Things I learned this Summer

This week marks my last week of freedom, well not really, but the summer is coming to anend and work begins on Monday, I thought I would take a few minutes to reflect and share the things I learned over this Summer:

• Sprinklers can turn any mundane afternoon into instant fun
• Rainy days do not have to equal crying and whining, you just have to think like a kid again (finger paints, puppet shows, baking cookies all equal a minimum of 1.5 hours of fun)
• My kids would eat mac n cheese at every meal if I let them
• My sister will be an amazing Mom one day, she took our girls for a weekend and enjoyed every second of it (they are still telling me about their dress up time at Auntie's)
• Vacations are an amazing respite from the day to day and make returning to your home even that much better
• Always bring a fan and a nightlight when you vacation with kids
• Absence really does make the heart grow fonder, but not in the case of work, I swear I am dreading returning to work
• I actually felt for the first time this summer "I COULD do THIS, I could stay at home and be at peace with that" (of course I get paid bi-weekly all summer so that didn't hurt) but never before had I felt like I could be content being at home
• Meditation works for me - even if it is only 10 minutes
• Julia is really bright, she is an observer and quiet, but that little girl knows ALOT
• You can make any house a home, as long as you nurture those living inside it and the company who visit
• Emma is a true girlie girl, the kid may have more shoes than me now and absolutely has more dresses!
• Rob will support me, no matter what road/path/direction I want to take, he will always listen and ultimately he will support what will make me happy
• Sometimes we have to do the things we fear the most (SWIM) and it teaches our children to be confident too
• Confidence is a really beautiful quality, but only in small doses ;)
• Sometimes we don't reach our goals in the timeline we set, but along the way new bigger accomplishments are met!
• Friendship deepens the soul, no matter how far away from one another you are
• I like my house clean, and get irritable when it's out of order
• I really like to bike and wish Rob would get a road bike too!
• The girls are a perfect age gap, at least for this summer :) They played together so well it was amazing to see them together.
• Emma is just as sociable as I am, she loves knowing what the plan is and who we are going to see ... everyday
• Rob is an excellent baker and is catching up at to me in the cooking department too!
• A glass of wine is good any night of the week :)
• Hammocks are really relaxing
• $3 margaritas on Thursdays (best find of the summer!)
• I actually like the beach
• I get grumpy when I don't work out
• Julia and I are kindred spirits when it comes to sleep and cozying up on the couch with a blankie
• Rob and Emma are kindred spirits ... wake up at 5:45 a.m. and get to work (both of them could work a full day by the time Julia and I woke up!)
• Playdates are not just a "yuppy" word they are great for kids and Mommy's alike!
• The girls have turned into "mommy's girls" so it's probably a good thing I am heading back to work
• I have found the right job in my profession, because I can work hard all year and have an end in sight ... next Summer

So here is to saying Good Bye to Summer, Hello to the new school year, and Can't wait for next Summer!