Is summer really over?

Please don't say it! I almost don't want to write it, as that will make it true.  Summer is nearly over.  Our summer adventures are coming to a close.  I am so sad.  So so sad.  I love summer.  I live for summer.  School begins in 7 days.  SEVEN days separate me from bliss and the eternal torment of a schedule.  Ugh!

Please breath this collective sad grunt out loud.  I really should home school my boys.  I am not sure that our schedules will be any less busy; however, it would give me the peace of mind that I am in control of the schedule, not the school system.  Seven days begins the endless "Your son is....." from teachers.  I wish they could all see the good.  I am really praying hard that Edward will get a compassionate teacher that understands children need to MOVE!

I digress.

This last weekend, we went on a last hurrah trip to Phoenix.  I really wanted to see Stephen's family, my cousin, and, of course, Craig and Blair.  I wasn't able to check everyone off my Phoenix list, however, we had a blast!

We drove Thursday night to spend the night with Craig.  Blair flew in early Friday morning and once everyone was up and ready, we drove over to the resort.  We stayed at the Marriott Desert Ridge in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It was gorgeous! Friday, we spent the entire afternoon out at the pool.  The resort has a lazy river, a slide, and a waterfall pool! We spent the majority of our time on the lazy river.

It was really relaxing.  Every time we got out we sprayed ourselves with gallons of sunscreen to avoid burns.  Phoenix is HOT! Saturday, we ate the delicious breakfast buffet and went straight to the pool.  We pretty much stayed on the resort property the entire vacation.  We signed the boys up for a kids club Saturday night and they LOVED IT!  While they played, the rest of us went out to watch Mission Impossible.  A great thrilling movie, if you are wondering.

Sunday, we woke up and went straight to the pool.  We swam in the empty lazy river until 10, then we packed up our stuff, ate breakfast then headed out.

I decided to surprise Stephen's mom and sister with a quick Maricopa visit.  It is always nostalgic to drive back through the town I grew up in.  It has changed so much!  The only things that have stayed the same are the Napa Auto Parts store, the rail road track, and the location of the school.  Everything else is completely different.  

We rang the door bell and surprised  the family.  We only stayed for a few hours because we had dinner plans with my cousin; however, the dinner plans fell through.  We drove back up to Peoria and ate with Craig and Blair.  We all passed out around 10 PM at night.  

Monday morning, we woke up early and headed back home.  We stopped at Meteor Crater near Flagstaff and I might say that was the highlight of the trip for the boys.  They loved every second of it.  They talked on and on about the meteor effected the earth when it hit.  I let them choose a rock to buy and we were back on the road.

I am hoping to make the most of these last seven days of freedom.  Summer is never long enough.  I feel so free, so happy, and so refreshed.

District Swim Meet Day

This was our first year competing in the district swim meet.  Usually, we take the last half of July and go on lots of trips.  This year, our big trip is in October.  

Both boys had a fun time competing in the district swim meet.  They did freestyle, back stroke, and breast stroke.  Edward has been working so hard at breast stroke this summer.  He won every single swim meet this summer.  I figured he had a good chance qualifying for swim championships.  He swam his best time on Wednesday at districts.  Three other swimmers swam their best times on Wednesday, too.  In order to qualify for swim championships you must get first or second.  Third place is considered a wild card so you could go if you get third.  Edward got fourth. He was very sad; however, he is excited for swim team next year.

When your dreams come true

I thought July was going to slow down a bit.  I was WRONG! 

The first week of July, Stephen and I drove the boys over to Arizona for a camping trip and then they stayed a week with my parents in Kingman.  

They had SO MUCH FUN!

They played with cousins, rode motorcycles, rode bikes, and just relax.  I feel like this summer they haven't really had time to relax (or maybe I just haven't had time to relax). Either way, they had a great time with my parents.  I am so grateful that my parents were willing to watch them.  I am seriously so lucky.

Stephen and I spent the week with just us.  It was amazing.  Our birthdays are 11 days apart, so we spent the week celebrating turning another year older.  We went out to eat, watched movies, went to the spa, and just relaxed! 

I love Stephen so much! He is my everything.  He is my best friend.  I love that we understand each other.  I have noticed that relationships go through a lot of ebbs and flows.  Sometimes, we are so close and other times I can feel the distance.  Marriage is beautiful and hard and amazing all at the same time.  I know I do not want to spend my life with anyone else.  We "get" each other and that's what I love. 

My sweet little sister had a huge dream come true this last week! After YEARS of trying to adopt, she finally has her children in her home.  It is AMAZING! I am so happy for her.  She will be the very best mom on the planet.  She has wanted to have children for her whole life.  She has worked so hard to get these beautiful children in her home.  I can not share their photos on social media just yet, but I am so excited to have them be a part of our family.  They are such special spirits.  My boys love them.  Nolen begs to play with them all the time.  I am over joyed to be their aunt.  I know that Kendra and Michael will loving parents.

 

Yesterday we went to another swim meet.  We have one more swim meet this summer.  I love the water and both boys love swimming. I wish we could have an eternal summer.  No school, no work, just swimming and sunshine!

Let's finish this summer strong!