The Young and the Restless

Summer 

The velcro straps were hot glued onto tennis shoes, there was a paper clip in lieu of a lunchbox zipper pull, the shorts were creeping up above their knees, the backpack straps were held together by threads, the pencils were all down to nubs. And the school supplies weren't the only ones dragging themselves across the finish line. We finally made it! And we fully intend to embrace every moment this summer has to offer. Here are just a few...

Friday night pizza parties

Living in the pool

Maddox and his endless magic tricks

Otterpops and popsicle stained tongues

Moments of redemption when having 4 kids at home might drive me to the breaking point. Ryder wrote me the sweetest note after I had a meltdown. I love the words he uses to describe his five year old feelings "Love mom I love you mom because you just made my heart feel love on you". I could read it a million times over and it would squeeze my heart just so every single time.

My poor deprived (first world problems) kids, who are convinced they are the last ones alive to get fidget spinners. I ordered some way back in April for their Easter baskets and they never came, I ordered another set April 18 and we're STILL waiting for them to come. Meanwhile they have been busy making their own by hot glueing legos and pennies together, or bottle caps and metal washers and whatever else they can find. And secretly I'm glad those dang fidget spinners never came because this is the kind of stuff that builds character and ingenuity and keeps a constant string of hot glue all over my counters.

Sometimes I feel like a good mom. Building a fort on my bed and reading bed time stories with lanterns is one of those times.

Despite the heat the boys can be found outside getting their energy out every evening and I love it. There are few things in life as satisfying as sticking a dirty boy in the bathtub at the end of the day then snuggling up to read bedtime stories as their wet hair leaves a damp spot on my shoulder. The best things in life are free. So far this summer is shaping up to be a pretty good one, and it's only the beginning.