Summer days, driftin' away....

Can you believe how sad and lonely that last little link looks on our Summer Days Chain?

As far as I'm concerned, it was the perfect end to summer. Tonight we spent a quiet night at the pool close to our house- a place we had spent many lazy summer afternoons. Up until this point, Kael hadn't been allowed to go down the slide alone because the height requirement is 48" and Kael is about an inch short. The lifeguards must have been feeling generous (or careless, depending on how you look at it) and said Kael could go. I will never forget the look on his face when they said yes: a smile that he carried with him all the way to the bottom of the slide.

The water was chillier than usual, another sure sign that summer is drawing to a close. Kylee swam for awhile then decided she was too cold to swim. Kael, bursting with pride at his newfound slide freedom, offered to take Kylee. "Kylee?" he bent down to her level. "If you want, I can take you down that curly slide over there." He's kind of a big deal now, but never too big or too proud to ask Kylee to join him.

She declined, and sat snuggled up in my lap, all wrapped up in a beach towel. As I ran my fingers through her hair we talked about what a great summer it's been and we watched the lifeguards stacking up chairs for the night. Always curious, Kylee wanted to know why the lifeguards had to do that. I explained to her all the duties of a lifeguard and said,

"Maybe you'll be a lifeguard someday."

"No, I don't think so."

"Oh? What will you be when you grow up?"

She didn't miss a beat, and even added a thoughtful sigh. "A mama."

Here's to hoping that you squeezed every last bit of fun into summer and that you and your kids are ready and excited for a new school year. I have a feeling it's going to be a great one.