An Abundance of Joy

Saturday, September 18

end of august and into the 9th month

the start to her new school year

5th grade

the start to my new school year

and

the start to

my 44th year of life.

Saturday, September 4

summer, week 9

Blue sky and sunshine.

What a wonderful way to wrap up a summer.

Kerr girls with LDC

The norm...stair step fashion.

Summer is over.

Time to officially remember what day of the week it is.

Sigh.

Till next year my darling.

Saturday, August 14

summer, week 8

Her birthday is not until September but we decided to give a

summertime-birthday-slumber-party

a try.

Success.

Snapshots from the par-yeah.

10 going on 21

(not my car)

(double not letting my kid drive at this age)

friends since little babies

instead of a birthday cake, she wanted a piñata full of her favorite candies

(blowing out the birthday candle)

pool fun

and games including...

toss the cheetos

(hysterical sticky fun)

“In the summer, the days were long, stretching into each other. Out of school, everything was on pause and yet happening at the same time, this collection of weeks when anything was possible.”

— Sarah Dessen

Sunday, August 8

summer, week 7

What’s funnier: mountain ranges or forests?

Mountains, of course- they’re hill areas.

Off to the mountains we went.

First stop.

Salem...for...

a delicious homemade tropical treat

feather hunting and finding a well hidden turtle

SUP fun on Lake Keowee

and

berry picking.

(suited up for the annoying pesky flies)

Second stop.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Smokemont Campground

elk, evidence of wild hogs and river tubing

waterfalls, hammock swinging, and campground bike riding

the girls holding up 6 fingers- representing our 6th Annual Mountain Trip

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”

– John Muir

Thursday, August 5

summer, week 6

Week Six consisted of staring at a computer screen.

Literally.

7 1/2 hours each day.

My online course and certification, complete.

LDC's checklist while I was "in school"

Tuesday, August 3

What am I doing?
a) running to see a sea turtle coming ashore
b) running to change the timer setting on the camera
c) running for a big shell that the tide was about to pull out to the ocean
d) running for my Bloody Mary that was about to tip over

Answer is at the end of the post.

Question 2

What is LDC doing?
a) freezing her brain so she has an excuse not to do her summer math
b) her head hurts and the ice feels really good
c) trying a new fashion style

d) her goggles hurt her eyes so she wanted the ice pack to make it feel better

Answer is at the end of the post.

(LDC came up with the answer choices- hysterical)

Relaxation continues!

Our 2nd week on Jekyll included:

lots of fun catches

(and one not so...enjoyable catch...why do snakes and snake like creatures always find me...

dad worked his magic and both eels made it safely back into the water.

yes, "both eels".)

setting up our beach spot almost daily

(do you not feel as if you have burnt a gazillion calories when you set up/break down your beach spot and then head home??

obviously, from the picture above, I do not travel light but still.)

watching nature (marine and terrestrial) unfold every day and evening

lots of porch sitting and reading

the most important people in your life are the ones you sit on the porch with.

-J.C.

some years the waves at Jekyll are no bueno

this year, constant fun rides and laughter

no clue who the four people are in the background but this picture of the pink boogie board and hand just makes me smile...guaranteed LDC came up with a huge smile on her face.

This encompasses our beach trip.

Huge smiles.

Question 1 Choice D

d) running for my Bloody Mary that was about to tip over

Question 2 Choice D

d) her goggles hurt her eyes so she wanted the ice pack to make it feel better