Last night Kristin and I were out to dinner for our anniversary, 17 years, and I lamented that we probably always spend our anniversary dinner with me falling apart a little over being at the precipice of school starting and not ready for the kids to officially be __ graders. This year it’s 3rd and 5th; Jonah’s last year of elementary school. I’m never ready for any of it, really, but it seems like there’s always a reason to feel like this milestone is more significant than the last.

It was a good summer though, probably our most-full so far. It was almost too much travel, with all of the packing and unpacking and re-packing for the next trip, but that sounds ungrateful and I’m thankful for all of it. We just might do a bit less next year.

My camera has been broken since mid-July, and I’ve been feeling somewhat lost without it. I’ve learned over time that taking photos helps me stay present, truly notice the beauty of it all, and forget the sense of rushing time for a just a moment because at least I captured this one, so perhaps I won’t forget it entirely. And then when I sit down to edit the photos I get to re-live it, relish in those beautiful moments again. It’s very grounding. And I haven’t been writing at all, perhaps because I’m trying to go to bed earlier and there’s no other time for it besides the late night hours, but I’m sitting down to do it now because maybe that will be a balm for these weeks of missing my camera.

We finally made it to Disney, and it was hot and stressful but also full of delights: Rallying after a 10-mile walk day and running to catch Hagrid’s Motorbike ride just before the park closed feels like a core memory, somehow getting lucky enough to miss all of the torrential downpours each day, Jude and Vivienne riding all of the “big” rides and loving them, Jonah finding joy in the Haunted Mansion and Pirates and the small, simple things (and being SO incredibly good natured about waiting while the rest of us rode big rides). The boys loved everything Star Wars, and we all loved Wizarding World. The pool at Hard Rock Hotel, watching a thunderstorm move across the sky through the palm trees from the porch, it all felt as epic as that kind of a trip ought to feel.

And then there was camping, all of our favorite spots. I worried that Hocking Hills wouldn’t be quite as magical the second time, but I was wrong. It was gorgeous.

And then Fisherman’s Island, also for the second time. I truly cannot imagine a better campsite. Good friends, so much laughter, that gorgeous lake and what feels like a private beach, finding Petoskey and Charlevoix stones and crayfish and beach glass.

And Mackinac, our longest running summer tradition. We talked this year about doing something else next year (when this year’s neighbors felt like a bit much) but when the ferry pulled into the dock on the island, Kristin turned to me and said, “You know, I really do think I would miss this if we didn’t do it.” And she’s right.

Beyond the travel there was a scattering of many other activities. Two gymnastics camps for Vivienne. Parkour camp for the boys. Sleep-away camp for Vivienne and Jonah. And the end to the summer festivities was the P!nk concert in Detroit as a family, which was so incredibly fun. Watching the kids sing along was a good reminder that I do love spending time with them as “big kids” – this age is so much fun. I miss the babies and toddlers, I miss putting them in a baby carrier, I miss the funny things they said, but I also love them right now.

Jonah is so affectionate and caring. He notices when one of us is sad or stressed out and offers us a 20-second hug. He’s also unafraid to walk up to us and simply say, “Can I have a hug?” He’s the most curious person I’ve ever met; he’s constantly looking things up and sharing facts from memory that I’ve never heard before. He seems unconcerned about starting school again, and is actually rather excited about math AT (because supposedly they’ll do coding this year) and the start of an extracurricular robotics program this fall. His laughter brings me so much joy, and he’s so amused by witty word jokes, AI fails, and his own goofy pranks on his family members (usually in search of connection).

Jude has always been the child with the most baby left in him, but sadly I do think that’s beginning to fade. His legs look so long now. He wakes up with lots to say, ready to start an activity whether it’s reading or art or a puzzle. He still has a beautiful imaginative world, he’ll tell you all about the dragon world, and I hope he keeps that forever. These days he loves video games more than almost anything else, but he also still loves art and camping and just being with his family. He fell in love with parkour this summer and is looking forward to a ninja class this fall. He’s the least enthusiastic about school, so we really hope his year will bring some unexpected joy.

Vivienne has been so committed to gymnastics this summer. She’s been working hard to make the level 4 team this fall (and succeeded!), and continues to dream big dreams about her future and put in the work to get there. She loves all things fashion, and social situations come fairly easily to her. She loves to make and do kind things for people, whether that’s cards or drawings for occasions, writing letters, or buying stickers and other trinkets as gifts. She loves music and dancing, and I can’t believe that I get to take her to Taylor Swift next year.

I’m never ready for the end of a season, but this summer has been a very good run. Lots to reflect on and be grateful for.