Updates

I'm ready to have my summer back.  One of the parts of summer that I love is not having to abide by other people's schedules.  Typically, we sign our kids up for minimal activities, preferring to set our own schedule and routines.  I love the flexibility that comes with living this way.

Last summer was different.  In general, there was way too much going on.

This summer has been better.  Fewer appointments, fewer schedules, more freedom.

The last few weeks have probably been our most "scheduled" and I'm ready for it to be done.  Anna and Kate both took a summer school class through the school district for the last two weeks; Kate participated in Adventures in Nature whereas Anna was part of a Fun with Books class.

Our school district does an amazing job of offering plenty of fun, yet educational, courses for kids during the summer.  The only problem comes with the sign up.  Hundreds of parents wait by their computer at 7 p.m. one night in April, hoping that they can click fast enough to get the courses they want before they fill up.  I know of more than one family who has abandonned the summer school option simply because they don't want to deal with the sign up.  But I digress ...

Both classes were good and served their purposes, but having to get everyone fed, bathroomed, and to school by 11:25 a.m. every Monday-Thursday was more than I wanted to do.  We were late most days.

Anna still had her therapy appointments twice a week; we had to adjusting the timing due to the summer school schedule.  Throw into the equation dentist appointments for everyone in the family, an eye check-up for me, the recording of the commercial for the BCCN, a couple of yearly physicals, picking out Anna's new glasses, and sign-up for fall programs at the therapy clinic, and we had a full plate of "stuff" most days.  I spent way too much time in the car this week; I'm not really looking forward to any years of chauffeuring my kids around town.

On top of all that, we've had a summer cold going through the house.  Kate started hers on Thursday; Ethan went down on Friday; Anna's began on Saturday; and mine hit Sunday.  So far Matt has stayed healthy.  It hasn't been too bad, as far as summer colds go, but I'm tired of the extra work that comes with anyone, let alone almost everyone, feeling under the weather.

Thankfully, we have been able to take advantage of our backyard pool on most days, even with the busier mornings.  At least once a week, I say THANK YOU to Matt for agreeing to and maintaining this pool.  All three of our kids are continuing to make progress in their water skills.  More importantly, though, they have all sorts of fun goofing off, exploring, playing around, and being together.

One bright spot last week was on Friday when the kids and I visited the Dane County Fair.  The best part, for me, was being on our own schedule.  We could do what we wanted, when we wanted, and leave when we were ready.  The kids enjoyed the animals, the crafts, and the people.  We didn't try any rides.  Not only was it too hot for us, but it isn't really feasible for me to take all three kids on any rides, nor could I take just one or two of them on a ride and leave the third alone.  And none of them would really have wanted to ride anything by themselves.  But all three kids were fine with what we did, we made some good memories, and I don't think any of them thought they missed out on something.

Friday this week is the last day of scheduled activities for this stretch.  Once Monday arrives, we will have two solid weeks with nothing but Anna's therapy, followed by two more weeks of very, very minimal "extras".  Woohoo!

Time for Prayers

Thanksgiving
Please give thanks for all of the relatively, low-key, normal check-ups we have had for everyone in our family recently.
Please thank God for the more relaxed pace of summer that our family usually has.
Please give thanks that this cold has been relatively mild and short-lived.
Please thank God for our girls' summer school teachers and helpers; both teachers were a great fit for our kids.
Please give thanks for the abundant produce in our garden.  So far it is coming in at just the right times in just the right amounts, and it's delicious.

Requests
Please ask God to grant us the opportunity to make meaningful memories with each other yet this summer.
Please pray that the lingering aspects of our colds go away quickly.
Please contniue to pray that Anna's treatments were 100% effective.
Please continue to pray for Anna's continued improvements in all of her rehabilitation skills.
Please continue to ask God to grant us wisdom, peace, patience, rest, and joy, especially as we begin preparing for the coming school year.
Please continue to pray for those working with Anna and our family, for their wisdom and insight especially.

Thanks, as always!

One little story, for me to remember more than anything.  The last few nights, the kids have been playing with the rocks around our patio ... sorting them, collecting them, finding pretty ones, etc.  Tonight Kate had a big collection in a bucket.  Ethan looked at it, then got really excited and said, "Kate!  Kate!  We should put those rocks in the BIG dump truck because they are heavy and it can haul it!"  This boy's language skills have impressed every one of Anna's speech/language therapists to date.