What do you do in the summertime?

Oh what do you do in the summer time

When all the world is green?

Do you have a candy stand?

Or run through the sprinklers?

Or play with your friends outside?

Is that what you do? So do I!

Oh what do you do in the summer time

When all the world is green?

Do you ride in a convertible?

Or pick lots of strawberries?

And make fruit smoothies every night?

Is that what you do? So do I!

Oh what do you do in the summer time

When all the world is green?

Do you water your garden?

And pick lots of weeds?

And make lots of raspberry jam?

Is that what you do? So do I!

Oh what do you do in the summer time

When all the world is green?

Do you fish in Utah Lake?

Or kiss a catfish?

Or get sunburned until you might cry?

Is that what you do? So do I!

Here's a before and after shot of our new patio cover.

We love spending time in our backyard, and look forward to being able to spend more time out there with a little more shade and comfort.

I have been loving this summer. I don't know for sure, but it seems like I haven't enjoyed summer this much for many years. Last year (2009) was a new baby and moving to a new school. The summer before I was doing my Master's degree full time (2008). The summer before that (2007) we were in a new house and had projects galore, plus I didn't know anyone in my neighborhood and was pretty lonely. Summer 2006 Audrey was born. So it must have been the summer of 2005 that I last got to really relax and enjoy my summer. That was the summer we took a 10 day trip to Arizona. We saw Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Nogales, MX and more. It was so much fun!

Some of my favorite things about summer are:

• Doing laundry during the week so I can spend Saturday working in the yard with Dave or doing fun stuff as a family
• Having time during the day to do chores so that at night Dave and I can watch a show.
• Having time to clean and organize my house
• Doing fun stuff with my kids
• Spending time with friends
• Growing food in my garden and working in the yard
• starting NetFlix and getting a new movie for the kids to watch every couple of days
• making a double batch of cookie dough every Sunday night and having a spoonful or two every night while watching a show before bed
• Being on a more relaxed schedule- I don't have to be up, dressed, and ready to go at 8am.
• More stuff that I can't think of right now! 

the girls eating their cookie dough while watching Backyardigans

I know it may seem like summer just started, but for me summer is winding down. We've got the big birthday party this week, and then it's downhill from there. As soon as August hits, I'm back to school mode. I have had a wonderful break.