During the winter and spring, I thought of summer only in terms of oppressive heat. How could I have forgotten how much I LOVE summer? Swimming and all things watery, dinners that center around strawberries and corn on the cob, and a general lassiez-faire attitude all around. Sometimes we “have” to go places, like the splash pad or the library. Sometimes we stay home all day, just because we can.
![2014-06-17 10.45.12 2014-06-17 10.45.12](//lh4.ggpht.com/-4LPa6v5Z5W0/U6CZCEGnbuI/AAAAAAAAIKU/pQw5JmLOPpY/2014-06-17%25252010.45.12_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2014-06-17 10.45.16 2014-06-17 10.45.16](//lh3.ggpht.com/-I5Q8z-g4_CE/U6CZEE1SXzI/AAAAAAAAIKk/4YpgTKluPAw/2014-06-17%25252010.45.16_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2014-06-17 10.36.54 2014-06-17 10.36.54](//lh6.ggpht.com/-EBmZ2Kak86Y/U6CZFzfyYBI/AAAAAAAAIK0/63Hb97hH8gQ/2014-06-17%25252010.36.54_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2014-06-17 10.37.13 2014-06-17 10.37.13](//lh5.ggpht.com/-Z-iJ3ugSk3k/U6CZH9tZJrI/AAAAAAAAILE/FbFP1pYbOtE/2014-06-17%25252010.37.13_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2014-06-17 10.37.31 2014-06-17 10.37.31](//lh4.ggpht.com/-L4F3R6Wj0jU/U6CZJ43UlmI/AAAAAAAAILQ/qOQHNCojWS0/2014-06-17%25252010.37.31_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2014-06-17 10.54.56 2014-06-17 10.54.56](//lh4.ggpht.com/-3lU1otHDJ7U/U6CZLH0LXyI/AAAAAAAAILg/-oeNlBoMJXI/2014-06-17%25252010.54.56_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2014-06-17 11.02.04 2014-06-17 11.02.04](//lh5.ggpht.com/-SuluR6KY-Bo/U6CZM80NOiI/AAAAAAAAILw/y2JTP3xnGaU/2014-06-17%25252011.02.04_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Before this all seems too perfect, let me note that Tate got three ant bites, Rush cried about a string cheese, and ultimately they both abandoned the big water-spraying ball that hooks up to the hose to disassemble the raised bed. (Note to Trent: We no longer have a raised bed for our garden, but we do have a pile of rotting wood and rusty nails.) I thought I was going to chill and read while everyone played (that has never happened) but I really only read about three pages over the course of two hours.
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It was a perfect morning.
![2014-06-17 12.25.29 2014-06-17 12.25.29](//lh3.ggpht.com/-822r7IfqlZo/U6CZQ_6_j1I/AAAAAAAAIMU/PZOA3zzhk0A/2014-06-17%25252012.25.29_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2014-06-17 12.27.39 2014-06-17 12.27.39](//lh3.ggpht.com/-XAFi0VUvnXo/U6CZSn4g1JI/AAAAAAAAIMg/lRc0MP4uFms/2014-06-17%25252012.27.39_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
While it would be really nice to get some professional pictures taken of the kids and I would love to see them in all their finery, I might always love these pictures of them the best. This was the best part of their day, the boys climbing into the empty pool to snuggle and laugh with Holly.
![2014-06-17 12.44.18 2014-06-17 12.44.18](//lh5.ggpht.com/-0vnPYBo-3L4/U6CZT3z5UxI/AAAAAAAAIM0/UJ_OHijqNOM/2014-06-17%25252012.44.18_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2014-06-17 12.43.57 2014-06-17 12.43.57](//lh6.ggpht.com/-Ld_dHtMQlzU/U6CZYTV8YiI/AAAAAAAAINQ/8HMRMqq1t7o/2014-06-17%25252012.43.57_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Sometimes a when I meet someone and they find out I’m a stay-at-home mom, they say, “Oh, that’s a real job.” I know they’re trying to be nice and recognize that it is hard work to raise children, but sometimes I want to say, “No shit. That’s why I quit my old job to do it and why I would have to pay someone else to do it if I was still doing standard cost accounting.” (What in the world in standard cost accounting? Who can even remember?) But on the other hand, today I ate a popsicle with my lunch, got more hugs and kisses than I can count, and I’m not sure where my shoes are right now.
But on the other hand…THERE IS NO OTHER HAND!