SUMMER (so far)

Our summer this year so far has been much like last year's. We spent a lot of it just playing around the house, going to parks, etc. We were able to do more this year since Matthew is getting bigger.

We really got to appreciate what summer is all about. Eating fresh corn (Matthew loves to eat corn on the cob),

playing outside (heat doesn't matter to Matthew),

swimming in the pool (we got a bigger pool this summer),

playing with sparklers (Matthew was very fascinated by the fire),

riding in the boat (he loves to drive real fast), etc.

Matthew again went to visit Me-Ma and Pappy. This time I was able to actually let him go for the whole week. My mom and dad picked him up from our house on Saturday July 14. Matthew had packed his little backpack with all the things he wanted to take with him (toys and books). He grabbed it and walked out the door, without a backward glance. He tossed a "bye-bye MaMa" over his shoulder and was ready to leave with Me-Ma and Pappy. He didn't cry, which worked out better for me. It was easier to let him go this time than it was last year. He had a blast with Me-Ma, Pappy and Ayden. They had a new adventure everyday - golf cart rides (Pappy strapped a car seat to the golf cart for them to take turns in; the other one got to drive), visiting the farm (they played in the dirt and took a nap in the tent), going to the petting zoo (Matthew bravely tried to pet a Canadian goose, who tried to get him), driving the boat, watergun fights (the boys ambushed Me-Ma), etc. Each day I talked to Matthew on the phone and he excitedly told me of his adventures. Matthew and Ayden shared a room and slept on big boy beds that Pappy built for them.

Brian and I didn't do anything out of the ordinary without Matthew. We still had to work everyday. The living room did manage to stay clean. We ate on our schedule and watched what we wanted to on TV. By the middle of the week we were anxiously counting the days to get him back. I am so impressed that he didn't cry for us (at least not that we are aware of). I am sure it helped that he had a constant buddy in Ayden (even though he was a little rough on Ayden sometimes). At the end of the week, Brian and I headed to Tunis to visit and retrieve our boy. We sure did miss him. Me-Ma and Pappy looked tired when we arrived. Matthew was happy to see us and that evening he told us he wanted to go home and lay on the couch. So I think it is safe to say that he missed us. A week was long enough for him to be away from home. A week was long enough for us to be without him. And a week was probably long enough for Me-Ma and Pappy to try to keep up with him. We stayed the whole weekend. We went out on the boat and just relaxed.

At church that Sunday Matthew showed off his drumming skills. He also danced and sang along with praise and worship.

(Pappy says Matthew should get a drum set for Christmas.) Summer has been fun. I won't miss this heat when it's finally gone, or the humidity. I am looking forward to fall (not winter's cold though). I will miss the playing in the pool, the green grass and the light in my son's eyes each afternoon when I reply "yes" to his request to "play outside five minutes ma-ma."