Shifting Into "GO"

I got an e-mail today from a friend with details about the Y's week-long Summer Camp. I knew that she had looked into it last year, but preferred to send her son if he knew someone else that was going. I had to stifle a laugh when I got the e-mail from her this year.

I don't know what happens to our summers. By the time the iris' are peeking their little heads out of the dirt, our summers are already so packed it's scary to think about. It's been this way ever since the children started spending time alone with their Grandparents each summer.

I like to have at least one long week with Don's parents during the summer months. It's a great opportunity to unwind, relax, do crafts, visit, spend time with the children . . . in short, a VACATION! Add Deanna spending a week (and the transportation back and forth) and Dane getting his time and that's 3 weeks already spoken for, right off the bat. We tried Daelyn last year, but it was just too hard for him, so we've decided to give that a few more years before trying again.

In addition to time with family, we always have at least one trip to a vacation destination per summer, often more than one. When Don and I go for our Gold Crown Survey while visiting our condo in Hilton Head Island, they always give you this "sales sphiel": "If you could get two week's vacation for the price you paid for your one, wouldn't you want to do that?" We always, in unison, vehemently shake our heads and say, "NO!" We can barely manage to fit in all the vacations we have now. They always look at us like we're crazy, but Don has to work sometime!

This summer, we're taking our long-awaited trip to Hawaii. We started planning it two years ago, reserving a condo in December of 2008 for a week this August. Once we got our Frequent Flier tickets, I began to process of filling in our other accomodations, which has been both fun and exciting.

When we planned this trip, we figured we'd spacebank our condo and just have one long, nice vacation. That was before my niece, who lives in Washington, D.C., got engaged and planned the wedding for June 4. It was also before my other niece got married and moved to Panama City Beach and began comparing dates for our "visit" even before the engagement ring was correctly sized. Before my dear, close friend, Fr. John, was transferred back down to Savannah, his hometown, and pointedly mentioned numerous times that his family HAS a beach house on Tybee Island ("Just let me know when you can come for a visit, P.D.")

Of course, we'll be visiting Alicia, who has a stand-alone apartment behind their house and lives, like, across the street from the beach. Certainly, we'll be at Lydia's wedding in D.C., and make a week's vacation out of it while we're there so as to take advantage of the 10-hr. drive. Without a doubt, we'll be visiting Fr. John - and the summer, while the children are out of school, is the perfect time.

Add to that Dane's birthday and Father's Day (both in June), the 4th of July, Dane and Daelyn's baseball league that runs into the summer, teaching Deanna to cook, gardening and canning, crafts, making and wrapping Christmas presents . . .

Whew! It's not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'm thankful that our lives are so full. Occasionally, I do see other children that are bored during the summer. We can't imagine boredom at our house. There are days Deanna prays for rain so she can just curl up with a good book.

And I LOVE the summer - time with my children, time to pursue activities and tasks that can't be accomplished during the school year. Running through sprinklers, staying up late to watch the International Space Station as it nears our atmosphere, digging in the dirt and getting filthy, then taking a nice bubble bath to wash away the cares and the mud, the sound of laughter throughout the yard and the house, activity, fun, developing new skills and gifts in the children - all wonderful activities in which to involve ourselves.

One thing I've learned, though. A plan is vital. Without a plan, days end up being spent in front of Game Cubes or the T.V. Mom gets absolutely no work done and children get grumpy. Swim dates, crafts days, canning chores, and all the other things that are important to us have to be scheduled.

So, I'm fastening my seatbelt right now. Things are already beginning to gear up. I have plants popping up from the seeds that need transplanting and Daelyn needs a new bat and glove. Deanna's already dreaming of days full of reading and the boys are looking forward to endless hours in their tree fort.

I just am hoping to get through summer unscathed.