Summer has and hasn't ended. Holly's been in school for one week, but the weather is still summery and warm. I'm full of emotion over the close of this summer season, not only because summer has ended, but it's also the close of a season of life. How I've enjoyed these last 5 years of mothering, of being at home with my children and my children at home with me. If only it had no end... But here we are. Holly has begun her school years and so we now have early mornings, and life revolves around a schedule that a system has set for me rather than my own, likely for the next two decades. How short those 5 years were!
I should be reflecting on the positive. This summer has been beautiful, even if I didn't do as much as I'd hope. We made some splendid memories and had sweet moments. My daughters played endlessly with each other and we went on an amazing vacation.
I'm torn between not wanting this season - summer and my babies being at home with me - to end, and wanting to stay in bed for a week and cry because school is my reality.
I'm so grateful I have these beautiful memories to cherish (if only I could remember more) and photographs to adore.
I love being a mother.
Are you tired of my San Diego pictures yet? I'm not even close to being done.
La Jolla was gorgeous. We found a little side beach that according to a local is a hidden treasure, so we were pleased to have found it. The weather was just gorgeous and Conor and I were uncomfortably sunburnt (luckily it did not ruin the trip!). We wised up and I finally convinced Conor that an umbrella is a good idea. We loved playing in the rough waves and I enjoyed swimming out to where I could no longer touch. Honestly, the ocean scares me a little. It's stronger than I could ever comprehend. I haven't spent enough time in it to feel fully confident in it's waves. It's always quite cold up north and so I never truly realized my adrenaline inducing fear of the ocean until this trip. It's interesting that something that can give my soul so much peace and solace can also inspire fear.
This was our first day with the boogie board - a worthy investment. We all loved it and filled our swimming suits with sand.
The first day we visited Coronado Beach was our only ill-weathered day of our trip. San Diego gets on average 9 inches of rain per year, so the odds were against rain while we visited, but I suppose we just lucked out. We couldn't feel too awful about it because we still enjoyed the beach and CA so desperately needs rain. Anyways, still had fun, still made memories.
Holly had her first day of kindergarten this morning. I'm not sure what to write about this new phase in life. I'm very sorry it's come so soon. I'm excited for Holly and I don't want to let her go. It's a big mix of everything. Holly took the day on perfectly. Going to kindergarten didn't seem to throw her at all. She just did it. Hopefully the transition will continue to go so smoothly for her. We sure will miss her when the full days of school come around. She's such a wonderful girl!
We visited the Cabrillo national monument, where the first European first stepped foot on California. The monument is on Point Loma and the views of San Diego were beautiful! On one side of the point is the monument, at the end on center is an old lighthouse (no longer in use), and on the far side is cliffs and tide pools (and a coast guard station). My phone thought I was abroad (in Mexico). It was a fun outing and felt reasonably appropriate for a Sunday afternoon.
