summer thoughts

It's mid July. Summer had a cool and wet start to it, but we are now starting to kick it up a notch, with hot days and all sorts of summery things. 
We just returned from a 5 day camping trip to Ingonish, Cape Breton. We had gone there 2 years ago, when Wes was one and a half. We had only spent two nights there in 2017, so this time, we chose to stay four nights, and it was very nice. 
Lets be honest here, camping with three kids and a dog is not exactly a relaxing vacation by any means, but as the years go by, it becomes more and more apparent, that time is moving by far too quickly, and that these memories that we are making with our children will last forever in their minds. It's hard to believe that we just have a handful of summers with Noah before he becomes too old to hang out with us. Of course I'll still drag him to places with us- but it won't be the same. He's getting older, and I need to enjoy this time that we have. 
As hard as camping was (lack of sleep due to the 5 am wake up call from the crows, bright sun at 5:30 AM), I also see the value of camping with kids. On top of their excitement for sleeping in a tent and having campfires every night, camping made them see that we have to work together as a family to make it enjoyable. We all found ways to help - setting up camp, cooking, washing dishes, making a fire, watching Wes, tearing down camp - as family we had to work together to make it successful. Definitely an important lesson to take from it. 
Over the next few weeks we will be busy, but we will also find time to just relax. Katia will be doing tennis camp, Noah will be attending overnight camp, we have the Nimans coming to visit, a cottage booked with Winslow's sister and family in PEI, and then my sister is coming to visit us for the last week of August. In amongst all that, I hope there will be days at the beach, days in Halls Harbour, ice cream and BBQs, reading, painting and crafts, and just hanging out. We have our little pool set up in the backyard, and we're just waiting for some really hot days so that we can enjoy it. Also, one of my most simple summer pleasures? Drinking coffee on my back deck, first thing in the morning.
Happy summer dear friends, may there be many simple summer pleasures for you!