what I'll be doing this summer

(Okay, that should really read "what I should be doing this summer," but I'm going the "positive-thinking" route instead of the "realistic" route.)

Anyway, our unofficial summer will arrive at approximately 3:17pm, when the bus rolls down the street and disgorges two happy little boys. Never does it feel like summer until the school year has come to an end. And honestly, I'm not sure if I've ever been quite this happy to see it arrive.

Pretty sure it's that anticipatory elation that has me thinking I can conquer the world this summer. Kinda like that feeling I get as each new year begins. Thus my list of summer goals.

*for homeschool:
1. write IHIP (must do)
2. get all plans done for first quarter (really should do)
3. get all plans done for second quarter (would be nice to do)

*around the house:
1. paint, etc. the bathroom (must do)
2. declutter each and every room in this house, including garage (really should do)
3. paint the stairwell (would be nice to do)

*traveling:
1. my family reunion (must do)
2. visit Rich's mom (must do)
3. family vacation to visit old friends (really should do)
4. a few days away for just Rich and I (would be nice to do)

*reading:
1. each of us set a summer reading goal--mine is 30 books, Rich's is 25, Max's is 20, Gray's is 30, Annie's is 75 (would be nice to do)
2. finish some of my challenges (really should do)

*miscellaneous:
1. update my 50x50 blog, though I've ignored it for so long I'm sure I won't remember everything that could be checked off (really should do)
2. make Christmas cards (really should do)
3. scrapbook 30+ layouts (would be nice to do)

HAPPY SUMMER, EVERYONE!!!

the joys of summer

One of the things this family will miss most when summer fades into fall is the abundance of inexpensive (relatively speaking, that is) fresh fruit! As the kids and I were eating our lunch today, Gray asked me why I only put four kinds of fruit in our salad.


I suppose I could have "embellished" a bit and told him I didn't want to overwhelm our tastebuds, but I was honest and told him that I got lazy. He said, "Well, we could have had a lot more kinds in there if not for that lazy streak. Let's make a list."

Make a list. Yep, he's my boy for sure! (I even had to forgive him the "lazy streak" remark when he brought up making a list!)

So, here's the list of fresh fruits in our house at this moment:
--cantaloupe
--honeydew
--watermelon
--green grapes
--cherries
--blueberries
--strawberries
--apples (both Granny Smiths and some red kind)
--clementines
--nectarines
--plums
And the ones most people call vegetables:
--tomatoes
--cherry tomatoes
--green peppers
--yellow peppers
--cucumbers

Yes, we do love our fruit. Rich and I still smile when we think back to when Gray was in kindergarten. Each kiddo had to write a sentence about what they were thankful for and, of course, draw a picture to go with it. When you walked down the hall outside Gray's classroom, you got to view lots of "I'm thankful for my family."s, a couple "I'm thankful for my dog.", an "I'm thankful for TV.", and Gray's "I'm thankful for fruit."

Yep, me too, sweetheart.

Just Curious...

Our kids still have 4 weeks left of school at this point. So while the weather is finally cooperating, it still just doesn't seem like "summer" yet. For me, summer just doesn't begin until the school doors are closed.

Just curious...
How about you? When does summer "start" for you? Is the weather? Is it Memorial Day weekend? What signals the beginning for you?


I have to say that I am sooooo anxious for school to be over! I need a break!!! Of course, I'll have to start preparing for next year, but it won't be the same kind of pressure. I've got so much to get finished up in the next couple weeks. Hmmm...and yet here I sit blogging instead.