Summertime is for...

Once again I see that I haven't posted anything for a while, so its time for a new one and one with pictures!

My last post came close to the end of my first year of Grad School, stress levels were high and summer couldn't come soon enough.  Now I'm looking ahead to another school year.  I'm expecting this to be a challenging year since in 9 months time I will be graduating with a Master's degree and preparing for yet another new adventure.

The kids will be heading into 4th and 2nd grades this year, which on one hand makes me feel old but on the other very appreciative that my children are coming into their own and becoming interested in the world around them.  They are at good ages.  I'm still sad that my little babies are gone, I get significantly less snuggles now and I'm sure this school year will bring more "Moooomm, I don't want to hold your hand!" or "Can you please not kiss/hug me in front of my friends." Seems like every age you lose something you cherished about your kids (i.e. snuggle time, baby giggles, general smallness) but gain something new (i.e. conversations, curious-awake minds, greater ability).  Just like my own aging process I try to remember to enjoy each age, each stage as it comes and not rush through it.  But, before this becomes a sad and sappy post about times long gone lets focus on the present and the present is SUMMERTIME!



So, what have you been up to this summer?  I hope its been as much fun as mine.  This year we've really made an effort to step up our outdoor activities mostly through hiking.  Being in San Diego is such a great place for it too and now I can say I have kids who climb mountains!!

6 to be exact and still counting.  As of 2 weeks ago we had completed all five peaks within Mission Trails Regional Park (Cowles Mountain, Pyle's Peak, Kwaay Paay, and North and South Fortuna) plus one extra (Iron Mountain).  Our goal was and is, to complete all the trails in the park and to climb as many mountains within our area as possible.

My dear sister has been our hiking companion on these adventures, and every so often we add in an additional person, or two, in the form of a friend or other family family member.  I'd like to think that besides the physical benefits of hiking, my kids are also learning how to push through challenges to a happy finish.  Granted they make light work of climbing peaks, especially compared to poor-old-mommy and auntie, but while we are out strengthening our bodies our minds have also been getting a healthy dose of mental endurance. These hikes have truly become Physical and Mental Therapy and while I can't exactly speak for the others, I for one feel fantastic because of it!

Besides our adventures in the mountains we've spent some time at the beach.  Not as much as prior years, but its summertime in San Diego so there have been a couple of beach runs, a bonfire and just some general silliness to be had.  Additionally we became Zoo Members this year so we've put in our time enjoying Koalafornia and what both the Zoo and the Safari Park have to offer.  Birthdays and Balboa Park deserve a mention too since they have contributed to an all around good summer that has been made even better with family and friends.  I really hope that we keep up our San Diego explorations throughout the school year, but if not I'm sure that by next summer we'll have a new list of adventures.

And now it's time to prepare for a new school year.  Summer is winding down.  The days are growing shorter, the landscape getting drier, and the nights getting cooler.  Time to pull out the backpacks, put on our thinking caps and recommit to another academic year.  For all the adventures behind us there are even more ahead and while I'm always sad to see summer go, I look forward to what fall, winter and spring have to offer.

So until my next post, which will no doubt be more academic, I hope you all enjoy to the fullest, the last days or weeks of summer that remain for you.