Long Live Summer

I love the fall, but each year as summer comes to a close, my heart aches a little.  This summer closing will be especially painful for me as Mei Li will be going to kindergarten every day.  I'm not ready for that!  Not yet!

I am, however, ready to have a better routine and not wonder what we are going to do with our time.  Kindergarten and preschool will give us that.  So that's good.  In the meantime, we're going to live up the last of summer.

   Last Wednesday, we went to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum.  It's such a neat and easy activity for the kids.  Even during tourist season, it's not too crowded.

 On Saturday, we went to the local farmers' market and bought some produce and orange muffins.

Then it was off to the Redskins Fan Appreciation Day.  Stephen was in love with the motorcycles near the entrance.

Here are Mei Li and Stephen at football practice.

 

Steve and Stephen wore BYU gear in honor of the second string, injured quarterback, John Beck.  We watched him throw the football around a bit before leaving.

Yesterday, we went to Cafe Rio to meet my old friend, Angie.  Cafe Rio is just as delicious as I remember it being in Utah, BUT I don't believe they have the cilantro-lime vinaigrette!  She didn't even ask me which dressing I wanted, she just handed me some tomatillo ranch, which I love too, but certainly someone somewhere cares deeply.

This morning, we went bowling with friends.  I thought it was cute how when Stephen's ball didn't hit any pins, he turned to me and said, "that's okay, Mom," just to assure me that he wasn't disappointed.  I've been trying to teach my kids to lose gracefully.  Nobody likes a sore loser, or winner for that matter.

Tonight, we had the missionaries over for dinner, and that is why the picture at the top of this post features Stephen riding his bike, wearing Mei Li's backpack and his helmet.  He wanted to be just like the missionaries.  A mother never discourages that kind of imitation.

Summer, don't go yet.  Yes, you're hot and sticky and unbearable at times, but you're also very easy-going and flexible too.  We have just a few more things we need to do.