9/3/13 ? Really

So over 4 months have gone by since I started this blog, that is pretty much just a place for me to vent and I am haven't even written on it... well that may be a good sign? or maybe not... I have had such a fantastic, amazing, wonderful put a cherry on top of my banana split summer that I am so sad to say that Labor has come and gone and summer is O-v-e-R... I loved the carefree days of letting the kids sleep in and on my off days finding something fun for us to do... My favorite excursions had to be going to Yellowsprings in Dayton Ohio and up to Houston Woods state park. That seems like so long ago- but so much fun went into this summer, I really didn't want it to end... and as if I needed some help saying good-bye, the 90 degree weather of this weekend turned to low 70s today and by tomorrow I may be on my way to get a PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) at Starbucks... I am quickly forgetting the frustrations of the summer (another cruddy experience with a babysitter the kids didn't listen to, so obviously, going forward I'm quick to realize it's my kids inability to get along, listen, etc. not the sitter that sucks).  I am pretending that everyone got along all summer long and that there weren't any fights and that we were the perfect family, but we weren't... there were fights... there were tears... there were consequences... but I'm not going to remember that stuff. I am going to remember swimming at the pool on those few days when the temps were warmer (it was a cold summer), or singing at the top of our lungs on the way to Art Camp or MAD camp, trips out for ice cream or fro-yo, $1 movies, the drive-in and trips to Kings Island. I'm going to remember the friends who made this summer special, the Gardners, Christoffersons, Lorenzs and remember summer the way I want to. It's forgetting those friends that were too busy to hang out and couldn't find time to meet up this summer and realizing how important those close to you are. Mia learned to ride her 2 wheeler, she had her first gymnastics show. Maddy made it to the all star softball game again and was a beast in soccer making the CU Lakota A team. The girls worked hard in their workbooks to try and retain all that knowledge they learned last year, but honestly we only got about half way through them. My kids got to be kids this summer. Mia learned to swim and passed the swim test at lifetime (and then I canceled the membership)... Maddy gained independence with riding her bike on further distances in the neighborhood if she was with a friend. There were sleepovers, including Mia's first one where Josie spent the night, park play dates, trips out for ice cream (did I mention that?), visits to see Great Grandma in Mt. Healthy, Grandpa Teufel in Wilmington, swimming at Ma & Pas and Grandma Weinstein's. We had an amazing 10 days in FL where I'd love to move back to. I can't think of a more relaxing week than the one we spent at Sandalfoot in Sanibel. I wish I was rich and could move there for good. I woke up early just because and saw the sunrise a few amazing mornings. I went to bed late and wasn't tired or stressed when I arose. I walked on the beach and tried to "run" on the beach- that was funny- working out this summer wasn't my strong suit and the 10 lbs I put back on prove it... and now it's time to embrace fall and get this house back in order and be thankful for this season in my life that is moving by way too incredibly fast...