Loving Summer

I know most people are complaining about the cold weather we've been having this summer... it truly does feel more like fall most days... I mean we're only one week into August and yesterday I noticed that the leaves on our maple tree in the front yard have started to change colour and a few have already dropped... (that usually doesn't happen until late September/October for the most part!!)  

Yes, the weather has been off the past month or so, but it really hasn't gotten me down much.  There are a few reasons for this I think...  

First, we had BEAUTIFUL weather in the spring and I spent most of it outside with the kids and our neighbours in the back.  So to me being on leave, summer started well before July (which is when the cool weather came around if I do recall...)

Second, when you're expecting rain all the time, you get out and take advantage of every chance you get when the weather's decent!  I've been out and about with the girls a lot this summer and we've been having a ball making the best of each moment. 

Third, I've been loving this semi-technology fast of mine... I've barely been on the computer (no work, just fun to catch up with people now and then), I haven't been a slave to my blackberry (I've been out of cellular range for much of the summer, which has been great!), and I haven't even been watching much TV either.  (though I haven't scrapbooked like I hoped or read my novels for school either... I've been too tired in the evenings from full days! No worries!)

I think I've been having one of my best summers with the kids, and I think it's because I can't recall not being distracted by something or other in the summer... summer courses... prep for new courses I'd have to teach... moving... computer work for Mom's Moments... a brand new baby had me wiped last summer... did I mention packing up a house to move (that happened more than once!)  This summer, I'm just having fun with the girls with no distractions drawing me away.  It's been great.  Also seeing the games that one of my daughters is playing in speech therapy has gotten us all to play more board games together on a regular basis, which has been really neat (and different for us - great for those quiet days when the rain does hit!)  

The tough part has been having my husband still in school while we're out and about visiting (we've been home for a total of 2 out of 6 weeks since school's been out)... visiting the girls' cousins all over the place and spending much time at some cottage or another while daddy's been home alone studying... It can't be easy to study in the summer when your family is on holidays!

We're home for a while now... no more significant travel plans... more bike rides (hopefully more running!?)... more games... more swimming... more trips to the zoo (love our membership!)... more sleep (I'm hoping for me anyway!)... more steps and walking by my 13 month old... more time with my husband... a few visitors... I'm ready to be home and get the house in order (loving our new windows and doors!)... but very much still on holidays and continuing my semi-technology fast!!  I still have 3 weeks before I head back to work, so I'm going to love every last minute (and SO thankful that I'll be part-time with no new courses to prep for Sept!)

Hope you are all enjoying summer and making the best of each moment... as weird as the weather has been (in Ontario anyways)!