From Zero to Sixty in One Month Flat

Oh, man.  

Goodbye lazy summer days filled with sand and sun.

Goodbye leisurely lemonade stands with good buddies.

Goodbye fun days at the pool teaching my girls the finer things in life, like George Washington hair.

Goodbye splashing in the creek.

Goodbye watermelon.

Goodbye hours on the trampoline.

Goodbye midday naps.

Goodbye zoo trips with cousins.

Goodbye summer nights with dessert on the deck with friends.

Goodbye late nights on Pearl Street.

Goodbye no schedule and all day to play.

I feel like we went from doing nothing to doing it all.  School must be back in session!  

But school isn't all!  Let's add into the mix a little MOPS, Bible Study, book fairs, back-to-school night, planning meetings, carpool, Brownies and every other extracurricular activity possible.  (Not to mention Gary's hard-to-keep-up-with schedule!)

We were that family that had never signed our kids up for anything "extra."  But for some reason, this was the year for that to end.  And for us, it's go big, or go home.

Enter football:

Enter tennis:

Enter swimming lessons:

Enter rock climbing class:

Enter ballet and tap:

Tired yet?  Me too!

Aside from summer swimming lessons and one fall season of soccer for Emma years ago (I didn't make a good soccer mom), this is the first time we've really delved into lessons and sports with our kids.  I don't regret not starting all of this earlier; I knew once we got into it, there'd be no turning back.  Despite juggling schedules and running kids around to their events, it's actually been a blast.  I love, love, LOVE watching my kids do stuff.  They amaze me!  And also, we're doing all of the activities through the rec center, so they're just getting a taste of each of these things, it's all nearby, and it's all very low-key.  Another good thing is that aside from dance, they all just last 4 or 5 weeks, so it's not a huge commitment.  But the best part is that the kids are LOVING it and learning so much.

So although it's sad to say goodbye to summer, it's kind of fun to say "hello" to this new season of busy-ness.  I'm NOT a fan of being busy, and LOVE being at home, so this is an adjustment and kind of a stretch for me.  As long as we don't lose sight of our family time and sacrificing our sanity to the insanity of an overscheduled household, I think we'll be just fine.

But next summer can't come soon enough!  ;)