Summer Sunshine

 I was a wimpy middle-aged amusement park rider and the carousel was just about my speed. So I coerced the kids into riding with me. Here are the girls.

Here's Jason. They didn't really complain. This carousel, by the way, was built in 1909 and all the horses and other animals were made of wood. It's a classic!

We had a gorgeous spring day, not too hot or humid, and the girls like to ride tamer rides and the boys (Jason brought a friend, who did not go on the carousel with us) liked more of a thrill. So they all got to do the things they liked with a friend. I hung out with some other host-parents and met up with the kids for lunch and had them check in on occasion just to make sure everyone was OK. I was still not feeling up to snuff, but it really wasn't a bad day. The biggest drain was the long drive out and back and the noise of the park. Six Flags Amusement Park had a water park section and the water there was very refreshing, and I even went on a couple of rides, in addition to the carousel.

The next day was Father's Day, and I just didn't have much energy to pamper my poor husband, so he got a nice card. I DID give him a whole quiet day at home with no kids the day before. That counts, doesn't it?

Dan and I went for a nice walk on Father's Day, and found some friendly neighbourhood chickens!

We don't know where they came from. As far as we know there are no neighbours keeping chickens. They were very cute, and didn't seem to be afraid of us.

Now that the kids are out of school for the summer, I have a long list of projects that I want to accomplish. (I have a long list every summer and I rarely get through much of it but I remain optimistic.) Last summer I got particularly little accomplished. It was my first summer working part time, included a short visit to family in Oregon, kids flying in and out of the state and country, the arrival of Aya (our exchange student) and hosting a friend's son for a week while his family was out of town. I'll just have to call those accomplishments "less concrete" and move on.

I have done very little knitting or sewing lately, which was my initial reason for starting this blog. Once again, with the advent of summer vacation, I remain optimistic. I have already gotten some of the "must-do's" out of the way, like servicing 2 of the cars, getting the allergy shots out of the way for the month, making doctor's appointments for the kids (annual physicals) and cleaning up and putting away lunchboxes and school papers. I'll keep making daily lists and try to get through them.


This summer we have a trip to Oregon planned as well as a trip to California, both to see family. Aya will be leaving next week (that's going to be hard for all of us) and both Jason and Jessica will be starting part-time summer jobs. Starting in July, Jessica will be able to legally drive Jason places, which will free me up from some of the driving.  With the kids busy, I have hopes of actually getting to some of my projects in between the trips. I just need to get myself, and the kids, organized. Wish me luck.

Shelley in CT