The Rest of the Story

June was a big month around here. I told ya'll about the Tooth Fairy visit, Vacation Bible School, and beachin' it for Father's Day....but I left out a lot of in-between. And I admit that it's intentional. I have a new summer schedule -in large part inspired by my friend Heidi, who has encouraged all around her to "not sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the temporary", especially this summer. I quote from Livin' & Lovin':

More book reading; less blog reading. More heartfelt praying; less routine praying. More playing; less to-do list checking. More snuggling; less saying, "As soon as I..."More movie watching; less web surfing. More paying attention to my husband; less passing him in the hall. More reading of my Bible; less leaving it on the side table. More resting; less scurrying on to the next chore. More exercising; less putting off. More time spent outside; less time spent inside. More soul searching; less being satisfied at the surface level. More showing of patience; less flaring of my temper. More swimming; less watching from the side. MORE PERMANENT; LESS TEMPORARY.

Heidi, I hope you don't mind my quoting you but you just put it so eloquently!

And I have diligently tried to check my focus. Some days it's not easy. It's not easy b/c I have a 4 and 5 year old that fight over the color of grass and those days I just want to tune them OUT. But I'm working on it nonetheless.

Overall though we are settling into summer rather nicely and I'm glad that my new summer schedule has a lot of this: sleeping in followed by coffee with my little Starbuckaroos & an early game of Candyland, perfecting my "canonball" into the pool, curling up with the kids for naptime, playdates with friends, trying a new recipe, late nights with girlfriends & coffee, staying up late with my kids watching movies, weeding my beds, cutting fresh posies, working on my photography skills, baking cookies, saying "Yes!" when the kids ask me to do __________!

& here's what I'm consciously trying to do less: putting off PLAY, being short tempered, sitting in front of the computer, & just being too busy with things that are TEMPORARY.

Here's a few shots of some of that in-between stuff this last month and it sure has been fun.

The Cure for the Common Climate: Jump In

Tristan wearing his new work gloves so he can "do what Daddy do-s". When he first got them, he wore them for 24 hours straight (minus his shower).

Aynsley with her pal Carson at the end of Cheer Camp week - she loved it!

Me and My Man out on the town celebrating seven years of wedded bliss.

(Really, it has been bliss. I Heart Roddy!)

Here we're at our sentimental favorite - Sakura for sushi.

One day, the kids and I made custom coozies for the boat for each one of us:

These next few are from a sunset cruise we took on Istokpoga

to enjoy the chinquapin blooms....

They smell SOOO good.

And Sweet Summertime Play - thank you Nicole for having us all!

Here's all the kiddos:

Little Girls...

And big girls too....

Sweet Summertime indeed. We're trying to beat the heat and enjoy every minute.