I’m holding tight to this season. The swimming. The sunshine. The freedom. The eating-outside-so-there’s-a-clean-kitchen. We are still in it and I’m going to savor it as long as I can. Today I’m sharing What I’m Loving in July.
What I’m Loving in July
Independence
My kids are slowly, but surely becoming more independent. Swimming on their own. Swinging on their own. Playing in the backyard on their own. I still have an almost two year old who keeps me on my toes, but the older three are a trio playing and quarreling together. It’s a joy to watch them create games and made up worlds and explore together. And praise Jesus they still get up on my lap or cuddle with me on the couch when they are through.
Bike Shorts
If I could tell my 20 year old self she would be wearing bike shorts to playdates with her four kids, she would laugh in my face. But here I am, wearing bike shorts to playdates and not apologizing for it. My mom wore bike shorts when I was a kid and I remember looking back at pictures thinking they looked absolutely 1000% uncomfortable. Well, turns out I was wrong. (Sorry, Mom.) I want to wear bike shorts everyday because they feel, well, like nothing. I wear them for family bike rides, but I also wear them whenever I feel like it, which is often. My favorites are these from Lululemon.
Summer
Summer has slowly taken a back seat as my favorite season since moving out to the farm. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, there is just a lot of work that comes along with it. Mowing and weeding come to mind. However, this summer has been a turning point for me. Maybe because my kids are getting older. Maybe because this last year has been weird. Maybe because I’m embracing the season. Whatever the reason, I am truly, unabashedly loving summer. So much that, I might have a hard time when it’s gone.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
This might not be the most summer-y thing, but it’s still worth mentioning. For Father’s Day back in June, I made homemade peanut butter cups from Eating Bird Food. My husband hadn’t eaten ‘sweets’ in over seven years and he decided it was time to break his fast. He broke it well. These homemade peanut butter cups are my most favorite peanut butter cup ever. EVER. Dark chocolate, peanut butter, honey, sea salt. I made another batch a few weeks back to keep in the freezer. I don’t regret it.
The Garden
Although weeds are my nemesis, I still love the garden. This year the kids and I planted zinnias and sunflowers among the veggies. The zinnias have been a highlight this year. It’s so rewarding to watch color and life grow from a tiny seed. Zinnias will most certainly be an annual thing at our house moving forward.
There is so much to love about this time of year. What are you loving in July?