I know, I know--this might not seem like breaking news, but the timing of it really stood out to me. See, earlier this summer, I ordered a bunch of soaps from Bath & Body Works. My favorite was the Island Margarita. It was perfect because it made me think of the beach and--let's be honest--I drank enough of them to make it my official beverage of choice this summer. (Helpful hint from Daddy...add a splash of Cointreau and orange juice to make it juuuuust right.)
Anyway, I've had this soap in the kitchen for the past few months...until yesterday, when it sputtered out its last pump. I went to the cabinet and the first soap I saw was...you guessed it...Market Fresh Apple. Perfect timing.
Ben started school this morning (insert thoughts of taking apples to the teacher on the first day of school), and I swear that it was about 10 degrees cooler last night on our evening walk. It's like Fall is starting to make its presence known...and I couldn't be more excited. The leaves will be changing in a couple months, and if I can't wait until then to see orange, I can just look at any storefront here in Knoxville--the Orange Nation is everywhere here, and I'm not talking about cheap and flimsy banners...they have checkerboard awnings, people. It's no joke. Football season is almost here, and you can feel the excitement and school spirit.
At the same time, it made me think back on this time that is coming to a close. Our first few months here, our first summer in a new home. We've gone through a lot of changes, and there have been some trying moments, to say the least...mostly including me losing my patience and adjusting to being a stay-at-home mom. (Other SAH moms, I can now say, without a shadow of a doubt, that you have the most difficult job in the world. I have only walked a tenth of a mile in your shoes, and I have blisters--I don't know how you do it.) Overall, though, I know that I will look back and know that we had a darn good time...but just in case I forget, I'll list a few highlights:
- Ben learned how to swim. Like going-under-water-and-picking-up-diving-rings swimming. Jumping-off-the-diving-board swimming. Heck-no-I-don't-need-water-wings swimming. It was incredible to see him go from being afraid of getting his hair wet (wonder where he gets that from?) to strapping on the goggles and jumping right in.
- Lucie started crawling, standing up and talking. Aside from Da-da, Ma-ma and Bubba (her nickname for her brother), her first real, uncoached verbal response to something was "Uh oh!" when she dropped a bottle. After watching her crawl and realizing that she has her mother's grace, I'd say this is a perfectly appropriate phrase and will probably come in handy...she's destined to be clumsy like me. Sorry, Lucie Lou.
- We got to travel. Without hopping on a plane. Taking the kids to Myrtle Beach made me feel like I was back in school--the excitement of 'having the summer off' was so fun. Spending time on the sand took me right back to my childhood when our huge, crazy family would all pack up and head to the coast. I hope that this is a tradition we can continue.
- We live in a neighborhood where people walk. Families take their kids to the playground. Couples walk their dogs. Kids ride their bikes and scooters everywhere, and play basketball in their driveways. It really feels like a community...and that's so nice.
- Above all else, overlooking the time-outs and tantrums, I have 2 happy, healthy children who love their parents and each other. And if there's one image I want to keep in mind when I look back on this summer...it's this one:
With Ben going off to his new school today ("I'm so exciting to make new fwends!"), I kind of feel like a chapter is closing. It's like when you reach the point with your baby when you stop counting his/her age in weeks. It would sound silly to say "Oh, she's 42 weeks old." You just say "10 months." Not that the excitement has worn off, but the newness has...and that's not a bad thing--it just means it's more of a comfortable thing.
We've been here for 3 months now, and it's comfortable for us. We're getting settled and we're LIVING here. The summer might be over, but we really had a blast...and I can't wait to see what the other seasons here in Knoxville have in store for us...and you can be sure they'll each have their own appropriately coordinated hand soap.
