Monday, June 28, 2010

Summer 2010



In Florida, it often feels like we have summer 365 days of the year. In actuality, we DO have four seasons, just less noticeable than our northern states. Our leaves turn fall colors (mostly in the winter), we sometimes wear fleece and flannel in the colder months (the temps can dip into the low 30's), and we enjoy spring-like temps for many months of the year. There is no denying, though, that summer is not timid, not weak and not unnoticeable. The heat hits you like a ton of bricks when you open your door, even at 7am. The sun threatens with it's horrific rays, you are constantly seeking out air conditioning, and searching for ANYTHING, ANYWHERE to go indoors on weekends.

That being said, I grew up in PA. Summers are/were hot and humid...but nothing like I've experienced here in Florida. So, while I can barely take the heat here mid afternoon, summer still conjures up memories of PA summers where my brother and I would build forts out of sheets and a clothes line. Images of eating popsicles under a big tree, where we often hung from it's branches or made mud soup in it's tangled base. Memories of sparkling pools, playing badminton, big picnics and sidewalk chalk come to mind. Road trips and driving down country roads with our windows rolled down....you get the idea.


So, no matter how hot, no matter how brutal...I find it necessary to recreate some of these summer, childhood memories for my children. I hope they don't remember the heat and humidity. I hope they remember the good times, the laughter and the deliciousness of summer.

And with that, here is my Summer 2010 To Do List, for now. I'm sure I'll be adding more as the summer progresses!!! Enjoy. What's on your list???

1.Road trip to the Isles of Capri and Naples (check)


2.Try out every Disney Resort pool we haven't been to yet


3.Popsicles. Eat 'em as much as possible!


4. Sidewalk chalk it up in our driveway (check)


5.Road trip to Sarasota


6.Eat at a seafood shack


7.Visit the Orlando Science Museum or similar


8.See Summer Nightastic at Magic Kingdom


9.Yard sale to destash and declutter


10.Christmas in July with a big turkey dinner, little presents and activities


11.July 4th with bomb pops, flags and fireworks (check)


12.Have Alex write a book report on a chapter book (probably a Magic Tree House)


13.Visit Titanic Exhibition with Alex


14.Play as many yard games as possible


15.Kelly Park Springs for tubing/snorkeling/swimming


16.Picnic at Rollins College and take pictures of kids


17.Visit Dinosaur Museum in Cocoa


18.Make shell crafts with our hundreds of shells


19.Go to a local baseball game


20.Blow bubbles in the grass


Saturday, June 26, 2010

A Return

I've been away from here for far too long. I need to get back here, to this writing thing. So, here is my return.
I've been reading Kelle Hampton's blog for quite some time now, and she seems to take all my thoughts, ideas and hopes...and creates these magnificent blog posts with them (I'm pretty sure she can read my mind... lol). She's a typical Mama, with two very special daughters, and her words magically transport me into dreamland. I heart them. Anyway, her posts about the Isles of Capri and Naples made me NEED to travel there. Yes, I said NEED. So, my Mom offered to help out on a little road trip southwest to this beautiful heaven.

It was the first thing we were able to check off on our "Summer 2010 T0-Do List". (More to come later on that!) The day was perfect, and I wouldn't have changed a thing. The crystal blue waters of Naples are to.die.for. Punky enjoyed the calm waters, where you could see the fish swimming around your feet; and shell hunting was easy. Monkey loved splashing in his inner tube and digging in the sand with his toes. We ate on the Isles of Capri, at a tiki hut called Capri Fish House. The local dog, Julie, made the boys laugh; and their private beach provided Florida Fighting Conch shells, weird looking jellyfish type creatures, and a dock perfect for picture taking. Back on Naples Beach, we took in one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen (even beating out Key West in my opinion). We floated at sea, watching the sun settle in for the night with it's bright orange crescendo. It was stunning. And will never be forgotten.


The perfect start to a perfect summer.