Summer Funnies

Summer is bringing out the funny in my kids.

We've been doing lots of swimming and trying to wean away from naps. Add one plus one, and you get a grumpy, tired Evie. Some days she is such a mess by 4 pm that we find her crashed out wherever she gives out.

Lily is learning how to wake up to an alarm--all by herself. She's always been a deep sleeper, but she has school at 7:30 for most of the summer and at 6:45 in the fall. It's time she did this on her own. I walked into her room on the first morning she used her alarm, and she was awake and getting dressed. I was happy for her success and asked her how it went. She scowled at me a little and said, "It's fine. But I hate it."  Don't we all, Sister. Don't we all.

Micah was reading Where the Red Fern Grows, and we had warned him that the end was so sad that he might cry. Ever the macho guy, he dismissed our warnings. After he'd been in his room reading for a while, he came downstairs looking a little teary.  All he could say was, "I hate mountain lions. I hate mountain lions." I gave him a hug and we lingered in that moment when you're still in the world created in your mind by a well-written book--when you know it's over, but you really don't want it to be. As he got up from my lap, he told me that this was the first book that had ever made his eyes "water." It may have been the first, but it won't be the last, Buddy.

Two nights later, our cousins were spending the night, and when they wanted to watch a movie, they picked Where the Red Fern Grows. Micah explained to his cousin that this book is a "classic, and I'm surprised, because I like these kinds of books." 

The little boys didn't last as late--too much fun and sun and water for them.

We've implemented some new approaches to work around here since summer started, and when the whole family was working together, Eve decided that she'd had enough and began complaining. Lily took it upon herself to instruct Evie on behavior and attitude. "Eve, when you're mad, it's contagious. That negative attitude is toxic, and we just don't have time for that." If you only knew the irony of that statement . . . 

And finally, as the baby of a family of seven, Eve has grown up faster than the rest. While we were driving and talking, Eve suddenly said, "I love Caleb. He's hot!" I don't think she even knows what that means . . . that's what is so funny about it.

Breaking records here in AZ. It was 111 degrees yesterday.  More pool time on the schedule today