School for the year has ended and now we are in the first weeks of summer break. The kids are enjoying the time off. This last week was our first official week of summer break. Even though school ended on a Thursday, the seven year old still had soccer practice and her last game. For us the official kick off happen at her end of the season soccer party.
I admit to not liking to attend these award events and only go for the kids but this year was different because we ventured five minutes from our house to one of the homes of another player and had one of the best times. The kids had a blast and the only reason we headed home two hours after the party ended was because we were exhausted.
The family that hosted the party had a small lake in their backyard. The water was so warm and you forgot that you were moments from everything. Even though it stormed and we all had to huddle for about thirty minutes under the carport, it was a great way to start summer. It brought back memories of my own childhood and reminded me up all the times I took it for granted being up at the lake with my own family.
As soon as the weather cleared, the kids instantly descended into this man made lake. They pulled the boats into the water, and ran as fast as they could ff the floating dock into the warm waters. Seeing what fun the kids were having, us adults not caring what we looked like in our swim suits jumped right in. We all instantly forgot where we were and just enjoyed the feeling of being young again.
The lake had a small island in the middle of it, and everyone at some point swam or boated out to it. My husband swam out and climbed it like he was the king of the hill which included a small dance for everyone to see. Even the three year old, who usually whines about everything, enjoyed it and complained only after we got out because he wanted back in.
As we all sat around watching the kids, we adults remembered the fun times we had growing up and heading to the lake. It was like summer camp for us but we all got to go home and sleep in our own beds. Sitting around brought out stories of others fun times at the lakes they would visit as kids. For me personally it reminded me of all the weekends we spent venturing up to northern Wisconsin to my grandparents cottage. I admit to dreading it as a kid, but not as an adult, I wish we could all pile in the car to go up and enjoy the fresh air and nature.
Summer for us is relaxing and being free. We take adventures and enjoy doing the simple things in our lives. Grilling out and jumping in the pool. Traveling long distances to see family and friends. Summer is that time that I wish I could experience again as a kid but I am lucky to have the next best thing by enjoying it with my kids.
Rebecca Benson is a League City stay at home mom who has lived here since 2003 when her husband took a job on the International Space Station program. She followed soon after working on the same program for nearly six years when she started staying home with the kids. Rebecca loves to craft, scrapbook, sew, and embrace motherhood. Rebecca has a blog called Mommiedom ((http://queenmommiedom.blogspot.com/) where she talks about all the things in her life not just those “confessions”.
