"Summer" Vacation?!

I used to love summer vacation as a child...a whole three months without school...what could be better? I never understood why my mom would hesitate when I asked her if she was excited that school was out...I think that I am beginning to understand why now. Whenever I start getting notices in my kid's back packs that remind me that school is out soon and they need to get their library books returned...or their back packs come home with all of their school supplies...I begin to panic! It amounts to 2 1/2 months of being told a hundred times a day..."I'm board, I'm board, I'm board!" No matter what activities are planned...if there is ever a dull minute...I hear these magical words. Next, if my kids are board...what do you think they do about it? That would be summed up in "one" word...FIGHT! Summers are definately hard on mothers...no wonder we start doing a dance of celebration when our kids finally go back to school. Now that I have had my "vent" session...I really am proud of my kids and all of the activities they are doing to keep busy. Jonathan and Lilli are both in swim team...and go work out at 6:30 and 7:30 in the morning...Monday - Thursday. Jonathan is busy working hard to progress towards his black belt in karate class. He barely started this May...as a WHITE belt...he immediatly tested and got his YELLOW belt...and now on Saturday he is going to test for his ORANGE belt...he is a determined little man! Lilli is taking horse back riding lesson with my Sister Tricia...and from what I hear is a "natural" at it! Jared is busy attending a summer reading program at MacArthur...and always coming up with creative ways to express himself! Cosette and Savannah are inseperable...they have a love/hate relationship...and stick to eachother throughout the day. We have been blessed to have some really GREAT kids! They have their moments...like every child does...but they have the most loving, and tender hearts that a parent could ask for! I know that it seems like summer will drag on forever...but I'm sure I'll wake up soon one morning and rush my kids off to school. Then I will sit down on the couch and enjoy the silence...until Cosette and Savannah wake up! LOL!! ~ Christina