As another summer comes to an end (speaking strictly of school starting...the weather sure as hell isn't cooperating), I've been reminiscing about my own childhood summers. Remember those days? We'd spend the entire day outside. We'd swim at the pool, skip rocks down in the creek, climb over fallen tree trunks, catch fireflies, roast marshmallows...okay, every night was not a Disney camp show, but you know what I mean.
My family bought a lake house at Innsbrook this past October. It is a beautiful home on a big, still lake.
The lakehouse has brought back lazy, summer memories for me, and shown my kids a different way to relax this summer. We've spent lazy days (no computers, no playstation, and very little tv, save for the occasional movie just before bedtime) fishing off the dock and the boat...
swimming and jumping into the lake...
horse back riding...
Climbing across and balancing on fallen logs and hunting for treasures in the woods. Taking walks...
and playing at the beach...
We play board games, team up for foosball and shuffleboard and just...relax.
On a recent weekend there, all 3 of my kids were found kneeling in front of a box of legos, each absorbed in their own creations, but talking together as they built (if you are a parent to more than one child, you can appreciate this).
Late night s'mores over an open fire, star gazing...It's just what summer was intended to be. These are the times I want my kids to look back on and remember. I know I will.
What's your favorite summertime memory?
Beth,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds delightful, sure to please everyone, and yes I know what you mean about all of them talking and playing Legos nicely together. I had two grandchildren today and they aggravated and yelled at one another half the day. Lake house...my dream.
I remember walking to the library and bringing home as many books as I could carry. Then I would sit out in the sun, slathered in baby oil (to get the darkest tan possible!)and read. We rode bikes all day and came home when the street lights came on. After dinner we caught lightening bugs and put them in jars. Great times!
ReplyDeleteLinda - ah, but the other half of the day...they played like angels, right? So looking forward to our critique group next week!
ReplyDeleteMom - good memories...funny how your summers sound a lot like mine! ; )
Wonderful blog and great pictures Beth...Hopefully those Lake house memories will continue for generations. A dream come true.
ReplyDeleteLet me regress to my summertime childhood memories. The day began by asking, okay begging, my mom if my chores were done. If they were or she was just tired of me begging I could start my daily preferred activities. I would pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a paper bag. Then went outside to yell for my girlfriend from my yard to hers next door. After a positive confirmation from her mother we headed off to the local park to play dodge ball, checkers, a board game called mill played with soda bottle caps, volleyball, softball, and run thru the water fountain, air dry and repeat the process. After dinner the neighborhood kids would get together to play "tin can alley" (a version of hide and seek we made up) in the alley behind our house until those infamous streets lights came on. I would not have changed a thing!
Mary - was Nancy the neighbor? Sounds like
ReplyDeleteRose & I planning our summer days ; )
We played Ghost in the Graveyard...I think we
Should teach the kids these games some night
down at the Lake ; )
That neighbor would be Nancy! We have been friends for 55 years!
ReplyDelete