My Work Here is Done.....not really

Last day of freedom today.  Hot August air and a light breeze swept across us as we used every single minute of this precious day to ride bikes, play baseball, hang with the dog, drink lemonade slushes, and just be free.

I've been looking back at this whole summer filled with regret and a longing for a do-over since it hasn't been what I wanted it to be.  Every single appointment scheduled (not even kidding, every single one) was rescheduled at least once, and some of them twice.  It was so hard to keep up, not to mention we usually get all that running around done in June so that July is free for just taking off when my farming hubby has a moment.  But this summer we were still filling cavities last week.

So I decided that part of today was going to be to sit down and get the summer pictures off the camera and on to the computer.  It was the least I could do and then it would be done.  The first pictures I ran into were from Pancake Days, an annual event in a small town just 10 minutes from us.  "Tradition" for us is to attend the parade the first night, do the pedal pull and then ride rides.  This year, we went the second day.  I was bummed about this, but the kids had a great time and looking back at the photos proved they didn't care what they had missed, they had fun with the time they got.

ALL of my first cousins/half siblings (not as hill billy as you think, our dad's are identical twins so we share DNA) stayed at our house for a couple days for the fam damily rebellion.  It was so much fun having them all here. 

Then I got to pictures of our super quick trip to Rapid City.  We had originally planned on going out the day after school got out and spend 4+ days.  You're catching on because you're already thinking, "That didn't go as planned."  Nope, it didn't.  We didn't go until 2 months after we had planned and we were only there for one full day.  But we went to Crazy Horse and Story Book Island and even though Deegan was sure he was going to HATE Crazy Horse, he was loving it within the first 5 minutes. 

We got to go camping for a week.  It was kind of a last minute, Troy doesn't have much going on the farm right now, kind of deal, but we got to go camping.  We ran home for several appointment 3 out of the 6 days, but hey, we camped.  We roasted marshmallows, played games in the camper when it rained on us, and even managed a dip in the river.  It was great to be "unplugged" for hours on end and not care if I checked in with anyone.

I got to go to Colorado with my hubby.  Granted it was to clean out his aunt's house, but I got to spend some quality time with him in the car on the way home, hang out with my in-laws on the way there, and I learned a lot about his aunt and found some cool things at her place. 

I also got to hang out with my fellow little people teachers this year and do some presenting for the state department of ed.  Great professional experience, me time, and best of all I got to hang out with some awesome hosts who I love dearly.

So this summer wasn't what I had planned, wasn't even what I thought I wanted at the beginning of it, but I did a lot, have a lot to be thankful for, and looking back realize that we made memories as a family and that's really all that matters.

Oh yay, my work here is done, you're probably wondering.  Today I really realized just how much my kids have grown this summer.  Miri Jo decided she was going to vacuum her room today and even though it took her 15 times longer than it should take, she did all of it, by herself.  And my work here is done.  I no long need to clean here!  Just kidding....Deegan and Mazee just pulled crackers out for snack and are leaving crumbs on my floor!