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Tomorrow is August 1st.

We are coming down to the end of Summer 2012 and what a summer it has been. I remember sitting at my desk back in March, surrounded by pamphlets and print-outs of the various activities I would enroll the girls in once school let out. The plan was for them to do an activity for a week, then have a week at home where they did nothing and so on for the duration of the summer. The whole thing would culminate with our family trip (notice I said trip, not vacation) to Martha’s Vineyard in August.

After I had completed sign-ups, remitted payments, bought supplies, and made all the arrangements, part of me felt like I had over-scheduled the girls.  I mean, it is summer time, afterall.  When would they just sit around and get bitten by mosquitoes? Catch lightening bugs and run through the sprinkler? Would there be time to grill out, get their mouths stained from Flavor-Ice and get their knees all gravelly  from doodling up the driveway with sidewalk chalk? Add the early arrival of their new baby sister (SN: of course a baby is new, isn’t it redundant to say “new baby”? is there such a thing as an old baby?), it seemed like the summer plans were off the chain in their up to the minute busyness.

Then, I looked at the calendar. July 31st. Everything is done.  They’ve been to Riverside Outfitters, they’ve been to RMS Survivor Camp. They’ve been to art camp and swimming lessons.  They have spent the week with my parents where they ate Chinese food for breakfast, stayed up late every night, and had a free-for-all in the Dollar Tree when my dad gave them each a fiver  and a shopping cart.  They’ve gone to the museum, the zoo, paint your own pottery and the playground.  They saw fireworks, waved sparklers and ran around with glow necklaces and bracelets as the sun faded from a red welt into a purplish haze.  They’ve gone to the movies, the pool, and have played, played, played upstairs in the playroom.  They’ve been to Target, to Barnes and Noble, and Build-A-Bear Workshop picking out books and toys.  They are having the best.summer.ever.

I’m jealous.

August is peeking over the horizon and I’m stunned.  The summer had stretched so far in front of us for so long, I’m surprised to actually see it come to an end.  I feel like I was just writing about our plans and how I was looking forward to the start of the summer.  Thankfully, we’ve got our last hurrah before it’s all said and done — the Vineyard.  Even though we’re going to be driving (*shudder*), I have to say that I’m really looking forward to it.  We’re committed to making this pilgrimage part of the Dixon family history and this year, we’re going to introduce Miss Vivi to it.  The guest room has become a staging area for towels, sheets, beach gear, clothes and the usual detritus that makes its way into suitcases and duffel bags.

The end of the summer is always a transition and this year is no different.  I’m marveling at how in a few short weeks, I’ll have a seven year old (August 23rd, and yes, Mo is reminding everyone and anyone in a 2 foot radius), a rising kindergartner and a 3 month old.  Fast forward another week or so and we’ll be full on into the school year and all the stuff that goes along with it (you know I’m talking about all things pumpkin!).

But I’m getting ahead of myself here. Time to enjoy the last few hours that July has to offer before fully wrapping my arms around August.