Summer comes to a close

Today marked the second to last weekday of summer for my kids. Hubby managed to stay home and attend a final zoo trip. First let me say how very thankful I am that Aunt D gives us a zoo membership every Christmas. I would not have ever asked for it, but because of it we are able to attend so much there that I cannot remember life without it. We had to miss horse lessons with G-ma (another blessing the children are unaware), but was a worthwhile cause.
Yes, it was 100 degrees give or take a degree with or without heat index. But, we manuevered in and out of cool areas, including wearing swimming suits for fun play in the fountains too. Overall we remained as cool as needed and enjoyed TONS of fun. Courtesy of Aunt Linda we had enough zoo bucks to see a awesome 3D movie, plus get a soda refill and nachos. We NEVER purchase food at the zoo so this was big. Attending the sea lion show was another first of the day and met with oo's and ah's to boot. Good stuff!
Daddy/Uncle Mike always adds another element to any outing that I take for granted. Funny with his firefighter schedule (24 hour shifts 10 days a month) and 2nd job 3 days a week it is easy to forget. Time is a precious commodity as a family. It used to be more difficult for us to mesh again after these common spaces of time apart. But somewhere past the 10 years married mark we finally figured it out. I will also add having AA for most of the summer made these last 2 weeks of the "true" 6 appear easy and magnificant.
Besides being comfortable and happy in the presence of my husband I am increasingly able to determine that I enjoy being an Aunt and mom with these kids. They are at the ages where they still want to participate in my shanigans of lessons, ideas, crafts and games but are old enough to converse with, debate topics to a degree and revel in what I enjoy. Can someone tell me how to capture all this into a snowglobe of sorts so I can return to it anytime?
Tonight after again being blessed by my Dad's availability to babysit the littler two while the big 2, hubby and I went to their school open house bedtime routine began. As expected they all wanted Daddy to wrestle/play with them. Tradition is a very good thing in this case. #1 even takes part. That is saying something since most everything else he acts like the plague is within the family. Hide and seek was the game of choice after we had an injury or two at wrestling. 6 rounds took place each starting by including #4 and practicing counting to 10 forwards, backwards and in Spanish.
Then for the final round #1 asked Daddy to be seeker and kids hider.#4 asked me to escort her during the entire activity. We hid in sissy's room behind the bed. She whispered the words quiet and sat very still. Sadly when Daddy began banging on doors near us she couldn't contain her excitement and giggled enough to be heard. Daddy played along acting suprised. How could you not wear a non stop smile with this amount of laughter, elated shrills and excitement?
#4 amazed me on the real trek to bed. She stopped long enough to pretend call G-ma. On this call she said; "Hello G-ma. I go nite nite. You see me tomorrow (pause) yes we ride horsie, I ride foxy..rose..lady. (pause) No, I play wittle bit. I see you tomorrow. Goodbye." Holy cow! She uses adjectives, prepositions and more. She knows time phrases such as today and tomorrow. She was counting along with us trying her heart out to make her fingers work like mine. Here is my last chance to teach her that world is within reach. Here is my last chance to do all that I wished I had done with the others while I am at home.
I am so glad I can stop and reflect each day. I am so glad I have God within me to stay positive that like the scripture says All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me. I am so glad we are covered in his favor, love and blessing overflows. I am so very glad!