Summer Finale at the Beach

Most of our summer was spent in pool water..which, of course, is wonderful and refreshing.

But nothing. Nothing compares to the ocean. On Tuesday we headed to the beach for our summer finale trip.

We arrived late in the afternoon. Just in time for red flag waves! It was seriously time to stay close to the shore. Curiosity and temptation helped them sneak a little further out but deep and high blue waves stopped them dead in their tracks.

So we spent a little time doing this.......

And this.....

After about an hour the waves calmed just enough for some (sort of) safe play time.

Carter loves to skadoosh the waves (can't believe I'm sending him to school tomorrow!)

Sarah would go anywhere as long as she was holding daddy's hand.

Or if he was holding her...

No teeth and big teeth.

My new second grader...

..........and my fourth grader!?

I'm still cleaning up sand today. She loves, loves, loves to play in the sand (or dirt).

It was even fun when the sun started to set. The reflections were so amazing.

Skipping stones....

Strolling on the cool beach.

One last ray of sun and it was time to go when the moon started to shine!

Now school starts tomorrow. I'll need a good week or two to stop crying about it. I miss my kids. I miss the freedom to play all day. But I feel good that all 3 of my kids are so excited to school to start!

The Problem with August

I don't like August. It truly threatens the refuge I find in summer at the same time I'm supposed to appreciate and relish the remaining days of fun and sun. With everything I think about in August comes irony and conflict.

#1 The leaves. I don't like August leaves. Gone are the plump, moist, millions-of-colors-of-green leaves of early June. The once vibrant green color is now a silvery, dull, we're-all-gonna-die green--and there are hints of red, orange, and brown EVERYWHERE! It starts with these two oak leaves on the tree right by my bedroom window. They taunt me. "Ha ha! Tomorrow there will be THREE colored leaves and then FOUR and then the whole tree!!" I love summer. I don't want it to go!!

The irony: Fall is my favorite season. Love the colors. Love the clothes. Love the air and I like football. And New England autumn scenes can't be beat. But oh, summer. Don't go.

Harry Potter in the big, green back yard

Looking for newts.

Belly-flop contests

#2 August means my kids go back to school. I just don't like it. We have so much fun when we're all home together and there is just a different feeling in our home when we have our own schedule. No irony here. I dislike everything about getting up early....um...I mean...school starting.

Chillin after swim lessons

Corn! The best treat of all!

Carter's hair after a speedy tube ride behind the boat at Lake Sunapee

#3 Emails from school asking me about summer academics. "How is the reading coming?" "How is the math packet doing?" I don't get it. How are we supposed to keep books from sinking to the bottom of the pool or getting smashed by roller blades? Or catching fire with hot dogs and marshmallows? Dear School, Don't worry about the reading books and math packets. They will be returned to the school/library in mint condition. Summer starts in, what? June? And it ends in August? My kids will remain plenty smart for two months, thanks.

The irony: I do feel (slightly) guilty about not doing lots of academic stuff with my kids. But scenes like this remind me there isn't a summer moment that needs to be spent inside.

Hittin' the trail

Crazy boys (some more than others!)

Plenty of refreshment

#4 We moved to New Hampshire in August 1999. Now, 10 years later, this is our last New England August. We're off to a wonderful and exciting new adventure in Boise, Idaho starting in July 2010!! Jason just signed a contract this week and we are SO, SO, SO HAPPY for our new adventure.

The irony, of course. We love New England and our family here. And I need to relish every moment of August (even if i don't like it)....and September...and October...and so on.

She can't get enough of the water--especially when dad comes to swim

"Foreign Matter" in the pool = swim lessons at the pond

So, Happy August! I'll try to enjoy it with a few more days like this.....