I'm sitting here in the living room listening to Elmo and watching my boys put money in their piggy banks. I'm trying to wrap my mind around the fact that in ten very short days, I have to leave my sweet baby boys at preschool and go back to the daily grind. Where has the summer gone?! We kicked it off with an awesome and unforgettable trip to Disney World, but it certainly doesn't seem like that was seven weeks ago! I have enjoyed the life of laziness....waking up at 9:00 or later everyday, lounging around in pj's waiting for the pool to open. Swimming until 4:00, taking the boys home for a late nap and just enjoying the evening doing whatever we felt like doing.

Fast forward ten minutes....Garrett is jumping off of the furniture and Ryan just smacked me in the face with a step stool. Ten days? :) As much as I have enjoyed my time off with my two precious children and my wonderful husband, I'm excited about getting back to our routine. Sounds like a contradiction to what I wrote above, and while I constantly struggle with wanting to stay home with our boys, I love my job and the people I work with. I love feeling like I'm making a difference. I love that I might be a safe place for some children who don't always feel they have that. And I love that cliche "light-bulb moment."

I'm excited for all of the "new" that is going on this year. Garrett is starting pre-k which some days has me thrilled for him and all of his new adventures he is about to embark on, and some days has me almost in tears as I think about my baby being such a big boy! Ryan has moved up to the two-year-old room at school. He is such a little sponge these days so I know this upcoming year will be huge for him developmentally. I will be teaching first grade this year which is unchartered territory for me! I'm excited, nervous, apprehensive, and enthusiastic all in one. Jody is still teaching physics, coaching the swim team, and serving on a few new committees this year. He has attended so many trainings and meetings this summer that have energized him for a new year as well.

So as we get ready to wind down summer, I will cherish the memories we have made over the last few weeks. Ryan learned how to say "Garrett" and Garrett learned how to swim. I will miss sleeping in with my boys until we felt like waking up, taking late night (9:00) trips to Cold Stone for dessert, and heading to the pool at 6:00 for an evening swim in hopes of wearing out the kids. I will miss the silly things like not having to find socks for the boys because they can wear flip flops, crocs, or sandals with EVERYTHING! I look forward to fall which means soccer games for Garrett and Friday night football.

Farewell summer. Duty calls....Ryan just bit Garrett. Did I mention he learned how to do that too?!