Summer 2011

We have had a great summer this year. It was busy and full but we also had enough time to just play. For me...not having babies...all the children freely running the neighborhood... has been a pleasant next stage of life. Crazy sometimes, but I have really enjoyed it. Time seems to be flying by and I know that my days are limited with all of my children here at home with me. I want to remember what a typical summer day in the Southwick family looked like. This a little piece...

* Quincy and Brinley in their swimming suites all day everyday...they looked like dirty little orphan children sometimes!

* TV in the mornings...I don't especially love this part, but it is part of summer.

* Fun trips together. This year we spent time in Nauvoo with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Barb, Rexburg with the Southwick family, Crystal Hot Springs with the Hadley family, and Park City together with just us. We also played alot for the few days that Mike and Debbie and their family came to visit. Chris and Kade were also able to slip in an overnight backpacking trip right before school started. It was so fun to see and do all the fun things we were able to.

* Night Games - our house is the gathering place for night games. All children from all over the nieghborhood ages 5 (Brinley) to 15 play almost every night. The come out of the woodwork and start showing up about 8:30 and play until 10:30pm. They LOVE it!

* Late nights - our bedtime this year seemed to be 11:30!! Pretty late for some little girls!

* Smores in the fire pit...only a couple times this year, but at least we did it a couple!!

* "Monk" and "Psyche" - my kids were addicted to these two shows this summer. We probably watched at least one episode every day! I have to admit...I became addicted too. Kylee got into "the dress show" where brides try on wedding dresses. The rest of us weren't too impressed...it scares me to think what this says about Kylee!!

* Little girl friends. In our neighborhood Quincy and Brinley are kind of a package deal. You don't just get one...you get two! They like to play every waking moment that they are home. We often have 5 -6 little girls running around our house. And let me tell you...they can make one big mess!!! I'm sure my poor neighbors have figured that out too!

* Kade and Chayse's summer produce adventures! These two boys talked Chayse's grandpa into letting them have some land to plant a large garden on. They planted, weeded, and watered their garden every few days for a large part of the summer. Towards the end they set up a stand on the side of the road and sold their produce. What they couldn't sell they put in a large basket and went door to door. They came home from their door to door sales with a very interesting observation. The people in the newer houses bought more...conclusion...they don't have gardens yet and they are rich!! This has been a great thing to keep 2 eleven year old boys busy and out of trouble for the summer!!! We are lucky to live next to nice neighbors who share their country way of living with us city people!

* Quincy and Brinley have arrived at the great opportunity to be able to go around the block together...by themselves!!!! They can be seen on scooters, bikes or rollerblades.

* This is the summer we have watched our Brigham City Temple go up. It has been awesome. You can see the temple from our backyard!!! We watched Moroni be placed on top and we are waiting patiently for the "red roof" to be replaced. There is nothing better than driving down the Walmart road and seeing the temple rising up above the trees in the middle of the city!! Hopefully next summer is the summer of open house and dedication!!

I can only say one thing...we are very blessed. It's been a great summer!!