One last trip to the beach together.
We snuck in one last trip to the beach because tomorrow at 8:30am, summer is officially over. Summer is always my favorite time of year and this summer was no exception – full of camps, camping, beach trips and treasures, friends, BBQ’s, swimming and the simple joy and beauty of long days and warm nights. My only complaint is the same one I have every year – summer is always too damn short.
Some of my best childhood memories are from my summer vacations – hanging out with friends, water-skiing with my Dad, playing cards, reading books, my grandparent’s long-awaited annual visit, non-stop swimming, going to amusement parks, staying up late, playing outside until the streetlights came on and so much more.
I did my best to make the most of the summer with my son – I put everything on hold that I could (and my uncharacteristically dirty house, mountains of non-critical laundry and piles of papers are proof) because I’m painfully aware that there are a finite number of childhood summers – especially ones that we get to spend together. (I am definitely not one of those moms that can’t wait for their kids to go back to school. Tomorrow is the hardest day of the year for me; I’m not looking forward to it at all.)
There are so many good things that I wish for my son, and one of those things are wonderful summer’s for him to enjoy and look back on. If I do my job right, he’ll be telling his grand-kids about his summer vacations for years, just like I tell him about mine.
And how about you? What are your favorite summer memories?
That’s a really nice picture.
Hope the return to school has been easy on you.
Thanks, Becky. We survived the first week of school. Only 41 more weeks of school til next summer. (Not that I’m counting or anything, eh?)
Ha! We’re on a “modified calendar” so we get the first two weeks in October off, but we started the end of July. So… 23 more days and fall break is here! Crazy, huh?
I LOVE that shot. It’s easy to imagine the two of you are out frolicking in the (freezing!) waves. 😉
And I love that you made me remember that my dad used to set up croquet every summer in our back (and sometimes front) yard. We’d play croquet – kids and adults – from the neighborhood. And yeah, staying out until the streetlights came on which was nice and late in the summer.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying this time with your little guy. They get big so fast. (Though i did take both boys to the movies last week. “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” Everyone loved it, which I interpret to mean I’m still rockin’ the whole mom thing.)
Thanks, j! We totally frolicked — all though I recently realized this is the first year I haven’t ridden my boogie-board. I might need to fix that before summer is officially over.
Oh yeah, croquet! We used to play that at night, too! We’d play until it was so dark that we had removed all the croquet wickets by tripping over them- ha!
Yes, your kids and my nieces are my constant reminder of how fast kids grow up and all that’s left is memories. You are my role model for how to make the most of the time with I have with my kid. You’ve always rocked the mom thing and I’ve been taking notes! 🙂