Glad to be Back

What an ideal summer it's been.

I've traveled alone and with family. To family. From Family. Between families. You get the picture.

We swam in rivers and the Atlantic, and we kayaked for the first time. The boys are fully swimming on their own now, and Primo passed his deep-end-of-the-pool swim test two weeks ago.

As promised, we feasted on shellfish on the Maryland Shore and braved the crowds to see Fourth of July fireworks in Washington, DC. We watched the sunset and moonrise from a rooftop in Philly, and shared cotton candy as a gesture of peace after bashing each other to bits on bumper cars in Maine. I loved every minute.

Best of all, though, I loved clearing the schedule to enjoy my children -- playing with them, listening to them, learning from them. They have such unique perspectives on the world around them. If I weren't paying attention, I'd have missed them.

During this summer of travel, I've learned a few things, too.

I've learned that,

• You shouldn't serve refried beans the night before you fly to Cleveland... Turbulence.
• One of the most supportive and meaningful statements you can hear from a brother is, "Hey! I just subscribed to your blog on my Kindle!"
• The world is changing faster than I thought. After listening to a relative describe a botched home improvement job, I heard my mother reply, "You know, whenever I don't know how to do something, I just google it."
• Saying goodbye is never easy.
• When swimming in Maine, no matter the season, just run for the water and jump all the way in. If you take the time to process just how cold that water actually is, you'll never do it.
• In a pinch, a Dad really can make a fantastic Mom.
• I will miss my Grandmother's laugh most of all.
• I need to get over my youngest child starting preschool. She's ready for it, and she's in good hands. [repeats to self over and over again]
• Airport food can be shockingly awful.
• You can wait for 2 weeks for a handful of tomatoes to ripen, but leave the house for 2 days and you'll come home to a wheelbarrow full of them.
• Primo has inherited a green thumb... maybe even two of them.
• Nothing feels better than coming home.

It's good to be back. I can't wait to share another year of our life.

- Midwest Mom