Summer is just around the corner

I am so looking forward to summer. With this crazy weather getting hot and then cold, I am ready for it to just be WARM already and stay that way. I am also ready for all the things that summer brings and for the things we get to take a break from. I have always been a summer girl. But even though I love summer, the reasons why have changed as my kids have gotten older. Summer to me now means taking a break from things like making sack lunches, overseeing math homework, packing snacks, making sure clothes match for school, rushing to the bus stop and crazy, rushed breakfasts. But the list of things that summer does mean to me has just gotten better over the last few years. For one, getting to lounge through breakfast is, in itself, a great perk of summer. I cannot wait to drink my coffee in the sun on the deck while my kids jump on the trampoline and just have fun. I would have to say some other highlights of summer in our family include exploring parks, catching frogs and toads--I was named "the frogmaster" last summer by my kids for my quick swoop of the net--water balloons, eating a popsicle or two, ice cream cones at 10 a.m. just because, nature walks, bike rides, strawberry picking, watching squirt gun fights between my husband and the kids, visiting the zoo, spending a day in Chicago (see photo from last summer), a week at family camp in July, swimming, slip-n-slide, and letting my kids wear their superhero costumes all day if they want. Summer is just around the corner and I cannot wait!