Summer Swings On By

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

Oh Summer, we wait for such a long time and then it's gone so fast. Yet I absolutely love the coming of Autumn. The feeling of rest that comes with the summer winding down after two jam packed months of soaking up all that sunshine and warmth has to offer. Looking back over the last couple months and finally having some moments to write about it, I feel like we made the most of our summer. I had little expectation (a failure of mine) of this season thinking I wouldn't get much out it because of sleepless nights and busy days with baby. And yes, there were many sleepless nights, some tears and crazy days and yet if I look past that I realize the season far exceeded any expectations. It just looked a little different.

 

We stayed home a lot more and the kids got dirty. Every day, I cleaned them up and they got dirty again, and had a blast while doing it. This low spot in the yard has needed some gravel for some years now but it proved to be a blessing this summer after all the rain we had as it provided many hours of puddle jumping and entertainment for the kids. No pool needed,  just a sprayer to hose down the mud after they were finished. It was a battle to keep their clothes on so they ran around half dressed all summer. I realized as I was going through my summer pics that it was hard to find any of fully dressed, clean kids! Oh well I guess less clothes means less...

 

 

Laundry! I definitely found it hard to  keep up with the laundry pile. I'm one of those gals that likes to have a laundry day; usually on a Monday but it seemed every time Monday came around I was still trying to put away the clean laundry from the week before and yet having to start all over again. This picture is slightly deceiving because that was actually only one of a few times this summer that I used my laundry line. I do love seeing the line full and the fresh scent of the outdoors. However I decided to give myself  a break from hauling around so many tubs of clothes and just tossed them in to the dryer to save time and energy. I tend to put far too much pressure on myself about what needs to be done and feeling guilty about what doesn't get done. I won't say that I've overcome that issue but I have tried to accept that I'm in a different season of life right now and that its okay to just do things a little differently. This summer that meant a few staples in the garden, less produce to preserve, no flower pots, and not planting a ton of canna lilies that I would have to dig up in the fall. Cutting back helped me to actually find some spare time to putter around in my flowerbeds and mow lawn, the two activities I find stress relieving. We spent most of our evenings outside working around the yard, and winding down with a bonfire.

They look like the best of friends here but goodness can they ever fight too. They've driven me crazy many a mornings when sweet 'Good Mornings' and cuddles turn to screaming and tug of wars before you can blink. Fighting over colors of cups and plates, both wanting the same toy at the same time and especially Jake now being at an age where he wants to do everything himself that Hanna used to always have precedent over because he was too little. Deep breath in and out...and then at the end of the day they're tucked in and then I come into their room to find that one has snuck into the other's bed and silently nestled together. They are quite the pair.

 

Peter boy just grows and grows and grows. At three and half months I started him on solids and now at six months he eats four times a day and is well over twenty pounds. This kid is breaking my back already! He is just so much fun to cuddle. I have to keep myself from wanting to pinch his chubby cheeks and not just the face cheeks either!! He gets so excited when he sees Hanna and Jake and his eyes observe so much around him, he keeps a pretty close eye on his mommy :) He also hasn't let his mommy get a whole lot of sleep this summer. Getting up many times in the night has been hard on me physically and emotionally ; some weeks are better and then there have been some weeks that are a foggy memory. I know this stage will pass but some days it feels like the day just won't end soon enough so that I can catch some rest again. I handle little sleep so poorly and sadly I've probably been a hard to handle mom and wife too many times. Thankfully children are forgiving and my husband understanding and encouraging when I'm too hard on myself. Struggling with moments of resentment, I found much comfort one sleepy eyed morning in a verse from Matthew 21:16 Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise. I was reminded of the child-like faith Christ wants us to have. Like babies trusting their momma for all their needs so I need to trust Jesus in His care of me moment by moment. I love seeing those moments of faith in my children; Peter's facing lighting up when his family members come near, voices and actions aloud in the car as they sing out DVBS songs,

 

 

Our summer as whole revolved much around our project at home. For the past several years we've debated what to do with the unsightly Quonset that sits right beside our house. The conclusion we came to was to redo the end walls with doors on either end that would accommodate both the Semi truck and our vehicle to be in a warm space for the winter. It's been a very busy couple months for Wayne who worked hard many hours to have this completed for the winter. I'm very excited to be able to load kids into the car in a warm space!

Peter 'chill-axin' with dad; although it wasn't to chilly. Peter such a chubby baby I had to keep him as cool as possible in the humidity to avoid heat rash between all the creases!

Hanna and I had a lovely Saturday afternoon out to a Victorian Tea Party. Hanna was thrilled to finally have a chance to wear the dress that Grandma had picked up for her at the thrift store.

 

There was no way I was waking him from this nap and he couldn't stay in the car so the car seat and all got carried inside. He never missed a beat although a little flustered when he awoke to staring up at the ceiling and his car seat laying flat.

 

A little DIY summer fun. A tarp, sprinkler and slide kept the kids cool and laughing. Even mom got in the action. I could hardly resist since I'd always wanted a 'slip'n slide' growing up.

A whole lot of coffee all summer to keep my eyes open and feet moving. Food for my soul to keep my heart beating and believing.

Love this picture. Hanna has spent so much time holding Peter since he was born, now he is just so happy and excited whenever she is near. She has been a big help to me in many ways especially when she plays with him and I can get a few things done around the house.

I also really noticed this summer how ready Hanna was for Kindergarten. Her interest in letters and sounds increased. Most days I was asked "Is it almost Fall? When can I go on the bus? How many more sleeps to Kindergarten?" I'm not sure if my table has been clear at all in a long time, it' been covered with Lego, cars and markers for months already. We just make some room to eat when necessary!

 

This picture just sums up childhood summertime to me. We spent a day with friends at Splash Island and ice cream on the tailgate before heading home. 

One evening Wayne, the kids and I went out somewhere and we stopped at the COOP. As Hanna climbed out she smiles and says " It sure smells like a great day!" Those were such uplifting words because it's so easy to lose the simple joys of being a child when we are older. She reminded me that Summer isn't all toil but it's wrapped up in smells, tastes and sights that bring happiness!

 

These cousins love to have a good time at Grandma's house. This summer they spent a lot of time playing outside on the trikes, play structure, sand box and hanging out in Grandma's Happy Spring Summer Kitchen as Hanna dubbed it.

 

A girls only tea party in 'Grandma's Happy Spring Summer Kitchen'. Of course many treats and sweets, the only way Grandma has it! Jake and Peter had to go down for a nap but Grandma sent treats home with them too.

 

 

Here we are at Clear Lake just before the end of summer, our only camping trip. We enjoyed an evening along the beach where Wayne was able to hear his favorite band of the 80's, Glass Tiger. The kiddos had fun walking along the boardwalk and playing in the sand. Fun to go away with friends and get some downtime but came home oh so tired from hard sleepless nights with Peter. Maybe next year will be easier camping.

Makin hay while the sun shines. Love these moments of neighbours helping neighbours. Not in the picture is the next neighbour tossing hay over the fence for his cows.  I love the friendly lane we live down where together we warn each other about the foxes preying on chickens, scheme up ways to catch the foxes, help each other where an extra hand is needed and give a friendly wave going by. This summer Hanna ended up at both sets of neighbours. One Sunday she decided to go visiting while we  were napping. She took along toys and went over for ice cream and when I woke up she was back home telling me she had a nice visit much to my surprise. Then one Saturday we let her bike over to the neighbours but she was supposed to come back soon. Well it became longer than soon so I took a drive down to see her bike parked by the house and she was enjoying lunch with neighbors. Guess she thought it smelled great and gladly obliged to sit down with them. Some days I'm not sure how to keep ahead of her independence.

 

Cuddling up with their 96 year old Grospap. It's interesting to watch these two very different generations interact.

 

Ending the summer with a day at the beach with the Grandpa and Grandma Doerksen and the family. It was very windy and slightly chilly but the kids hardly noticed. We were wearing sweaters and they were in swimwear splashing in the water. Enjoyed a wonderful picnic lunch of fried chicken  and Mom Doerksen's tasty food.

One of the big highlights of the summer was taking in the rodeo and going to Grandma and Grandpa's booth. Jake was at an age where he noticed a lot more and he's talking quite a bit about the bucking bulls and cowboys and both kids are waiting for the rodeo to come around again. That event always seems to be the peak of the summer for us. 

 

Toes in the sand and wind in the hair.

 

All in all, a beautiful season of life.

 

He has made everything beautiful in it's time. Eccl. 3:11

 

 

Christina