We have actually checked a great deal of things off of our Summer Bucket List in just one short month. We've checked off: go to zoo, pick strawberries, go to park, baseball, spend time outside, science experiments, spend time in the pool, spend time at the library, and go get ice cream. We've also checked off Camp Invention and one round of art camp! We've gone to Rockin' The Court, Strawberry Festival, an orchestra concert, and Rally in the Alley. We've had friends over and we've just hung out at home and played. All that on top of karate 3 days a week and baseball. Plus, I've managed to clean out my basement and garage! I wouldn't be able to do it all if my kids didn't get along. The fact that they can play together and love being with each other is the key. As an added bonus, the earliest my kids have woken up is 8:00, but 9:00 is the average! Whoo hoo to sleeping in!
All that we do makes it sound like, to some people, that we always need to be on the go, but that is far from the truth. I know people that schedule things every day because their children can't just be. It's true that Little Miss Sunshine has a more difficult time entertaining herself than Monster, but both my kids love our down time. Days where we have nothing planned, we call our "Golden Days". We live for those days. Our "Golden Days" are actually the days where we do the most fun activities. The zoo trip and strawberry picking happened on "Golden Days". I simply can't understand the need for some people to never be home. Are their kids that bored? Are they that bored? Heck, if there are parents our there who are so bored that they force their families into going out and doing activities just to get out of the house, I'd like to know their secret. I don't have the luxury of getting bored. This topic deserves it's own separate post though, which I'm sure I'll get to in another 2 months or so since I have so much extra time on my hands....
Back on topic though. The bond my children have is something very special. Other people see it and comment on it. I always knew that I was lucky to have children to get along so well, but I never realized how much others saw it as well. That bond is what makes our summers so amazing.
Today, we start July. I have to say, it's bittersweet. I love that we have another month left together, but it also makes me very sad because school is just around the corner. Another summer is close to passing, which means I'm another summer closer to having it be the last summer with my kids. No matter how frustrated I get, I savor each moment because in eight short years, Monster heads off to college. The fighting and disagreements are all part of growing up. This time we have is precious.