"Grow Dammit"

It is the first day of summer for our family. I think the 'official' first day of summer does not actually occur until June 21st, or so I was informed by one of our mouthy and yet very informative 6 year olds. But for me, it starts today.

Summer has begun because:

1. It's 7:06 AM and the only person moving, other than myself, is my husband who has to go to work. I thought for sure the 3 youngsters would be poking my face at 5:15 AM for Cocoa Krispies or a 7-course breakfast, because they didn't have to actually make the bus this morning. I was wrong. The only thing waking me up that early was my bladder and an uneven ceiling fan.

2. Yesterday it was over 90 degrees. We picked Memorial Day to do our first 'family' togetherness activity of this summer. And it involved over an hour long drive, ticks, poison ivy, water and mud. One of those trips where you wish you had a portable shower hose and a washing machine in tow. And of course, it's one of the hottest days this season so far. I believe we hit another 90 degree day a few weeks ago, but that was a fluke. If I actually stay on top of it and keep my blog up this summer, you will soon know I'm far from loving the heat of summer. I prefer a nice 72 degrees with a breeze. The kind of weather where you can keep the windows open. I will suffer between 72 and 80 if I'm home with the kids, unless the humidity is high. High humidity and temps above 80 warrant the AC or mommy gets snippy. (On a side note..that family trip yesterday was actually really fun, minus the laundry, and the smelly, mud-covered and whining kids on the ride home. But we were all just worn out and exhausted.)

3. I haven't been downstairs yet, but I know what awaits me on the desk in the kitchen. A gigantic stack of, "Here mom. These are all our papers from the entire school year. Don't throw them away because there is stuff you have to read and send back before next year, but I'm not sure where they are in this pile or what color they are.' Me: "Oh great! Thanks!" (Insert huge eye roll) I just know the pile is high enough to take me at least an hour, if not longer. Oh..and I completely forgot about cleaning out backpacks, art boxes and lunch boxes. But, and I'll have to remember to thank her later, one of my daughters donated all her leftover school supplies (which I'm assuming would be crusty hard Elmer's, broken crayon nibs and a couple pencils the size of a finger, minus the erasers) and her gym shoes to children in Haiti. They ought to be thankful. Doubtful.

4. We have 'the' upcoming dance recital. This involves two 6 year olds, 4 costumes with hair pieces, tutus, pins, feathers, tails, gloves and 4 pair of shoes of differing sizes per each child. Oh! And let's not forget the make-up! We need blush, eyebrow pencil, eye shadow and bright lipstick so they can kiss and wipe their lips on those pretty white gloves right before they go out on stage. We will be having our hair stylist fix their hair because mommy just can't make 100 curls on each head and shellac as she goes and not burn someone. It's worth the trip into town to have this done for recital night. I'm contemplating wigs for rehearsal night, since this is also 'picture' night because I'm cheap and only want to pay once for the 'recital do.' This also involves one sweaty mommy who probably will not get to enjoy the show, a lot of 'just put this on and don't complain' and in-laws. The in-laws are not a huge problem because my husband will be entertaining them and driving them around, but it's that little whisper in the back of my head that questions, "Did I wash the extra sheets, wipe the toothpaste off the bathroom sink, clean the slimy-soapy-kid-ring around the tub and did I remember to take out dinner from the freezer?"

5. The house is a disaster of laundry, dust, dirty dishes from the weekend, carpet that needs a good vacuuming and bathroom sinks, toilets and tubs that need some attention. These last few weeks of school had me baking, running kids, finishing sports, attending final practices, awards assemblies and end of the year picnics. I was also mailing out graduation cards, reworking wardrobes so kids would have summer clothes and swimsuits which covered their ever-growing legs, arms and torsos. So the house went by the way-side. It warrants some attention. I am thankful I have 3 little helpers, unbeknownst to them. They can maneuver a Swiffer Duster, unload a dishwasher, empty the dryer into baskets and put folded laundry away. And I just bought some Green Wipes so they can clean up their own nastiness left in the bathroom sinks. My mom once told me (jokingly I always assumed) that she and my dad had kids so we could clean the house as we got older. I am starting to understand that train of thought while I see the destruction of our house and how filthy it can get in one day.

6. My body is never ready for swimsuit weather and I don't know why I kid myself into thinking this flab of skin from 2 c-sections is going to magically disappear one morning. My butt, thighs and inner tube below the boobs is my own doing, but the panis..(yes, that is a word) is my kids doing..and inadvertently, my husband's.

7. We built 4 raised garden beds this spring. We hauled in dirt and compost, seeds and plants. I'm anxiously awaiting that first 'ripe' ANYTHING. I want to pick SOMETHING! I want to take a photo of it and brag to neighbors and friends and say, "neener neener neener! I didn't pay $2 for this red pepper!" But, I can't pick the herbs, even though they are producing because I want the plants to get bigger. And I can't pick any veggies yet. None are ripe. There are green tomatoes and lots of blooms, but I will wait until they are big and full of color. And I'm hoping our pepper plants make it. Something has found them and is eating the leaves. It's time to fight back and put out something nasty that the little critters (and possibly big ones) don't care for because I'd like to have a plants left and not just stems. The recent rain (or monsoon, depending on your location) is helping the plants along and our kids are elated that the entire packet of seeds they've planted in their little pots on the deck are producing about 50 sprouts. I don't have the heart to tell them they are going to choke themselves. We need to transplant them to the garden soon. I am extremely impatient and really want to make some fresh salsa or grill some peppers or eggplant. The waiting is difficult and I just want things to GROW DAMMIT!

Perhaps while I'm cleaning house, running kids to swim lessons, attending summer reading programs, or sweating myself making pretty patterns in the lawn on our Cub Cadet, the garden will grow? Actually, that is my fear. It's all going to produce at once and I'm going to be crazy woman putting away vegetables. I will then be unable to keep up with them, the weeds and the house which only remains clean for about 1 minute and the laundry which is only caught up until someone showers!

How many days till autumn? I guess I'll ask one of my, all-knowing, 6 year olds.