Adventures · Cheers

Tossing summer memories around

Without the need to toss my super short hair up in a bun, I was off to the races as I became supermom during summer months when our kids were growing up.

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I can’t neglect to mention I was also with a handsome superman who took daring rides at every entertainment park we ventured off to experience.

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From June – August, summer was spent racing to and from one adventure after another.

As each summer ended, we’d stand at the end of the driveway, breathe a sigh of relief, hold back a few tears, and watch them climb the bus as they’d head back to school …

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I adored the trips to stores for school clothes shopping …

We’d look back at each and every summer moment as a splashing success when the kids said, “We had a blast!”

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July 3 – July 11th was a birthday celebration, after a birthday celebration.

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Before school started at the end of August, we enjoyed the Pure Water’s Day parade.

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And, of course, we attended the Northern Wisconsin State Fair.  It wasn’t summer without a trip or two to the fair.

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We’d hide in what little shade we could find as we watched the girls enjoy the rides.  Their wrist band freedoms allowed them to run from bumper cars to whatever ride or slide they preferred to go on.

Running between rides they’d wear off any sugar buzz they had from the yearly dose of cotton candy and jumbo lemonade.  We all recharged with cheese curds and French fries … oh my … how time flies.

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And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling. – Shanti

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We definitely attempted to make sure they’d wash their hands before they ate.  Kids and germs go hand in hand at the immunity-boosting fairgrounds.

The fourth of July was spent with family.  With food and snacks and fireworks at night.

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My mom and Sarah shared the same birthday.  So we always had plenty of cake for two weeks straight.

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Wow, 20 years ago … life seemed so different …

We shared lots of laughter, conversation, bowls of community chips, and smiles too.

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This year our birthday girls’ celebrations are much quieter.  Amazon Prime helped me wrap the gifts and deliver them to their front doorsteps.

It’s not much cooler though – it was always hot in July.  That old pool we had, despite all the maintenance it required, sure sounds refreshing this week.

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This summer, our house is empty.  Only the cat’s toys are being tossed around for fun and games to play.

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It’s strange this year, that’s for sure, but, the funny thing is, I don’t feel quite as tired as I did back years ago when the action-packed month of July rolled around.

I’ve found time to play with my camera.

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To watch my flowers bloom.

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And to think about our daughters who are blooming where they’re currently planted.

So yeah, Happy Birthday Week, girls – we miss you and love you and can’t wait to see you soon!  If all goes well, they’ll be home to visit next weekend!   Yippeeeeeeeee!  Another reason to celebrate in July!

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I can’t forget to mention summer means Happy 4th of July to America too!

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I’m proud to be an American Empty Nest Mom! 🙂

Post Inspiration – Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Linda G. Hill’s prompt is “toss.” And thanks to Amy for hosting this week’s Lens-Artists #104 – Summer.

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PS – Happy summer to all of you!  Stay cool, stay safe, and spend lots of time enjoying your memory-making moments!  xx

 

30 thoughts on “Tossing summer memories around

  1. I’ll simply say what everyone else will say I’m sure … thanks so much for sharing these memories … which somehow become universal instantly, no matter how removed they may seem at first. And as we sit around … some of us too isolated … they are good, good company.

    1. Thank you, Ellen, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos and memories. I love it when you stop by to share time here at my blog. Sitting around and feeling isolated has been hard on all of us. I hope you’re well and have been able to get outside for some Vitamin D time.

  2. Where is the Northern Wisconsin Fair held? I think my folks used to go to the one in Madison, which is nowhere near Northern Wisconsin.

    1. The Northern Wisconsin Fair is in Chippewa Falls, WI. Just up the hill from Leinenkugel’s brewery. Madison is about 3 1/2 hours from Chippewa. I’m pretty sure all fairs in our state are cancelled this year. As well as other big tourism draws.

        1. No, that show takes place (or used to take place?) in Wisconsin Dells. I’m not sure what is taking place this summer with all the virus shut downs.

  3. What a lovely trip down summer memory lane. It’s so hard these days to wrap my head around the fact that we have to stay apart for so long from our kids. I hope your upcoming “reunion” with your daughters happens as planned. Sweet photos! Happy 4th to you as well.

    1. Thank you! Yes, I’m with you, that just doesn’t seem right that we can’t be with family. We’re super excited and hope it does work out for them to come visit. Happy 4th to you – I hope you have a great weekend!

  4. I so enjoyed your happy memories of your summertime. Beautiful photos of your family and lovely smiles. 🙂
    Happy 4th to you and your family, Shelley!

    1. Thank you, Amy, I appreciate your feedback and thank you for hosting the challenge this week. Happy 4th to you and your family – stay well!

    1. Thank you, Laura, I appreciate you stopping by. I hope you’re having a great weekend too. Stay safe!

  5. Aww I sure hope some of those things come back again. Especially community chips. Wink wink. Awesome memories.

    1. Yes, the community chip bowl, man, if that can’t ever come back, I’ll be really bummed!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts – I hope you’re having a fun-filled weekend!

  6. When you were enjoying all these fine things, you lived for the moment – luckily you captured a lot of these fun times to go back and see and relive again … you can’t make the kids younger and sadly,so many of these pastimes may not happen for a very long times.

    1. Yes, you’re right. We did take a lot of photos along the way.
      I sure hope we don’t lose the ability to let kids play freely and build immunity naturally.

  7. Some wonderful memories Shelley—they took me right back to those days! Lucky you to have family visit! Enjoy every moment

    1. Thank you for joining me Tina. I’m looking forward to the visit.
      I enjoyed the photos you shared – your area of the world is beautiful. I wish I could share some of the beach siting and the shrimp eating you get to enjoy on a regular basis. Or should I say scheduled around the sun basis? 😉

  8. Great photos. Y’all look like you were having so much fun. The smiles are wonderful. Memories then, maybe a different kind of memories now? [I had the same super short haircut back in the day.]

    1. Thanks Ally, we did, and do, have fun together. It will be different to see the girls now. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for new fun memories too. LOL on the hair – Pixies are fun, if they didn’t require such regular upkeep, I’d do that again.

  9. The older I get, the more I enjoy old family photos like these. Love this quote: And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling. – Shanti

    1. I’m with you on enjoying old photos more and more as I age. Now I can see why my mom held on to so many of them (that I still need to sort through some day).
      That quote made me smile too – it’s quite accurate.

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