Summer Holidays!?

I had this idea in my head that summer holidays meant rest, relaxation, taking it easy.  Not so much when you have three very different children with very different desires in every moment of every day.

As a kid, summer was running around, playing “kick the can” and “hide and seek” into the dark hours of the night.  It usually involved some sort of travel to somewhere far away from home.  And more than likely there would have been a hotel stay somewhere.  It meant running through the pastures and the gardens picking whatever we could get our grubby little fingers on without getting caught and then scolded.  There were swimming lessons to be taken and bike ride adventures and camping in the back yard and watching meteor showers.  Sleepovers and hiking and creek swimming and fishing.

This summer, for me, has been about taking and accepting opportunities to create great memories for my kids.  One after the other, after the other, after the other.  It seems as though June is but a moment ago and September is upon us in a few more days.  I can remember wanting summer to go longer than it did.  I also remember wanting to get back to school.

So when asked, “how's your summer holiday?”  I think to myself, “holiday?”  This momma hasn't had a holiday.  The kids have.  I hope it's been fun.  I've heard a few, “this was the best day ever.”  So that has to mean something.  Right?

It feels like it's been more work than the school year is.  Packing and unpacking and packing again.  Heaps and heaps of laundry.  Collapsing closets, yes closets - the girls' followed shortly after mine and I will be taking Ry's apart to fix it before it decides to attack as well.  Play dates and water parks and gymnastics lessons for Ella who is determined to put herself through a coffee table trying to do cartwheels.  Berry picking and jam making and sandcastles at the beach.  Doctor appointments and dentist appointments and a couple of “please fix my back” chiropractor appointments.

But, and this is big, there have been wonderful visits with family and friends.  Days of wonderful fellowship and evenings of laughter and shared stories.  Pool parties - and a really nasty, five days later, blister-popping-skin-peeling sunburn.  Wiener roasts with marshmallows and kids with sticks.  Front porch visits with my grandpa.  Crazy, out of the blue, summer lightening storms.  Best summer ever – maybe.  Or maybe just the best summer so far.  Summer holiday?  Nope, but I wouldn't change it for anything.

I am so grateful for the time I have with my family.  Moments of unadulterated joy in all this busyness that is our life.  I am grateful for the friends I am blessed with and the time that we've been able to share together through these last few weeks.  God is good and I am grateful and blessed. 

Rathtrevor Beach

Chasing dragonflies on the grass at Royal BC Museum

Beautiful girl, full of joy!

Priceless - Ava is such a little ham sometimes.

Check out my great horns and googley eyes to match.

Royal BC Museum

Little Qualicum Falls Park

Is lunch ready yet?

Ava

Ryan

and Ella.

You know you had a good time when . . .

You know you had a good time when your princess oldest daughter is as grubby as her younger brother and sister.  She is the child who refuses to use outhouses and outdoor park toilets because there are bugs and spider webs and creepy-crawlies – OH MY!  She had dirt stuck to the gum that was stuck to her face.  She was partner-less in the three-legged race, so she asked me.  We came in second, but who was paying attention to that.  We were all laughing so hard it didn't matter.  Her feet were black – so were mine (crocs are really hard to run in).

You know you had a good time when your son tells you his face hurts.  It could have been because he was so happy to play with his friend Hunter or maybe it was because he tried to run inside his burlap sack for the sack race and left his face in the grass on impact.  Poor guy – yes there were a few tears, but he got right back up and tried again smiling the whole time.  He didn't stop moving the entire time and had sweat just pouring down his face and neck.  Which, of course, attracts dirt.

You know you had a good time when the littlest princess has grass stains all over her pink tutu skirt and pink top.  Rolling down hills and losing shoes and going back to get the shoes and rolling some more.  Cake crumbs and jello bits stuck all over her face and in her hair.  I'm not sure I'll be able to get the skirt clean – EVER.  It took some time just trying to get her clean.

You know you had a good time when it seems that all your kids have eaten all day is sugar and you think they are going to be up all night.  I tucked them in at their regular bedtime and within twenty minutes all three were sleeping.

Yesterday was our annual South Burnaby Church of Christ Picnic.  What a blast!  I know I had a good time – my face still hurts from smiling and the wee bit of sunburn I ended up with.   The laughs were as plenty as the food.  From the races to the pinata to the karaoke.  Can hardly wait for next summer.

So grateful for all of the amazing people my life has been blessed with, friends and family alike.