Summer

I can't believe that summer is coming to an end.  I feel like it snuck up and blindsided me.  I am trying hard not to feel guilty these days about our summer and the way we spent our time.  There is no place on earth that I would rather be than making memories with my three punks, but this summer was not a normal one.  I spent most of my time studying for a class that I was taking, and when I wasn't studying I was mostly wandering around feeling lost.  Summer has been an especially hard time for all of us without my dad here.  I had so many plans mapped out at the beginning of the year for how we would spend our time with grandpa and then suddenly he was gone.  I don't know how to explain it other than I just feel lost.  Our normal summers usually consist of camping, and trips to the cabin, but this year that didn't happen.  Instead my three hooligans spent lots and lots of time in our own house and in the backyard.  They spent several days at the pool and lots of nights right in the backyard on the trampoline.  I think they enjoyed themselves, and from the looks on their faces in these images from their last sleep out, I think they actually had fun.  I'm trying to remember that they are resilient and that one out of the ordinary summer won't leave them scarred for life.  It eases my guilt trip a little bit.  Hopefully we will have a lot more laughter and fun in the summer of 2014.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for it anyway.