Five Lessons I Learned This Summer

Is it just me, or is it harder to adapt and adjust to things as we get older? I find that I really like my groove, and when something challenges that, it takes me longer than it used to to accept the change. Over the summer this happened a few times. Some of the lessons I learned are more trivial, and some I'm still adjusting to! I suppose that's all a part of growing though, right?

Here's five things that have stuck with me:

1. Addison and Tegan grew way more than I was prepared for.
The last time I bought them shoes and paid attention to the size, they were a size 2 and 3. We have bought them shoes since, but they were clearance rack shoes and I just bought what fit and didn't notice the size. This past week when I went to buy them school shoes, they were a size 7 and 8 in women's! I couldn't believe it, so I put Addison's foot next to mine, and sure enough, it was just a bit shorter! Between that and the "tween" stage hitting them, I'm having to adjust a lot, emotionally. Toddlers I'm used to, but being the mother of pre-teens? Am I even qualified for this?

2. Gardening is hard for me, and I felt like I failed at it this year, yet again. Myka made me feel better about it though.
Since I've been married, I have dreamt of having a lush, fruitful garden. Well let me tell you, the learning curve has been steeeeep with me! For one reason or another, I've never had a garden that produces more than a couple meals worth of veggies. Some years it has been nature's fault...but more often than not, it's mine. Seriously, do I HAVE to make every single mistake to learn not to do it? Can't I just research something, then do it right the first time?
Apparently not. This year, I left my freshly planted, black dirt garden for two weeks while I went to my in-laws. I came home to a jungle of weeds. Awesome, I know. It took the rest of the summer to even find some of my plants, and when I did, the results weren't great. Most of them got choked out, but a few scrappy veggies managed to hang on. I got four beets, one bunch of kale, a shopping bag of mini potatoes, a few beans and peas, and zero carrots. I felt like a failure once again. One day I was out there on the verge of tears, mentally lecturing myself on all the things I should have done differently. Myka, Danica and Sadie were searching through the mess of pea plants and finding a few.
Myka's voice snapped me out of my pity party. "Mmmm, mom, your garden is so delicious! I love it!"
At first I huffed and asked myself "what garden? I suck at this!" But then I stopped and watched them. They got so excited every time they found a pea they would break it open and eat the peas, and then show Sadie how to open and eat hers. It was pretty sweet, and made me appreciate the fact that my girls don't ever expect me to be perfect. They don't hold me to the same standards that I hold myself, and they have so much fun with much simpler things than I expect them to have fun with. Maybe the fact that my garden was more of an easter egg hunt than a harvest made it more fun for them, lol. Does that make sense? It made sense to me that day, and I think (hope) it will change the way I garden next year.

3. Fifth babies don't always equal "easily adaptable" babies. Sadie is spunky, and she hates sleep.
I just don't even want to talk about this one. I love that girl dearly, and she is so so much fun. She also apparently never needs to sleep.
I can't be too mad. It has gotten better in the past couple of weeks. It's about time, Sadie! Lol

4. The simplest things are the things that brought me the most joy this summer.
The day in the garden I mentioned above? That day was pretty awesome once I adjusted my attitude.
Some other days that made me happy this summer..
-having a BBQ with Daniel's side of the family on my in-laws deck.
-a quiet BBQ with a  couple from Daniel's job, just getting to know each other's families
-long visits with my mom, grandma, and sister
-sitting by the fire in our yard roasting marshmallows
-friends with kids coming to our house for a few hours...and sitting drinking iced coffee while the kids played.
-watching as all five of our girls played an elaborate make believe animal game on the trampoline. It's amazing how five kids can stay so entertained in a 14 foot diameter space for so long. Kids' imaginations are the best!
I appreciate good conversation, good humor, and good food. This summer was full of all three...and it went by much too fast!

5. Learning how to make cold brewed coffee is one of the smartest things I've done.
A friend told me about it years ago, but I really only started implementing it this year. It's awesome though.
-buy course ground coffee (my fav is the Folgers french vanilla infused coffee)
-pour about 2 cups of grounds into a large container. When I say two cups, I'm totally guessing, I never measured. I also used the Costco cereal Tupperware containers to make mine. I am not sure how much they hold....lots though.
-Fill container with cold water, put the lid on and leave at least 8 hours, or overnight in the fridge.
-using a fine strainer, strain coffee into jars or any other container. I used tall glass apothecary type jars from Ikea...it fills two of them
-store it in the fridge. When you want an iced coffee, put a couple ice cubes in a glass, squirt some syrup to your liking, fill about two thirds of the glass with coffee and the rest with milk. Perfection!
Maybe one day I'll do a proper tutorial with, you know, measurements and stuff, but for now, you get the point.

And now summer is over. The kids started school today, and our routine will return. I hope that means better sleep for Sadie!
Like I said, it went by way too fast, and I'm already looking forward to next year! I hope your summer was awesome, I have loved looking at everyone's photos on FB and IG over the past couple months :)