The Last Day of Summer

Dear Jack,

Every year, I think The Last Day of Summer celebration gets a little bigger. More folks seem to be joining us and as you and your sister get older, you can go longer and do more. Pretty soon, the limiting factor won't be you; it will be me!

This year, we took nine kids... all five and younger, and most of them two like yourself... and seven adults. Not a bad ratio, really, but still enough of a group that all of the teachers were acting like we were on a field trip and counting heads at every transition. We had our family, Mrs. Hazen, Peter and Danielle and two little boys that Mrs. Hazen was baby sitting. Mrs. Shelby brought her son. Mrs. Robinson took off work especially for the last day and brought Andrew, of course. My friend Elissa came with her son, Ben, and then Mrs. Edwards also joined us.

We all met up at the Austin Science and Nature Center when they opened at nine in the morning. You and your sister and Andrew were the first ones to arrive and your dad took you right to the Dino Pit before it got too hot.

From there, it was on to the stream! My friend Elissa and her son, Ben, were late and missed out on playing in the stream. She did not seem too unhappy about that....

By the time everyone was in dry clothes and had looked at the animals, it was time for lunch and we packed up and headed to the Umlauf. After assuring the docents that we would not be spreading crumbs (or trash) in the gardens, we had a little picnic on their patio.

Then it was on to the actual garden to see the statues. I appreciated Carol Edwards taking pictures again.

Your dad also thought it was funny to get a "behind the scenes" picture of Carol shooting pictures and the mamas trying to get nine young children in the frame.

We also got your dad to use Carol Edwards' SLR to take a group picture that actually included Carol (the photographer never gets to be in the pictures, as I well know). I wish I had arranged for him to take pictures with one much sooner... the day after The Last Day of Summer, your dad had figured out how to buy one used from a friend for about half price.

From the Umlauf, our youngest friends and Carol bowed out and went home for naps and errand running (respectively). The rest of us went over to the Children's Museum.

You had a great time playing with the main exhibit with all of its brightly colored golf balls. "Two balls, two balls!" I heard you shooting excitedly, and I looked over and there you were, with four balls... two balls and two balls. Smart boy.

Other than the main exhibit, you spent most of your time serving and eating food with Ben. Elissa and I tried not to be too grossed out as the two of you could not help but try the play food. It looks so real!

Just before the inevitable meltdown, we left the Children's Museum to put kids in the car for car naps. We all drove around until the naps were out and then met back up at Kiddie Acres.

I love how these group shots get smaller and smaller as the day progresses... a sign of our dwindling numbers in the face of such exhausting fun!

For one of the first times, you really enjoyed the rides, although you still gave me a little pouty face as the ride went away from where I was standing and then grinned at me as it came back. I think you may have been playing your mama, there.

Your favorite part of Kiddie Acres, though, was the ice cream treat. Yummy!

From Kiddie Acres, we met back up with Mrs. Hazen and her kids at her pool.

You and your dad enjoyed playing in the water. Everyone else enjoyed when I made your dad stop spraying everyone in the face with the water cannon.

I actually brought pajamas to the pool; Mrs. Hazen provided the baby body wash and we washed you and dressed you for bed at the pool.

Mrs. Shelby provided the Rice Krispy's.

We drove you and your sister home, put each of you in a different bed in front of a different movie and then I went off to participate in the newest Last Day of Summer tradition: the Last Day of Summer Happy Hour.

As a special bonus, my friend Jerri was even able to join us for that portion.

It was a long, long, long, long, long, long, long day.

But it was so very worth it and it captured perfectly the spirit of this summer.

I cannot believe our summer is over. I mean, I know I have two weeks after this one, in which I am in workshops all five days, but I do have to get my room ready and do my back to school shopping. And there is something nice about having a day or two to myself to recharge my batteries before the new school year. So while my summer still has some time left in it, your summer really is over. You were back at day care today. All summer long, you cried when I left you, but somehow today you understood the routine was on (maybe because I got you there on time for once) and let me go with a kiss and a wave.

The summer is over.

I'm going to miss it, but I cannot for a minute say we didn't make the most of it!

Love,
Mom