Welcome, summer. Stay as long as you like.

Summertime has always meant a few things to me:  bare feet on a grassy pavilion listening to amazing music, cool beer on a patio cooking out with friends, storms over Lake Erie, tubing down the James, long days best utilized by staying up late gardening or swinging in the hammock, sunsets on Ridge Road, blazing heat in road training. 

Reading through that list, I probably won't get to do many of those things this year.  But I will get to see my family splashing in kiddie pools and playing in the grass.  I will get to watch Rowan and Avery roll around in only diapers, their baby fat rolls and bums bringing a laugh to Dave's face.  I will get to finally squeeze in a few date nights with my amazing husband, maybe strolling a little together like we did before babies. 

As so many things are an example of these days, our lives have certainly changed.  And while those changes are definitely intimidating in their finality, I'm becoming so very aware of the countless incredible memories we're making as a family. 

I can't even describe how excited I am about this summer.  When I was on bed rest.  When we were in the hospital.  When we were in the NICU.  When we were on house lockdown.  The whole time I kept saying to myself:  just make it to June.  Just wait for the leaves to turn green.  Just wait for the flowers, the sunshine, the warmth.  I am happy to report that it was worth the wait, and so much more.

This weekend was a fantastic start.