I'm convinced summertime is the best time, no matter where you are. I've seen evidence of this almost everywhere I look, from happy instagram photos of bike rides through Times Square, great American road trips through Tennessee and Georgia, and mountainous picnic adventures in Montana. Facebook statuses include images of boat rides, pool adventures, and small town festivals, and it seems everyone is doing their absolute best to soak up the late arrival of summertime.
And while I love me a good adventure, one of my favorite parts of summer is the opportunity to experience it in my own backyard. There's something about this season that brings me right back to my childhood, only now getting to experience some of my favorite memories through the eyes of my own child. It becomes about the little things, and simple images like running through the tall, thick grass playing ball, feeling the rush of that first dip in the pool on a hot afternoon, and ending every night with ice cream come flooding back to life.
What are your favorite images of summertime? I remember sitting in the back of Dad's truck, eating Casey's snow cones to the sounds of the Minnesota Twins' announcers on the radio. I remember being at the ballpark until the lights came on, watching the gnats come to life as we ran the bases, finished bags of popcorn, and stole kisses on the tire swing. I remember closing the pool at nine, then swimming with my friends in the moonlight. I remember cruisin' down Main Street with the windows down, singing to mix tapes of Rascal Flatts, Nelly Furtado, and Eminem, eating Chuckwagons and drinking Grape Crush. I remember paper routes, trips to the Drug Store, and weeks living at the fair. I remember never wanting summer to end, and when it did, counting down the days to do it all over again.
I often wonder what memories Cruz will someday recall about this favorite summer season. And although he's maybe too little to remember anything right now, I hope these feelings of simplicity and togetherness continue to make him happy and content. Because right now, that's all that's really important to him. Simplicity and togetherness, happiness and contentment.
We're enjoying so much about our small town summer, and I'm inspired to take the simplicity and togetherness that abounds now and find ways to cultivate it into the rest of the year.
More images of summertime as of late. Lots of summertime bucket list happening over here...
A fresh strawberry rhubarb pie during nap time...
Water play and popsicles after nap time...
Fresh peonies in the backyard. I feel very Martha Stewart-y when I can make a bouquet from just stepping out the back steps.
Slow mornings at home. Breakfast, cartoons, and lots and lots of books...
Saturday morning art festivals and the discovery of a wonderful local band. Check out The Comfort Kings, people. They're awesome.
Piggy back rides and soccer games in the backyard...
Barbecues with our favorite soon-to-be bride and groom. We love you, Rob and Jill, and can't wait for your big day! (Oh, and Summer Shandy, too)...
The best thunderhead. Hands down.
Summer means fresh scrapes and bruises. And first band-aids, which magically make all the difference.
Pools with sprinklers.
And strawberries. And fresh shakes on the deck. And cloud watching on patchwork quilts long past bedtime. More on that to come...
This weekend, we celebrated. We celebrated the start of summer and we celebrated the great daddies and grandpas in our life. We are blessed with a lot of them. There's Grandpa Merle, who proudly gave me the title of his favorite (ahem, only) grand-daughter my whole life, spoiling me with cuddles, weekend trips to La Crosse, and his black oldsmobile with yard sticks to hold up the sinking ceiling when I turned 16. Living just up the street, he and Grandma were two of the most involved grandparents one could have, and we're so blessed they continue to be active and involved with their great-grandkids.
Then there's Papa Ray. He raised one of the most important men in my life, and instilled in him a lot of strong values I admire in him today. Like the new Weber grill Gabe and Beau purchased for him for Father's Day. When Beau called to see if he received it, Ray thanked him for it and said it will be nice to have when his other one decides to bite the dust. And instead of purchasing a brand new pontoon when the boys were growing up, he put the time and resources into a hand-me-down one that used to belong to his grandpa. Beau always said he could have afforded a pretty nice new boat by the time he fixed that old one, but we've learned that according to Ray, if it's broke, you fix it.
And then there's Papa Curt. My dad is very special to me and has lived a life of hard work, sacrifice, and love for his family and kids. I always remember him working hard to provide for us, but also remember him always around to be there for us. He coached little league, never missed a school event, and still seems happiest when his kids are at home. I love the ease of watching him as a grandpa and smile when I think he's exactly the way I pictured it.
Endless 'tractor' rides and all.
And finally, my Beau. At first I may have fallen in love with his wit, his sweetness, and his big blue eyes, but soon discovered qualities far deeper and unique. He's smart, he's kind, he's devoted, and he knows me and loves me exactly as I am. He would do anything for our family, and loves Cruz with every fiber in him. I'm so lucky he's mine and so blessed I get to spend forever with him.
Father's Day last year. One of my favorite pictures of the two of them...
And this year! And we thought Cruz couldn't get any more rambunctious!
And because my man deserved the world this Father's Day, we decided to start with a good breakfast. Cruz and I surprised Beau with a very special breakfast in bed, complete with a yummy bacon, potato, and egg skillet, cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, and Beau's favorite Donut Shop coffee. We gave him a homemade photo card from Shutterfly for his desk at work, and surprised him with a new Cubs shirt and travel mug. After breakfast, we got ready for church and Beau fired up the Big Green Egg. We were off to a good start.
Some after-church pictures and play...
We spent the afternoon at Mom and Dad's, soaking up the perfect summer day with cousins, picnic food, blow up pools, and a makeshift home run derby in the front yard. It felt so good just to relax outside, sit in a lawn chair, and watch Cruz, Charly, and Hayes have a ball with the sprinkler in the pool. We ate watermelon slices, raved over Beau's smoked pork loin, and laughed, and then consoled, one child after another. And after Dad kept putting the lawn mower away, only to get it back out again, we decided it was finally time for bed. Cruz cried for 'tractor rides with Papa Curt' halfway home!
The night was perfect. After a hot and humid day, the night eventually cooled as the dusk settled in around us. It was still, and quiet, and felt like barefoot toes on the pavement, sun-soaked skin, and pajama'ed kids running through the thick, soft summer grass. We gathered in the driveway and became a picture of my dreams, of another Iowa summer just as it should be.
