Summer break is right around the corner. I’m so excited I could squeal! Sleeping past 7a and long days in the sunshine are my idea of bliss. This week, the kids and I mixed up a batch of homemade sidewalk chalk. Find the easy tutorial over on Project Nursery!
Eleven weeks ago, when summer was still young, Songbird compiled a list of things that she wanted to to before she became a Kindergartener — a summer bucket list, if you will. We typed it up and stuck it on her bulletin board.
Now, as the school year is nearly upon us, I’m happy to report that we managed to do it all! It came down to the wire, with us staging a backyard bonfire and camp-out last night (since we didn’t make it to the woods) but I think all she really cared about were the s’mores anyway. This summer has been a perfect balance of go and rest, schedule and leisure, travel and visitors. Having Songbird’s list to check off certainly kept us moving…
Today is our last day of summer. As of tomorrow, our eldest child and sweetest daughter will jump on a big yellow bus and officially join the crowd of neighborhood schoolchildren! We’ve met her teacher, toured her classroom, and she’s picked out the perfect outfit. She’s ready… sooo ready. But, as I soak in these last fleeting moments of summer, I’m thankful for her little list and all the special memories it gave us.
Somewhere between potty training a 2-yr-old, entertaining visitors, coordinating contractors, holding down the fort during Handsome’s 2-weeks-atta-time work trips, days at the beach and swimming with the kids . . . summer ate my blog.
Having begun this blog last November when the days were shorter and less full, I wasn’t sure what form it would take come summah-time. Turns out I’ve been DIYing more life and less projects lately.
On average, it takes me 2-3 hours to write one blog post. That’s just editing photos and getting the words on the page, not to mention the time it takes to actually do and photograph any of these things I write about.
So a sun that doesn’t set until 8:30, means kids that aren’t in bed until past 9. More nights than not that also means a momma who is sunburned and waterlogged and happy to be going to bed at 9, too.
At the beginning of summer we started our largest house project yet… an in-ground pool! It took less than 48 hours to have that baby dug, set, filled and running, but it’s taken 3 months to hound coordinate the six other contractors to complete the landscaping/irrigation/sod/fence repair/etc. In the end, every frustrating delay was worth. every. penny. There’s always “something to do” and we don’t have to leave the house to do it!
Another summer project was potty training Bug. We tried the 3-day method and, while he’s still working on his “aim,” I’m happy to report general success! This also resulted in the graduation from a crib to a crib with the side removed big boy bed! Sibling sleepovers ensued because I can’t even handle the cuteness of Bug begging to snuggle Songbird in her bed.
Grandma L came cross-country to play in the VA sunshine for awhile. She celebrated her birthday here and did all the things fabulous grandmas do…
I couldn’t be more thankful to have such a generous, positive, and loving woman as my mother-in-law. She doesn’t get to visit often, but we sure fill that time with the most rich and colorful memories.
Hard to believe that our next visitor was once under my care. At age 11, this beautiful lady and her sister spent a whole summer being nannied by yours truly. It was on their refrigerator that I first saw a photo of Handsome (their cousin) and they became miniature matchmakers! I’m eternally grateful that they finally convinced me to become a permanent part of their family. ;)
Because I can’t stand not having something to tinker with, a handful of projects have been completed over the course of the last couple months… Now if I can just find the time to sit long enough to share them! Until then, I appreciate you understanding that summer belongs to my kids; my crazy, wonderful, sun-tanned and smiling kids.
Is it painfully obvious that I’m in summer mode and the blog is the first casualty of my days in the sun? Ahh… well, I know you understand. I did find the time to swap out my colorful spring mantel decor for something more natural and beachy.
Originally I had set a $20 budget for each mantel change, but I had purchased this lovely ensemble prior to that. However, much of this was pre-owned and re-purposed. I especially like these hollow candlesticks that can be filled with anything small.
All the other goodies were purchased at Home Goods / TJ Maxx. Am I the only one who finds it nearly impossible to reign it in there?!
Do you remember making book covers for all your textbooks in high school? I always made mine out of brown paper bags so that I could doodle on them. Well, dust off those teenager skillz because covering a stack of books in cute gift wrap is a great way to coordinate them to your color scheme!
I haven’t given myself over fully to a beach style, but I do love tucking small sea treasures into my summertime home.
I'm Hayley. Wife and mother by day, DIY enthusiast by night. Fueled by sweet tea and jelly beans, I own power tools and know how to use them. Consider yourself warned.
