Unstyled Life

This is what my summer has looked like; family size lunch bags always out, ready to be packed and unpacked.  Beach bag, keys and sunglasses ready to go at a moment's notice, dirty picnic blankets and wet towels waiting to be washed.  It's lovely, and happy and good and they're the markings of memories being made.  There are hours spent at the beach and in the pool wrapped up in these items.  But let's be honest for a sec too; for a mom it's a bit tiring and a lot of work.  I think it will always boggle my mind just how long it takes to pack a lunch for a small little family, or to clean out a car after a trip to the beach.  At the end of the day after my heart is filled with love over watching two kids have the time of their lives, there's always this.  It makes me smile and it makes me sigh at the same time.  How is that possible?  

It's the last week before Taylor starts back to school.  She goes to an "off track" school, only receiving 6 weeks off at summer, but 4 weeks off at Christmas break and 3 weeks off at Spring Break.  I wasn't sure we were going to like this schedule, but we're turning out to like it just fine.  It's been a good summer, a great summer really.  We've made it to beach every single week, swam almost every day and spent long days at home just the 3 or 4 of us.  But you know that line in It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas where they sing "And mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again"?  Well, yes, I get that now. 

For the first time I'm participating in Unstyled Life; a series that Jules writes every week.  It's supposed to help you look at the positives in your home surrounding you everyday.  Only me would manage to turn something positive into something negative.  Teacher, I think I missed the point of the lesson.  See guys, I told you I can be negative.  Help!  And of course Jules' post last week talks about slowing summer down, forcing it to stop.  I swear I love my kids :)  Maybe I'll redeem myself with my Thoughts of the Week post tomorrow.