Summer Vacation 2013. Here.we.go!

I wrote only two posts during September of 2012.  One summed up Mikayla heading to preschool and the other was written on the eve of school starting for Mallory.  Reading the summer recap, the day before we begin summer vacation 2013, was exactly what I needed to do. 

I wrote in just a few short words, “…But here we are with summer at our backs…it went by way too fast.”  And with that we have finished an entire school year.  First grade is done and once again you thrived.  You were a Daisy Scout in September and became a Brownie Scout in May. You sent a Grandma to heaven in February and quickly matured before my eyes each time you reassure your younger sister that we will see her again when it is our turn to enter Heaven. You were a guppy in swimming lessons in March and became a trout in April.  With the help of your sister you’ve filled up our Kindness jar 3.5 times since January.  You have said over and over this week “I can’t believe the year is almost over. I am happy and sad.”  You have my emotions and I can feel every word of what you are saying.  You love school.  You love getting up every morning and having that place waiting for you.  You love your teacher.  You love the routine.  You are sad that it is over.  However, you love playing outside.  You love riding your bike.  You are thrilled to have a few camps waiting for you to enjoy.  You can’t wait to swim at Sandy Lake.  You are excited to see Kentucky come home.  You are happy that this break is almost here.

We have many fun things planned.  For those many fun things planned, we have carved out just as much downtime.  Time for you and your sister to be together and play.  To eat on the deck.  To swing on the playground.  To feed the chickens and harvest the garden. To read on a blanket under a tree in the shade. To make up as many plays as you want to act in with Julia.  To camp in the backyard and roast marshmallows by the fire. To be seven. 

I will recap as the season wears on when time allows, but know that when these three short months are done, I will sit and remember on what summertime has done for us.

Let’s hope the sun shines and the weather warms up so we can enjoy our summer bucket list!  Congrats on being my favorite 1st Grade graduate.  Once again, you were awesome at exactly what we asked you to do—be the very best at being Mallory.  Love you to pieces, Peanut!