Sweet July. Where have you gone?

Just like that.  July is over.

Considering that we've had a couple of lazy weeks of vacation, we've actually been pretty busy.  Is that possible?  To be busy while being lazy?

Since my last post, we've celebrated a couple of 40th birthdays with our much younger friends, Peter enjoyed his annual reunion of old work buddies to golf in a memorial tournament for our dearly missed friend Brian, the kids have been spending lots of time with their friends - on biking adventures, scootering around town, swimming and sleepovers, and I've capped off the month with a night on my front porch drinking far too much wine and chatting with Katharine just like the old days.

On Harry Potter night downtown, we ran into some of our favourite people:

I picked up Juliana's American Girl magazine from the mailbox and noticed that the insert was a huge doodle picture - just like the kind I loved to do when I was her age!  For about an hour I considered sneaking it out of the magazine before she saw it so that I could secretly work on it once she'd gone to bed.  In the end, I think that I've convinced her that it can be a summer project that we can work on together.  Win-win.

I cleaned out underneath Sheldon's bed:

I surprised Juliana with tickets to see Taylor Swift when she came to town.  Really, though, I'm not sure who was more excited!  It was a great experience for both of us - it's been so long since I've been to see a big name and then to take Juliana to her first big concert was very, very fun.  We walked around the arena taking it all in, we paid too much money for popcorn that may well have been popped the week prior, and then bought the t-shirt.  I had brought ear plugs for Juliana knowing that the music would be WAY too loud for her and although she resisted at first she was using them by the second song.  It was an exciting, overwhelming night and even though she was near exhausted, we still managed to sneak in a McDonald's fry drive-thru so that we could enjoy a post-midnight snack when we got home.  

And then, three days later, we headed off to the Huron shores for a week of camping.

But that, my friends, is another story for another day.  

Summer. (So far.)

I've just worked my last day for the summer - I'm not back at work until the end of August!  It's been a crazy few weeks and I'm just glad to be able to sit down, put my feet up, and take a breath.

I thought I'd start tonight - we had a family-movie-nacho night and rented Mall Cop.  Needless to say, we finished our nachos and I've given up on the movie to blog.  I feel a little guilty leaving Peter down there to watch the rest but there's no point in both of us being tortured, right?

Summer officially started for us on the July long weekend when we celebrated with family.  Susan and Chris were here for Josh's soccer tournament - we had sleepovers, soccer games, sunburns, shopping, fireworks, and general goofing around:

Less than a week later we were off to mom's to meet up with Leslie, Nick, Lucy, and their fresh baby, Simon.  I then spent the next 3 days wrestling Simon away from everyone who dared try to hold him.  I nuzzled that baby freshness, listened to his beautiful baby sounds, and enjoyed every single smile.

I watched as Sheldon naturally took to Simon - making him laugh, holding him, amusing him while he was on the floor.  At one point Sheldon lay on his back beside Simon - his long, gangly arms and legs stretching out like crazy.  It seems like only yesterday it was our pudgy Sheldon lying on the floor......

Juliana, on the other hand, got to play a new role:  big cousin.  She was such a little mother - following Lucy around the park, through the sprinkler, kicking the ball on the lawn, or painting.  And helping all along the way.  She was very proud of her new role and took it very seriously.

And I got to have a long overdue visit with my baby sister.

I wish that we could see each other more often.  In the meantime; however, I introduced Lucy to popcorn and painted toes.  The visit was too short and the distance is too long so we've gotta make the most out of what we've got....

If last week was any indication - we're in for a great summer!

Another year.

It's been 19 years but it seems like yesterday.

We miss you Dad.

Parenting.

Who said it would be easy?

This afternoon while I was out grabbing a cup of tea, I followed a dad and his daughter down the sidewalk back to my office.  She was probably 5 or 6 years old and I smiled watching her holding tightly on to her daddy's hand and trying to keep up - taking two or three steps for every one of his.  They walked with purpose and joy down the block and I couldn't help but smile.  She reminded me of Juliana.

But that's the problem.

Even though she is approaching 10, I still think of my girl as 5 or 6.  She's my baby, after all.

Then there is Sheldon.  He was born wise beyond his years and full of energy.  Every year around his birthday I am shocked at how quickly another year has passed.  He's my big boy, after all.

Believe me, I'm not in any rush for them to grow up. If I had it my way I'd grow old cuddling their little bodies on the couch, their little hands stroking the ends of my hair.  But apparently they are going to grow whether I like it or not.

The problem is that even though I'm aware that I shouldn't treat the boy different from the girl, I realized today that I totally do.

Sheldon has always seemed more mature and capable than his age.  And because of that I've always expected a lot.  Too much, maybe.  His chores, his behaviours, and his maturity.  Not surprisingly we butt heads over this kind of stuff.  Not surprisingly we butt heads over 'it's not fair' - probably one of my least favourite expressions out of my kids (any kids) mouths.  But this time he might be right.

Juliana has always had Sheldon to help her out.  I rely on him to help her too often these days with chores around the house.  I let it slide too easily when she doesn't take responsibility for her actions.  When she gets distracted while doing her chores, she gets off the hook much more easily than her brother.

Today, as I watched that little girl on the sidewalk I realized that Juliana isn't that little girl anymore.  She's got legs long enough to keep up with her daddy now, she's smart enough to understand consequences, and she's certainly capable of upping her responsibilities in life.

And far too often I miss the things that Sheldon does for me, without being asked.

It's time for me to see my children for who they really are.  And be grateful for all that they do - with or without the prompting.

It's only fair.