Looking Forward to Summer

I hate bugs. I sunburn easily. I hate how I look in a bathing suit and other summer weather clothing.... but, I am looking forward to summer.

The winters are always hard for us. My husband is a plow truck driver and so during really snowy winters I am alone with the kids.. a lot. I think Cece, at the ripe age of 4, may suffer from a certain degree of SAD. The days are short, the nights are long, I have really begun to hate the cold and let's face it... winter in Maine is looooong.

This winter was just like any other in all those respects. But this spring, even with the drive-me-crazy temperature fluctuations (one day is 90 the next is 50), I am looking forward to warmer days... not only that, warmer days OFF!

As a teacher I do get to enjoy a nice summer vacation. Some of that time is taken up with packing up from the previous year, planning for the upcoming year, job hunting (for some of us un-lucky folk), professional development and staff meet-ups. As a first year teacher with little or no commitments, job hunting will be the main thing on my list.

Aside from that, I am looking forward to spending more time with my kids. I have taken quite a bit of time this year to live more "green". We started a compost, we use cloth diapers, I am in the process of making some cloth boxes to store toys, fabric, etc. instead of buying plastic and I am making a better effort to turn things off before leaving for the day.

Still, there is more I can do. This summer I want to learn new ways to be more green. This includes, but is not limited to learning to use vinegar and baking soda as my main cleaning products, cooking items in bigger batches and freezing them so that I don't have to run the oven/stove every night (and this is better for our bodies), shortening up my shower time, running outside rather than running the treadmill, seeking out and purchasing as many items as I can (for what I need) from local markets and stores to support my local economy, and making a few of my usual products from home (soap, sugar scrub etc...).... oh, and I am going to blog about it.. of course!

There are also lots of things I want to do with Cece and Rex this summer. I found a great recipe for making paper, baking, and starting a science notebook/collection. Planting some flowers, watering them, visiting farms and markets and helping her to have a better appreciation of fruits and veggies and living and eating healthy.

I don't want to create a "to do" list that isn't manageable. I do want to stay busy and focused. I want to head into the next school year with renewed energy and a solid sense that I made a difference in the lives of my family members, and hopefully learn a few things along the way that I can share with my kids next year.