Summertime

Posted on August 27, 2009

In Germany Summer doesn’t last all that long. So while at times it is miserable making it through the day with no a/c, I have to remind myself that in a matter of weeks it will be gray and dreary out, the rain will return and I’ll long for the sunshine! I remember seasons in life based on memories, music & scents. Yes really. Like I remember the Summer of my senior year I loved the cucumber melon lotion from Bath and Body Works, so that smell will take me back to the Summer of 2000 where I spent my days burning up in my light blue 1985 Toyota Tercel hatchback, singing Faith Hills, Breathe to the top of my lungs from my crackling radio. So I was trying to figure out what memories, music and scents will take me back to this Summer and I can sum it up with this:

Hot. Peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Bubbles. Park trips. Twirling (we do LOTS of twirling, which I love because of that little line in You’ve Got Mail where Meg Ryan’s character talks about a picture of her and her mother and explains that they were just twirling. Simple great little pass time). Brain Quest cards and workbook (they are awesome. Kate adores them and is learning so much). Victoria’s Secret “Ohh La la” lotion, (smells soooo good.) Flip Flops. Library trips. Giggles. Missing Daddy. Strawberries. Fans. Arrested Development (yes, I just now discovered it and it’s AWESOME!). Baby proofing. Calvin Harris music (so upbeat, so FUN!!!). Crayons and Markers. Skype dates with Daddy. Photos (well let’s face it, that’s what I do no matter what season). Snuggle sessions in the morning. The scent of sunscreen. Potty Training. Claire’s rough knees (they are getting callused from all her crawling). Candy Land. Pasta Salad. Late nights online for me (well I do that all the time really). Friends. Ice Cream.

And don’t forget…swinging.

I miss swinging like this. Up high in the air where you feel weightless, where you are young and under 35 lbs and have no cares in the world other than hoping your mom is going to give you another big push as soon as you swing backwards again. Where the most beautiful blue sky beacons you go go higher and higher and higher until you feel like you might be able to reach the clouds with your fingertips. When I was little I had my own swingset in my backyard and I spent endless time out there swinging. I spent the time talking and singing to myself, it was great. I am so looking forward to when we move and have a backyard with plenty of space to give our girls their own swing set where they can spend hours in the fresh air chatting it up with the squirrels, each other, Jesus, just whoever they want. It’s going to be incredible.

So here is to a wonderful Summer that isn’t over just yet. To swinging. Memories. Music. Scents. Vitamin D & pictures to document it all!