Midsummer

Today marks the longest day of the year--summer solstice.  

Sunlight, warmth and celebration of summer highlight this day in my mind each year.  

Here's to enjoying all the long warm days of summer!

waiting for that sound

Earlier this spring our evenings were interrupted by the soft and merry little twinkle that always seems charms hearts and taste-buds of all ages.  The ice-cream-man would drive his yellow truck around our neighborhood and if we were fast enough, we could catch him coming up the block.  Because of the frantic scenario that preceded his arrival on our block, we decided to keep a little jar of change for the ice-cream-man.  My girl earns money for the jar when we hear polite words, kind actions and when she helps around the house.

via

My girl has filled her jar with coins enough for many ice cream treats.  Since summer has arrived, our ice-cream-man seems to have moved to other more profitable areas of town--we haven't heard him for many weeks .  My girl has not forgotten that magical sound and often sits on the porch just waiting for that yellow truck to turn around the bend and up our block.  At least we will be ready for his arrival, if he ever comes back our way.

father's day

BITE

Recently, our boys were both bit by a rattlesnake.  This snake has not been found but our boys survived.  Our first weeks of summer were turned upside down by the venomous bite.  Critter catchers, pest control experts, vets, medications and caring for our boys have consumed our every breath.  Our noble boys took a bite for the family and warned us of the dangers that can lurk outside.  It is amazing how dogs never stop serving and protecting their masters.  They are our heros and we are so incredibly grateful for them.

by the water

There is just something about the water that calms us all and especially sets little souls free.  

No toys accompanied a last minute trip to the water recently.  As we walked the shoreline, I begun to worry that my girls wouldn't really let loose and dig with their hands or splash with their feet.  I thought our unplanned trip would end prematurely because I hadn't taken the time to bring EVERYTHING we could possibly need from home.  We literally threw towels and water bottles into a bag and headed out to the much anticipated water.   

To my utter delight their hands got dirty,

 their shoes came off {and became floating experiments},

 they splashed,

 they got in the water

 and they did not want to leave.

I am encouraged that we might have found a new pleasing pastime for everyone this summer.    

running for the door...

The school doors are shut, the temperatures are rising, lawn mowers are humming, the sprinklers are spraying and that means we are running for the door.  Everything bright, alive and new awaits us outside.  Summer is here and we can't wait to experience it outdoors!  Happy Summer everyone!

GONE.

They are gone.  We finally took the leap, which feels more like a dive into the deep dark trenches of parenthood.

She is making motor boat sounds with her little Binky-less mouth now in the crib.  This after an hour of crying and asking where the "bubees" are.  Now and then desperate cries for "Mama" or "Dada" fill the speakers of the monitor that lies on my dresser.  When the red lights fill to their maximum my heart breaks for my girl who doesn't really understand.

I always thought getting rid of the Binky would be easy.  I had listened to stories about friends who had done it and it didn't really seem that bad.  After all, they can't walk around with Binkies forever.

I called my folks for consolation and guidance like I always do.  It didn't help when their advice was "Oh, just give them to her.  How can you stand to hear her cry?  Poor girl."  Those were my feelings exactly!

It is going to be a long night.

She did so well this evening when we told her to retrieve them from her room so we could pitch them into the garbage.  She happily made her way down the stairs with three Binkies in her little hands.  She seemed to understand when we told her that she was a big girl now and big girls don't use Binkies.

She didn't hesitate when we told her to throw them away.  She didn't flinch when she saw her beloved binkies  fall into the heap of trash in the bottom of the can.  But...who could resist being so brave with the attention of her big sister watching.

Bye, bye binkies and thank you for your many months of service to our little babe.

On our last trip to her room this evening, she looked up at us with tears in her eyes and streaming down her red puffy face and said, "Ahh Don."  She then quietly laid down.

I never dreamed this would be so hard.  All these decisions that lay on our hearts as parents consume so much.

I will remember this night forever.