Summer

So just the other day I was telling Zed how bizarre it is to realize that I am missing an entire summer. I already missed out on planting new flowers in my yard and tomatoes in my garden. I always think it's kind of funny how much I look forward to planting tomatoes in my garden, because I don't like tomatoes. I do okay with tomato based sauces, and love making them from tomatoes I've grown. It comes back to my dad. He doesn't like tomatoes either, but he grew them in his garden every year because he liked watching them grow. I'm just following his example. I love spending time in my garden all summer, watching everything grow, harvesting the fruits of all that labor, sharing tomatoes with anyone who wants some. That's summer.

This year I've hardly been outside at all. My Dr added vitamin D supplements to my list of daily pills because of it. I'm missing out on taking my boys swimming, which I really really love. I'm missing out on sitting on my porch during the summer rainstorms and watching the boys play in the rain.

So while I'm laying here, thinking of what I'm missing out on, my sister, without hearing my sob story, planned a swim party. My sister planned a get together for my boys to play with their cousins before heading back home to Grandma Bobbie's for a while.

This was the perfect day. I couldn't sit outside with everyone nearly as much as I would've liked, but I was having a really good day and got to be outside with them so much more than I expected to be able to. My sister came with her 5 kids, my sister in-law brought her 4 kids and there was my 2 boys. My mother had exactly half of her grandchildren running around together.

Yes, my mother has 22 grandchildren right now. And of course 2 more on the way. And she is a fun, amazing Grandma for all of her grandchildren. She has spent hours playing pirates with Otis, Lego's with Mr J, and games with both. She is actively involved with her grandchildren and I love it!!

It was so nice the other day to sit outside, to be a part of what my kids were doing, and visit with my family.

Otis was obsessed with his cousins' goggles. Mr J had a total blast with his cousins. We ate pizza, watermelon, chips (or "pips" according to Otis), popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, and had a blast!

Thanks Melissa and Nicole for giving me 1 day of summer. It was the very best day!

The whole crew! Jared is hiding out by the chairs, but he is there. 

It was a great summer day.