Here we are at Mid July and the Patton family has been up to a lot!!!
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I've been trying to balance being relaxed with being structured; having fun and having responsibilities.
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| There are some crazy moments in this household |
We've been enjoying camps .......
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| Building a "worm hotel" at Al's Garden center kids camp |
and John and I seize every opportunity to sneak away whenever we can to have some adult time!
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| Celebrating a friend's birthday at a winery |
The boys have loved practicing their bike riding in the forest paths near our home. James prefers to go without a shirt whenever possible.
Chaotic fun.
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| Ready for the parade! |
And everything in between.
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| Praying that the sax-o-flute and bongo drum are but a passing trend.... |
One morning, the kids noticed a tree growing out of our roof!
We had fun making up clever stories about what would happen if this tree was allowed to grow.
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| A forest? Maybe a bird family would move in?! Or monkeys?! |
I had a hot balloon land in front of me one morning on my early morning run in the park. That was a nice surprise.
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| This explains those crop circles I've been concerned about.... |
Summer has hit us, in all its glory!
Evie has been to a summer camp at her school, did a few days at Willowbrook arts camp, and has enjoyed practicing her swimming with her friends.
Sometimes.. I'm afraid though, she goes a little stir crazy at home......
This week ALL FOUR of my kids have VBS at a local church, which they are so enjoying (and I'm enjoying too!! Free mornings for one whole week?!) I am basking in the peace of my own home right now as I write this.
I'm enjoying the simple tasks of folding laundry and cleaning up my kitchen in the silence. With the house so full all the time, this is a wonderful break.
However, Summer wouldn't be summer without the noise and laughter (and fighting)......We've done some really fun outings.
cul-de-sac dates,
and picnic dates!!!
We've ventured to Seaside with some friends,
and picked the most amazing berries!!!
We've danced;
we've complained;
we've played with squirt guns and slip n'slides......
And then there was the Fourth of July!
I think Fourth of July has become my favorite holiday. Our neighborhood has it down and knows how to celebrate.
A Parade, a party and fireworks.
One of the ways I've been managing to get some alone time this summer is early morning runs.
John and I are training for a half marathon, so running for longer periods of time only works if I can get up before the kids.
I've been loving my time outside, when the dawn first hits. It's so peaceful in the forest alone.
I did a long run the morning of the Fourth of July, energized by the excitement of the day and the morning sky.
The early sky beckoned me to rise and meet the day. It was glorious.
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| Outside my deck early on the morning of the Fourth of July |
Fourth of July felt like a REALLLLY long day. It was a good day, but I got up before the sunrise and the sun doesn't fully set until after 10 pm this time of year around here.
Nightfall made our surroundings electric.
I stood on my back deck with James and we listened to booms of firecrackers that echoed all around us. James nestled into my neck. I could tell he was a little nervous about the explosions, but I know he felt safe and happy.
He just enjoyed the most wonderful day.
“How many more days until Fourth of July?” my kids asked me the following morning.
“364,” I replied.
Their faces suddenly looked disappointed when they understood that was a lot of time. After a moment of contemplation, Evie shrugged and decided to set her sights on Halloween.
But then James reminded her that we go to Chicago in less than a month.
It's true. We are enjoying the summer so much here, but more fun awaits us in a few weeks when we visit my family.
While there, John and I are getting to escape for five days alone, together!
John, still up to his spontaneous, romantic schemes after 15 years, has planned us an adventure somewhere in the world....😁😁😁😁😁😁 I'll let you know.......................
