advanced degree in scheduling will be lovely...

As will spontaneous swim dates with new friends. 

I can't wait to hear the outcome of all the conspiracies.

And to see what totally random and always entertaining plans that we can come up with.

Happy (almost) summer!