The Summer of What Is

Last summer, we declared, was our Wide Open Summer. We were free of casts, fixators, therapy, wheelchairs, walkers - and the possibilities felt endless.  So we drew up a long list of dreamy ideas for a fantastic summer, and then we achieved 18 of those ideas.  It was so much fun.

This summer, we are not making a sand pail list.  We are not branding these 3 months with words like wide open.  We are instead acknowledging that this is the summer with a little one who needs naps during our usual swim times - a little one who likes to eat rocks, walk freely, and not hear the word "no".  We are remembering that even though we made a million memories last summer, we finished more on the tired than refreshed side of summer.  We are recognizing that our almost 9-year age span of children means that not everyone will always find the same activities fabulous.  We are aware that it takes great efforts to get four children ready and out for, well, anything lately.

So instead of a Wide Open Summer, this is The Summer of What Is.  To quote a phrase heard often in our neck of the woods, "It is what it is."  And we are going to enjoy and make the most of "it".

We have a reverse summer list, where we are writing what we actually did as we do it.  If we catch ourselves having some summer fun, we are writing it on the list to celebrate that it happened.  

First thing the boys wanted to write on our reverse summer list: 

We built a smart robot.  

(Email subscribers - click over to our blog to see the video of the boys' robot.)

(Thank you, Michaels.  Your projects are going to help these bigger boys feel like they have accomplished much adventure during J's naptimes, even if it means the mama is busy with screwdrivers or wood glue instead of actually washing dishes.)