Wow. This is officially the last day of summer vacation. How did this happen so fast? It seems like just yesterday I watched Boo get on the bus for his last day of kindergarten. I guess it’s true — time flies when you’re having fun.
We’ve had epic adventures this summer. Many more than I thought would actually happen. My kids learned how to be kids this summer. They got dirty, they played in creeks and rivers, they became best friends.
It will be strange having them at school, the house quiet and still. I’m looking forward to some freedom without little people saying “can I?” “can we?” “I want!” But I’m gonna miss them when they’re away, particularly after the summer we’ve had together.
In the spirit of the last official day of summer break, I dedicate today’s Friday Five to my five favorite summer moments.
5 Favorite Summer Moments
1. Boo learning to swim.
This tops the list of favorite moments for the second time! Boo used to be a phenomenal swimmer. I had him in one of those infant safety swim classes when he was about 2 years old, and he passed with flying colors and loved it to boot. Then we stopped taking classes and he soon forgot how to swim entirely. Fast forward to kindergarten and we knew he needed to learn to swim ASAP. Well, classes were kind of a joke. And then trying to teach him in the pool was frustrating because he was worried he wouldn’t be able to touch the bottom. But one day he decided he could swim, and he hasn’t looked back since. Now he swims like a little fish and can do all sorts of flips and dives. This is perfect for me because I’ve recently been looking at the snorkeling trips on www.kaikanani.com and would love to go on one! In a year or two, I think they will both be at a high enough level to snorkel without any issues so it’s definitely something you’ll find me writing about in the future!
2. Creek walking.
Creek walking was one of the highlights of the summer. It was so nice to head to the nearby creek on a hot summer day, take off our sandals, and wade in the water. My kids found all sorts of critters to look at and touch. They got dirty, they sat in water and they had a blast.
3. Cape Cod vacation.
Our trip to the cape was fantastic. It was much more fun than I expected. I’m not sure what I was expecting to be honest. Maybe because I was jaded from having taken trips with them when they were immobile or more parent-reliant. But this vacation rivals our trip to Disney — and that was an epic trip. I look forward to next summer when we take another vacation. I don’t even care where we go. We’re a family that loves exploring and I can’t wait!
4. My son’s proclamation that he wanted to learn to run.
Proud mommy moment for sure. I’ve been quiet about my running to my kids. They know I run and they know I run a lot, but I’ve never actively invited them to come with me or actively pushed them to do an activity they didn’t want to do. I love running and I want them to find something they love, too. If it’s running, cool. And if not, no sweat. So you can imagine my excitement the day my son said, “Mommy, I want to run a race and win a medal.” I was ecstatic. I didn’t show it, and I let him stew on it a few days. But it’s now been a couple months since he first brought it up and I’m still riding it. Since he’s so little, we’re starting with a 5K — a 5K with a medal, of course.
5. Canoeing with my family.
I guess this could be looped in with creek walking, but it’s getting it’s own subheading because there was something magical about canoeing and hiking with my family — much more magical than simply creek walking. Canoeing, kayaking and hiking are among my top favorite outdoor activities. I’ve been waiting years for the day my kids were old enough to go out on the water. It’s one thing to take kids out on a pontoon boat and quite another to take them on a canoe or kayak. So when my daughter was finally old enough to understand and be somewhat independent, I knew it was time. I was so happy to share my love of the water with them and they had an amazing day. I can’t wait to take them on longer trips soon. One of my friends recommended that we should think about purchasing a trailer for our kayaks, like the Yakima Rack and Roll for example. This would allow us to take our kayaks around to different places. The kids would love that idea!
I’m gonna miss these fools when they’re in school. Who am I gonna yell at to get along, or take with me on random trips to get ice cream? And most importantly, who’s gonna be there to make goofy faces with and do silly things?
Until next year, Summer. It’s been real.
xo
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What’s one of YOUR favorite summer moments?
Linking up with Friday Five, Fitness Health & Happiness, Friday Favorites.
