Friday Night. Holla to Summertime. 

(211/365)

"Mom, they made these in the Old Test-a-bees!" 

(210/365)

She's giving the dinosaurs a wild ride on the horsey swing. Make-believe play is something she has no trouble engaging in.

(209/365)

Benjamin is wailing because Lydia isn't being nice to him.

Me: "Lydia, you play nice with Benjamin."

Lydia: "Peace, Ben. Peace."

(208/365)

We discovered that these are called "Evans" cherries, and they are really good for us. So, today we picked another big container to juice and freeze. And the tree is still drooping with more...

(207/365)

Cherry pickin'.

(206/365)

You'll find my kids where the food is. Every time.

(205/365)

Dancing and singing out "hallelujah!" over and over again.

(204/365)

I think I found a hobby that I can actually do with them: watercolour painting!

(203/365)

The term "pumpkin jungle" comes to mind. It is hard to believe that all of that hot pumpkin mess came from two little seeds. It has now become an expedition to find cucumbers and squash amidst all of that. Soon to be swallowed up: beets and tomatoes. 

(202/365)

Water tables 4 evah.

(201/365)

Swing, Mommy? 

our summer vacay

Summer is a crazy hectic time of year for my husband. So, when he was able to get a week off, we decided to pack as much into it as possible.

(200/365)

We came home to discover an epic raspberry harvest waiting for us!

(199/365)

Is my big boy REALLY this big already?!

(198/365)

Roasted hotdogs for night snack, courtesy of Grandpa.

(197/365)

Foot races, driftwood gathering, and sandy bottoms at Delta Beach.

(196/365)

These three ridiculous faces are precisely why I opt for lifestyle photography the majority of time. Standing and posing is not our favourite. But, look! They're cute!

(195/365)

Gloomy days while on vacation are perfect for exploring new places.

(194/365)

We three chickens preferred to stick around the shoreline, while Judah and Daddy explored the murky depths beyond.

(193/365)

Cheese strings win for best car snack ever.

(192/365)

Two tiny helpers, making muffins for next week's holiday.

(191/365)

Summer feet.

(190/365)

What happens when Daddy gets home from work.

(189/365)

Oh, the cheek.

(188/365)

So much love for their little pool. Exactly how many days will it take for the water to warm up, I wonder?

(187/365)

Every day, after we're done homeschool for the morning, they get to watch a show. These are their Magic School Bus faces.

(186/365)

These MegaBloks have been going strong for five years. I'd say that's a good investment.

(185/365)

The kids got a new pool today. They found the water a bit on the chilly side!

(184/365)

This boy is getting some serious freckles these days.

Summertime, Part 1

Let's be honest. Summer is not my favourite season.

I'm pretty sure I play the same, sad trombone every year. I know. I'm pathetic. 

I can't tolerate heat. I'm abnormally allergic to mosquito bites. Storms make me hyperventilate and cry like an infant. Joey's busy work schedule is burdensome. I'm pasty white and self-conscious. 

Those are the reasons I like to list to myself when I'm contemplating doing something, gasp, FUN with my children. Because, heaven forbid I actually enjoy myself during the summertime.

But having kids changes a person. It's true. It is easy to forget my list of excuses when I think about the surpassing value of investing time in my children. Forget the heat and my flabby shell. What they will remember is having heaps of fun in the warm summer sun with a mom that wasn't afraid to get hot, sweaty, dirty, and wet with them.

My personal comfort is not worth sacrificing a lifetime's worth of cherished memories. 

So, Summer, I will take what you throw at me. Give me your best shot. Because I'm up to the challenge of embracing life, for the sake of my littles.

And, maybe, just maybe, I will actually enjoy it. 

(And possibly get in front of the camera for once in my life. Don't hold your breath for that one, though.)