We have been looking forward to this summer for awhile; we being the kiddos and our neighbors' kiddos and me. We have very many adventures planned. We have many sewing projects dreamed up. We have lots of baking goodies we can already anticipatorily taste (and feel that belt tightening even more as we taste all summer long). The first knock on the door Monday morning was filled with excitement; we could not wait to get our summer started!!!
And it started out with a bang - picnic lunch in a local park followed by some heavy duty exploring of a stream bed. Who even knew that something so cool was right in our backyards (well, I guess in the park's backyard? ). We signed up for the library summer reading program, started swim team, and even got to bake some oreo truffles. The first of the library bags was cut and some seams were finished. Day two started out with as much enthusiasm and energy as the first; picnic packing, swim practice, and off to Olbrich Gardens. The OG was incredible; beautiful weather, no mosquitos, and the absolute joy of watching our two new explorers experience for the first time the wonders of flowers in bloom, ducks and robins and blackbirds, and mysterious mazes of hedges. It was awesome hearing my kids go "oh yeah? just wait until you see this..." or "wait, it gets better right around this path...." to the new explorers and seeing their enthusiasm met with oohhs and aaahhs. All 6 of them actually sat for quite a few moments writing or drawing in their adventure journals throughout the gardens; yes, even the 2-year-old explorer. We picnicked by the playground so they could just run and eat, run and eat; really - who needs to stay seated during summer picnics? Sugar cookies were made and straps were added to the first library bag.
Then, the third day began rainy and cold, which somehow seemed to leak into the house and spoil the great summer start. Even if the weather had not kept us at the house, Beans came down with a fever and there was no way to drag her through another day of adventuring. It was unanimously decided to call it a PJ day, invite other kiddos over, tell them to bring their sleeping bags, and start an all-day movie-a-thon. Lots of popcorn was popped and lemonade was made. With the basement chock full of little kiddos snuggling in their blankets, happily chomping away and watching movies, I was able to curl into the rocking chair and catch up on some sleep I had lost while tending to Beanie during the night. The fourth day brought a continuation of Beanie's fever with some pink eye too boot, which was shared with Otter by the time the afternoon rolled around. Another day of movies, which was not quite as exciting as that first day of movies. The kitchen stayed perfectly clean and unused that day, and we only made it to the design stage of the next round of library bag making.
Our week ended with three kids sick with pink eye and/or fever, not able to swim the in swim meet this weekend; me in bed sick, pink eyed, and incredibly annoyed at not being able to get up and go; a very tired Daddy who is working and coming homing cooking dinner, managing kiddos, and waiting on me hand and foot,and trying not to forget about feeding the dogs, chickens, rabbits, fish, toad, and lizard; a very energy-frustrated Smoosh who had not been run around enough during the movie-a-thon days while everyone else was just vegging and trying to recover (really, where does he get that energy?) and is now so chock full of energy that he is driving us all batty; and a Squeakers who has probably not noticed any difference in her day because everyone still finds some type of energy to love and hug and play with her. But, we at least had a great start to the summer in those few precious first days of the week.
We also learned a bunch about each other as it is a whole new little group that now has to live each day together.It will take time before this little group meshes together and we all learn how to work with each other. It will take time for me to get used to having so very many little voices asking questions and wanting things and forgetting that there are lots of other little voices standing (sometimes pushing) behind them in line waiting to be heard. It will take time but I think it is going to be one of the best times we all have, as long as we are all healthy and back up on our feet for the adventures, sewing, baking, and reading waiting for us on Monday.
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