summer is a-comin'

Did we make it? Did we really make it?...

We're down to the last two weeks of school here, and since my kids started their year-round school tracks back in Boise the first week of August, they are MORE than ready for a break already!

*No more rising with the sun to get Z to early morning seminary.

*No more shuttling 6 kids to and from 5 different schools.

*No more reading just to check off the reading log.

*No more signing homework folders and binder reminders and daily assignement monitoring on hard-to-navigate school sites.

*No more band concerts, talent shows, or school musicals with accompanying permission slips, rehearsals and dress codes.

*No more trying to dig change out of the "not an ashtray" for school DQ day or Jamba Juice day or Smencil sale day or Takis day (Takis are big trade items at the elementary school, don't ya know?)

But summer also means...my boy squad being gone.

In just a few more weeks,  our new custody arrangement will go into effect and the boys will go to spend the summer in Idaho with Brad. And while I think it has been worth it to have them without bi-monthly interruption for the last almost 6 months...I also haven't had to endure a summer without them yet.

We've been re-watching the Harry Potter movies lately and I'm trying to stay positive about their going by pretending I'm brave Mrs. Weasley sending her kids off to Hogwarts. They'll be taken care of. They'll eat a lot of candy. They'll have wonderful adventures. They'll get to see people they've missed. Then they'll come home and we'll start the year over again. I'll clean their ears and comb their hair, have them rid the garden of gnomes and knit them sweaters :)

I will miss having summer adventures with the whole family (I hear my new hometown has the most epic Fourth of July's), but in a location where it feels, compared to Idaho, perpetually like summer--we've been making plenty of warm weather memories over the last few months.

This stretch will also give us some time to do a little solo hanging out with just Mr. Perfect's girls, who have so graciously and unselfishly given up the daddy they once had to themselves to a bunch of new boys, whom they immediately befriended (or besiblinged). But, for as good of sports as they are, I know they will appreciate a few play dates that don't include foam weapons.

It's all part of our new dynamic as a blended family, and once we all learned "different" doesn't mean "worse," and that there are trials and problems no matter what--we've been able to just settle in and love and appreciate one another for who and what we are. When everyone isn't fighting, that is. (Hey! Even the VonTrapps and the Brady's picked on each other!)

As for me, I've already set some lofty goals for myself to achieve over the summer. I made my way up the waiting list and got into Tin House after all (rejoice!!!) so I'll be gone for a little over a week in July focusing on my writing and finishing up this novella. I hope to get up on a surfboard at least once. Mr. Perfect's band has some concerts coming up, which are always a blast. Finishing up the last decorating details on our home.

And maybe we'll even squeeze in a mini staycation. Oh, and sleep. Lots-o-sleep. We'll need a reserve for the fall...

But all the time looking forward to the day my boy squad gets back and I once again get to wake up to scenes like this:

And you know what? Family is worth it. Worth the two hours of carpooling. Worth the four different dinner variations. Worth the slower pace on bike rides and walks. Worth every smudge and stain and crumb pile. And worth the short separation...

And the anticipation of a happy reunion.