Summer Wrap-up: was it everything you wanted it to be?
We've had a great summer. We had a mini-vacation to see family over Fourth of July weekend. We've gone to a handful of summer concerts. We've hit at least one street fair in the neighborhood. We've camped and have dined gourmet al fresco. We have gardened the best garden yet (for us). We have picked 30 pounds of berries and intend to pick more! We have biked - oh my have we biked! We have even tackled a home project (basement finishing) that will be done any day now.
This summer has proven to be a successful and active one, too, for the kids. Our oldest is camp-aged, in her third year of summer camp hopping. This year has been the best yet: from hip hop at Ethos to all-girls bike camp at the Community Cycling Center and from a session of ice skating at Kool Kamp to a week at Old Macdonald's Farm. Our other daughter has had a summer full of fun with an amazing sitter that we share with another family. Days are filled with jaunts to the pool, picking fruit & veggies, hitting farmers markets throughout town, and biking around the neighborhood and fully experiencing all our local playgrounds.
So, life's good. The kids are rested. They're ready to head back to school after a great summer balanced with activity and relaxation. We feel satiated by our summer. It may be silly for me to say, but I think I'm ready for the routine of the fall. I'm ready for earlier wake-up times and for earlier bedtimes. As much as I love the summer, the flux of it all (a different camp every week, different start/end times, different drop-off/pick-up scenarios) is making me yearn for the consistency of the fall when school starts the same time every day. Of course, once the monotony of the grey skies get to me, I'll be singing another tune.
How about you? Has your summer been everything that you wanted your summer to be? Any last hurrahs to come over the next two weeks?
Schedule challenges, camp commitments, and what not conspired against any significant time away for us. But we are not complaining...it was - and continues to be - a lovely summer. We enjoyed our time together as a family and highlights abound.
BIKING! It was our first significant biking season with Gael (he wasn't so into it when he was smaller) and we biked all over town to parks, concerts, farmer's markets, street fairs, just running errands, you name it...and Sunday Parkways was incredible, here's hoping they repeat that next summer.
MUSIC! We didn't get much camping time in but we were able to make a return to Pickathon and camp out at Pendarvis Farm. Pickathon was a magical experience once again.
We enjoyed seeing faves from last year's event - such as Langhorne Slim - and make some new discoveries - Bombadil and Laura Gibson.
And we hit every Fernhill Concert that we could.
FRESH PRODUCE! One of the many things we L-U-V about Portland is the access to fresh produce. We picked tons of strawberries, blackberries, rasberries, and blueberries. We also scored way too many peaches and went cherry picking for the first time this year.
DA BEACH! The only trip we took that was more than an hour drive from home was an extended weekend to Yachats...man, we love that place...
Posted by: Milagros | August 13, 2008 at 12:53 PM
It's not time for this, yet, is it? Please, I'm still in denial that it's August! Somewhere, between purchasing (and loving) a used Burley, planting a lovely garden and watching it grow with the not-always-so-careful attention of our toddler, and just generally soaking in the sunshine, this summer has flown by.
We still have our big weeklong camp-n-cabin extravaganza to go. And don't forget September! We have to squeeze that trip to the Coast in, at some point.
Posted by: Kate | August 13, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Dang, urbanmamas, way to harsh my mellow. two weeks? that's all! Seriously????????
Our summer was spent with long periods of separation as the surly teenager did the camp circuit. Short bursts of intense togetherness and sloth. We picked not a berry and biked not a mile. We have had some TriMet adventures, and just visiting with friends, walking the dog and we have had classic movie fests where I force her to watch movies ranging from "Anna Lucasta" to "Just another Girl on the IRT".
When she is away I either cry and write bad poetry or party like a childfree 20-something hipster.
I hate the schedule and the regimented lifestyle of the school year. I am going kicking and screaming all the way.
Posted by: ProtestMama | August 13, 2008 at 05:04 PM
I've been loving the slow mornings, the mid-afternoons of playdates or outings and the late afternoons of swimming lessons. Unlike last summers when I was totally stressed with two kids at home, it's been so much easier this year. I'm not looking forward to the pell-mell rush of getting two children to school, doing lunches, always having the clock perpetually in my head, etc.
And yeah, we have DONE this summer. I have a few things that haven't been ticked off of my list, but boy, we've had a great time....
Posted by: Kristin | August 13, 2008 at 09:27 PM
As ProtestMama states, we, too, do not love the regimented arrival of fall (although we LOVE the season and all of its splendor and good food!)...here's to the carefree days of summer, happy, dirty, sunkissed kiddos and all the fun that can be had!
Posted by: with ya! | August 13, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Sometimes all it takes is one good day at the beach to make up for lost time. I lost my summer to throat surgery, and all my many projects are sitting out in the yard waiting for September. I was wondering where summer went and feeling a tad sad that I didn't get one, but it's all better now.
We just did a mad dash up to the Olympic Peninsula and had one perfect beach day...a hike through the woods with the kiddo on one back and a picnic basket on the other. Running in the surf, collecting rocks, starting a fire and roasting hot dogs in a drift-wood windbreak, getting socked in by the fog. Heading in for a long sandy nap and then back out for fresh salmon on the pier and a new beach for the sunset show.
I came home fulfilled, a whole summer lived in one glorious day on the beach. Let the chilly fall days come rolling in.
Posted by: abby | August 14, 2008 at 09:07 PM
I am not ready for fall! Come back, come back, Summer. I am sorry I complained about your super hot weather last week and hid inside. Please come back and I will revel and play in the heat.
Please? Pretty please? With sprinkles (don't sprinkles fix everything)?
Posted by: I want summer back!! | August 20, 2008 at 04:56 PM