I am a summer girl at heart. I don't know if it is the fact that I'm a July baby or not, but it runs in my blood. So anything that remotely reminds me summer, I cherish. And when these moments come, I kinda feel like the happiest girl in the world. Almost euphoric. And I swear that whatever it is I did, I'm going to do it again. And again. And again. And I'm not going to forget. And I'm not going to let anything get in my way of making it happen. 3 kids won't get in my way. Or a husband.

Well that's how I felt when after living in CA for 5 years, we made it down to Huntington Beach to the fire pits. Bonfires are nostalgic to me. Don't really know why. I didn't grow up having bonfires regularly. But it brings me back to my carefree days. And who doesn't like feeling carefree. And playing volleyball on the beach. Not beach volleyball. Just bumping. Cuz a lot of times that is just as fun as a game of volleyball. And playing very intensely so that maybe those who are working hard at creating a blazing fire won't be tempted to ask me for help. And when I'm done I can be one of the genius who sees the tons of small little branches lying right at our feet that will be the key to getting the fire going. And then everyone forgets those of us who maybe weren't helping at all before. And just as quickly as the fire is ready, we have our wire hangers fully stocked with marshmallows. Waiting to find themselves perfectly fit inside the graham crackers and hershey bar. Or now that we have Kady, it might be b/w graham crackers and chocolate frosting. The perfect night. And as we are packing up, getting ready to leave (right after the Anderson's of course), I'm determined that I've been missing out for 5 years and am committed to creating these "summer" moments a lot more often. That weekly, ok maybe monthly, we will make this happen. And feel like teenagers- even teenagers with kids- again. That nothing will stop me. That this will be easy to make happen b/c it is SO much fun.

And time goes by. And I'm left looking at these pictures and asking myself, "Was it really that fun?" Because I have three kids to take care of. And a husband. And it is all a lot of work.


(kirt, why are you getting to roast your feet? a little bizarre....)