New Summer Beginnings

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” 

-F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

The other day when I had my bare feet propped up on the edge of the sandbox, the sun beating down on me, a light breeze ruffling the loose strands of my hair across my face, I was suddenly overcome with this heavy feeling of right now. As in: I need to be in this moment right now, and remember it, and bottle it up so it's preserved for all time, especially in those rough winter months when we're enclosed inside our house for what seems like eternity, the truth of summer but a memory in our minds. The boys were oblivious, digging, scooping, pouring, eating sand--simply, always existing in the right now. 

I feel as though summer does bring about new beginnings. A fresh start. The end of organized activities. The start of lazy days and spontaneous get togethers. No more bundling in millions of layers. We mostly forgo clothing and shoes in general during the summer months. But it's more than just the weather related seasonal differences. There's something almost magical. Something that is sprinkled in the air, and you'll only glimpse it on rare moments, perhaps with your feet propped up on a sandbox, witnessing innocent glee from something as simple as sand exploration.

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This week was our small town's festival, which is filled with as many family fun activities you wish to partake in. One of our favorites is Family Night on the Farm, where a farm is selected each year to visit--pet the animals, imagine you're a farmer perched atop a tractor, ride a makeshift train, jump in a jumping castle. This year's highlight was a school bus that shuttled us to and from the farm. Everything is that much better when school buses are involved; it's like being a kid again, field trip bound.

I absolutely adore this picture. It looks like two young friends telling secrets.

No small town festival is complete without a five minute kiddie parade. We watched this with our neighbors--Saul taking Spencer's hand, leading him to the ice cream stand afterwards. There is something about witnessing young friendship bloom.

Then there was our traditional BBQ and bonfire with our friends Friday night before the fireworks. Spencer and Briella stayed up late for their first time ever to experience them. The noise scared Spencer at first, sitting safely in Daddy's lap, plugging his ears. But eventually he moved to his own chair, the noise just another aspect of the booming lights display.

The festival ended with another BBQ and parade.