After the coldest May ever, I think it's safe to say summer has arrived with the start of June being just a little warmer. We have already done so many summery things, even with the cooler weather! I can't wait to see what else is in store. I love summer as a mom :)
First things first, we finished up our kindergarten year and decided it was time for a little break. Although, Isla has informed me she would like to "finish first grade by Christmas", so we are going to do school this summer when the mood is right :) But for now, we have said goodbye to kindergarten. It was a magical year and I'm so thankful for our time together with homeschooling.
We celebrated with homemade donuts and the making of our summer bucket list! We were able to check off so many things from our bucket list already, including swimming at Nana's, berry picking, camping, and State Farm pool.
The summer initiation usually starts with Memorial weekend. We spent time at Nana and Pop Pop's with some swimming and cousin time. I can't believe how brave everyone is in the pool this year, including being thrown in and jumping off the side (even Eleanor!).
The next day was putt-putting at State Farm park and s'mores at our house, even though it was a little chilly. We love spending time with our Ready family.
Bucket list item #2 was berry picking. We made a last minute decision to go with our neighbors (who took the best pictures!) and came home with a whole flat of strawberries! It was hard work, especially with Eleanor eating every other one I picked :) But plenty of strawberry jam and strawberry pie is in our future.
Bucket list item #3 was camping. I'm not sure if it counts since it was in our backyard, but we did it. We started the night with s'mores and playing outside, then a movie in the tent, before we all tried to sleep together in one big space. The big kids did awesome and they are ready for a real camping trip. Eleanor wouldn't stop talking or crying, so Michael and her headed inside at about 11:00. And I pulled an all-nighter. Between the barking fox right outside the tent, the light from our neighbor's house, the freezing cold, congestion from allergies, and the birds singing at 4:00, I literally stayed up the entire night. I have never been so tired in my life. But the kids had a blast! And I think we are all brave enough to try again at a real campground this summer!
(yes, Isla ended up on the ground)
(4:30 am birdsong woke Isla up)
Bucket list item #4 was swim at State Farm park. It is one of our favorite places in the summer. We love to go with our good friends. It's usually a weekly occurance for us.
We have NO extracurriculars this summer, which feels very odd. Most people are doing all the things like camps, sports, instruments, etc. There was some interest in playing soccer or continuing gymnastics, but mostly the kids wanted a free summer. My take is they are only little once and there will be plenty of time for them to be involved in all the things. This summer we can focus on doing what we want, when we want and it's actually really nice. The one thing the kids are signed up for though is zoo class. It's only one class, once a month and Ewan loves it. Isla will do one in July.
Another sign that summer has arrived is when gardening becomes my entire personality. I just can't help it. It's one of the most beautiful things in the world to me that God gave us a world where a teeny tiny seed can grow into a vining plant that produces (sometimes) hundreds of tomatoes that can then be turned into nourishment for our bodies. And not just food to fill us, but the very best kind of food full of nutrients like minerals and vitamins.
And the harvesting has begun! It feels like just last month I was canning all my produce and here we are doing it all again. The kids helped me make sauerkraut and strawberry-rhubarb jam straight from the ground :) We were especially proud of our big, beautiful cabbages this year.
It might seem like nonsense to some, but I think the garden is a magical place for all of us to learn.
I'm sure we will continue to complete our bucket list with all the summery things. After all, it's only the start of June. Other things we've been busy with have been more gardening, lots and lots and lots of swimming, smoking all the summery foods, playing outside, visiting with family, poetry tea time, time with friends, and music at the park.
And we're off in a few days to complete bucket list #5! Stay tuned :)
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