A Summer to Remember

We had a fantastic summer.

Really, one for the record books in so many ways.

We began with a whirlwind, fairytale trip to Disneyland, Legoland and the beaches of southern California...

Mixed in a super fun Fourth of July weekend and Seventh birthday for Kate...

Threw in time at the Joslyn Art Museum, the Children's Museum, the Library, the Zoo, and the pool...

And the fire station...

Got our first big girl hair cut...

Taught the kids how to play Scrabble...

Hosted our friends while their parents took a much deserved trip to Jamaica...

Had a blast berry picking, having water wars, swimming and eating bomb pops with our Oklahoma cousins..

Watched as Sam braved his first solo plane ride to Dallas to cheer the Rangers on as they beat the Yankees,,,

Sent all three kids off on their first collective Dad's and Kids Camping trip while mom took the weekend to eat, drink and be merry by herself.

And sadly, said goodbye to my father-in-law, "Grandpa Mike,"

And now I sit in awe, the uniforms, backpacks, lunch boxes, school supplies, tennis shoes, and hair ribbons have all been bought.  The kids know who their teachers are and which kids will be in their classes.

I'm days away from approaching my break-out year as my youngest, Claire, 3 will start preschool three mornings a week and Sam will enter fourth grade and Kate will enter second.

Where did 12 weeks go?  I think I'm ready for them to go and to get back to a weekly schedule and a morning routine.  But, man, we did have fun...even if there was some screaming and threatening involved.

Here's to the last 5 days of summer...