I really can't believe fall is around the corner. This summer we did things a little bit differently and it ended up being a huge blessing for all of us.

As the school year wound down last May and summer started up, the hustle and bustle of family life was really starting to wear on me. I didn't know it at the time. In fact, I didn't know it until we really started to slow down and reconnect. (I'll tell you more about that later.)

"It's okay to be happy with a calm life."

I made this printable a while back. My brain fails me; I forget where I heard the quote, but I knew I needed it hanging on my wall so I could read it every day. (to fast forward to the 5x7 or 8x10 printable, please click here)

Before we started, I wanted this summer to be a slow summer. We didn't sign up for activities, camps, or programs. I wanted my kids to be bored and get creative. We didn't fill up the calendar, I wanted to take each day as it came, and leave room for spur of the moment fun. Or spur of the moment lay around and be lazy time.

I started writing this post exactly a month ago and here's what I wrote: "So far, here we are in July already and it has been wonderful." Here we are in August and looking back, it was pretty wonderful.

Did we use all the free theme park and waterpark tickets we got from school reading programs? No.

Did we check off all the items on our summer bucket list? Not even close.

But oh, was it a good summer!

We were able to sleep in. They had a lemonade stand. We went to the library in our PJs. We raced go-karts at 8pm at night. Went fishing in a neighborhood pond. Woke up and ran out to ride bikes in the driveway, bedhead and all. We drove around our area and learned new scenic routes. Grew a garden and got more adventurous with food. Cheered at Doug's softball games as loud as we could. Slept in the family room and watched the Olympics till little eyes couldn't stay open any longer. Swam in grandma's pool and finally got comfortable in the water. Took naps when tired ( all of us included). Played outside all day and made up weird kid games. They got bored, too. It was great.

We limited ourselves and by doing so, opened our schedule up to do the things we wanted to do.

And it was AWESOME. A slow summer. The best summer ever.

Edited to add:

a sweet friend asked if I could make the printable available. YES! 🙂 I have two quote options available in 5x7 here for free. If you'd like the 8x10, it is available here.