Summer's End

Here we stand at the day before the first day of school. Also known as the last day of summer vacation.
Although my mind doesn't narrow in on specific moments of this from my own childhood, I still remember the reoccurring event. Summer is always a hard one to say good-bye to. I don't know if it's the freedom, the lack of schedule, the opportunity for adventure, the constant change of pace, or simply the warm summer nights but there is something so unique about summer. So unique that having the carpet yanked from underneath you, i.e.: school starting, is probably the only way to let go of it and move on to the next phase.
The kids have loved the summer. The other night as I sat in the living room after putting the kids to bed, I could hear Dallin and Porter chatting through their barely cracked door. They were recapping their summer favorites. (FYI, the river rafting trip was at the top of the list.) I'd personally chronicle this as one of my best summers ever. With it winding down, there is one thing I'm sure of- as a family unit we are more bonded now than we were 3 months ago. That may simply be from the mother's perspective (and my perspective is surely tainted by the fact that I'm actually included in the bonding activities over the summer) but I'm probably the only one paying attention to details like that anyway. 
There is an air of excitement from the kids for what tomorrow holds. I've heard some of them articulate that they are excited for the beginning of the school year, followed up by commenting that in a couple weeks they'll already be looking forward to summer! Smart little cookies are already catching onto life's cycles.
I'm excited for the school year too, but also dreading parts of it. This summer has helped me to realize why I struggle during the school year. It's so much harder to connect with the kids and I'm a big must-have-connection person. During the day, I don't feel super productive or on task and then when the kids get home from school, it's kind of craziness with not much quality time. I'm trying to streamline the after school schedule and also change some things this year so that I can find more satisfaction. I don't want to dread the school year. Aaaaaannnd I finally took the plunge and signed up to be a room mom. We'll see how that goes as far as helping feel involved!
So ready or not, that's about what we're going to have going on!

California Dreamin, California Livin

Sometimes it feels good to put some chub on the belly. What that should be more accurately interpreted as is sometimes it feels good to eat what you want, when you want. For better of worse, that's the phase I'm in right now. (Not that that has anything to do with anything…)
Cafe Vida, Katsuya, Westside Tavern, Johnny Rockets Bacon Cheese Fries, Wood Ranch Grill, Banderas, DK donuts...
 We're just in California, living the California life. 
The kids have been playing a lot of tennis, which if we're being honest, makes me giddy. Like, I feel like they've fallen for my secret plot and I'm just in the background with my head thrown bad doing the evil laugh thing. But in reality, there's nothing evil about my strategy. In fact, it's straight goodness. I'm talking about an avenue to achieve lifetime family togetherness. A way for me to relate and interact to my 40-something year old children when I'm in my 60's and 70's. Do you see the genius in my scheming?!!! Back to the part where my kids have been playing a lot of tennis. Deeter and Kaia played a couple times and got over that initial hurdle of taking on something new. Dallin and Porter are easy sells as they love it and have even initiated tennis over other activities, namely surfing. They did get in a couple surf sessions so we can put a check by that bucket list item.
I've been loving the increase in my movie viewings. To date: Love and Mercy; Amy; Me, Earl and the Dying Girl. I enjoyed every single one of those. They've each been more independent type movies and each one has touched me. For me, that's the highest compliment that I can give a movie- that it touches me. Moves me to try to be better, to strive to be more. Or where it evokes enough emotion to bring me to tears. I've missed having some good movies in my life.
The kids have been reacquainting with their people out here and that warms my soul. A lot. Krewz, Zuri, Cal, Owen, Harrison…they've renewed all those relationships. And I've got see all of my people. Do you see how this is necessary and positive and everything else good?
While we're on a roll, let's not forget to mention the beach. We love the beach. Jumping in the waves, playing smash ball, basking in the sun…all of it. We've got to take advantage of quite a few beach days. If the sun's out and shining, we try to take advantage. This is probably a good time to mention that it never disappoints. I've said it before and will probably say it a million times more…Beach life is the best life. Huge fan over here.
And Dodger games. Yosh and I got in two, the kids one. Another LA must do that we done did.

Summa Time

Ahhhhhhhh summer. Feeling summer kind of leaves me speechless. It really is more of a feeling- like a really, really good feeling- than anything else. A few weeks ago I started taking St John's Wort after reading up on mild depression. Simultaneously, the sun reappeared after being hidden behind clouds and rain and thunderstorms for days on end. I'm not exaggerating about the sun disappearing around these parts. For literal WEEKS (maybe 5?), I would look on my weather app at the 10 day forecast and there wouldn't be a single sun pic. Just a cloud with a lightning strike. So as much as I want to credit St. John's wort for my almost-immediate depression recovery, I think the true active ingredient was the sun. And why can't my computer have emojis because all I need right now are about 10 pair of hallelujah hands. But back to summer. We've found a good rhythm of completing chore charts in the morning, having some kind of a water outing (swimming, kayaking, more swimming), followed by relaxing and then baseball. Seriously it's the first time in my life that home schooling has ever sounded appealing. If  I could have a relaxed scheduled like this that found a balance of education, QT with the kids, and fun experiences all year round…that would be my ideal life. Unfortunately, this week's lazy schedule was interrupted by camp. On Monday I was like, "What were you thinking signing them up for camps, idiot?" But balance, my friends, balance. I just needed a couple more weeks before I was ready to incorporate that kind of balance. But as life usually is, UT basketball camp could care less about my tailored balance schedule and very obviously didn't cater around it and that was a camp that regardless of it's timing, the boys were definitely going to attend. So the big boys are there and the little kids are with friends at Kidventure and I have something that I am shocked to admit…I miss them. I want to be kickin it with them and live last week all over again. It's not quite as easy finding grown adults to go swimming with you and kayaking and sno-coning. And let's be honest, even if I did find those adults, I couldn't call it "work". Right?!!! I'm ready to get my party people back and act like a kid the rest of the summer!