Our summer started like this.

Last year was a weird summer for us.  It felt over-scheduled with too many camps and time away and not enough time to just stop and relax. This year we resolved to do it differently.  This year we resolved to do more of this:

Sheldon went to see Rancid at his first real concert with friends.  I wasn't allowed to ask to get a photo so this is the best that I could get to document the occasion:

We spent July 1st on art projects and fireworks:

I was proclaimed 'mother of the year' when I got my hands on old Trailer Park Boys movie posters for Sheldon and his friends.  (In case you're wondering, my status was revoked three hours later when I wouldn't let Sheldon on the computer....)

There was gelato:

If you know me, you know that I will do almost anything to avoid having a group sleepover.  She must have caught me at a weak moment because Juliana had a sleepover to celebrate the summer starting. And, to be honest, they were such a great group of girls that they can all come back anytime.  Next time maybe more of a sleepover than a wakeover though?

There was a haircut.  From this:

photo credit:  Amanda 

To this:

Sunday nights at the park have started again.  Whoever is around meets in the park, the kids play in the playground and the adults play music in the grass:

photo credit:  Peter

It was a great start but there is more, much more, to come.....