The End of Summer {and End of My Unscheduled and Very Long Hiatus from Blogging}

It's Labor Day weekend.  The official end of summer.  Unfortunately, here in Yuma, it's nowhere near the end of the heat.  Triple digits are a reality until Halloween.  Seriously.

The official end to MY summer came about a month ago when I started back to work.  It was a week and a half after that when I saw those sweet faces for the first day of school.  So far, so good on the first 12 days.  Just 168 to go.  Really, though, I'm teaching 4th grade this year (after 5 years in 2nd grade) and the group of kids I have (just 19!) are sooo awesome!  This year is gonna be EPIC!

To sum up my summer and my goings-ons while I was absent from blogging....it was great!


David and Mommy went to Disneyland in June.
We hung out with my aunt, uncle, and cousins for a mini family reunion.

We rented a cabin and the 3 of us enjoyed the cool air and pine trees of the Mogollon Rim in central AZ.  The boys fished A LOT!



Momma made some feminine hygeine products, zipper pouches, and bought some undergarments for girls in African orphanges.  I wrote about it here.



I started collecting change for The Shine Project.

I got a new ride.  Yes, it's a minivan, but don't call me a soccer
mom just yet.  I rock out to Sex Pistols and Social Distortion
while I'm cruising the streets of Yuma, taking my kid to gymnastics
class and going grocery shopping.



Perfect end to a perfect summer.

There was a lot of stuff in the in-between, too.  Such as river float downs, BBQing hot dogs in the park as an outreach with my small group, movies with my tiny boyfriend, and afternoon naps.  Except for the extreme heat, I love summer!  But, I'm not all that sad to see it end.  It's the start of a new season (soon), the beginning of a new school year, and cooler temps are right around the corner.  And, here's to being back in the blog world.  It's the end of summer, and my hiatus is over.  I'm back, baby!

Happy Labor Day.  Happy end to summer.

It's Good to BEE Queen: Queen Bee Market...Again!

I'm going!  Who's joining me?!

Happy Fourth of July! {and I'm on Vacation}

Source: flickr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Hooray for Independence Day!  Hooray for America!

 I love summer.  I love red, white, and blue.  I love America.  I love stars.  I love fireworks.  So, of course, I LOVE the Fourth of July!  It's pretty much my favorite holiday.

Source: marthastewart.com via Lauren on Pinterest

  

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Happy birthday, USofA!

Source: google.com via Lauren on Pinterest

    

And, thanks for noticing that I have been MIA for a little bit (you noticed, right?!).  Well, I have been on vacation.  Literally on vacation, out of town.  The Little Stinker and I went to Disneyland for a few days and now me and the Hubs plus the Little Stinker are fixin' to go to some cooler parts for a while.  Deets and photos to follow. 

Peace out!

 

 



Officially Summer {You Can Find Me at the River!}

Summer is officially here.  And right out the gates she's not holding anything back with it being as hot as the surface of the sun 115 degrees today.  Yes, that is one hundred fifteen.  One, One, Five.  I know, right?! But, it's a dry heat.  Like my oven.

So, when you are exiled to anywhere that's wet or air-conditioned, what kind of options do you have?  My son can only sit in a cart and walk around Wal-Mart or Target for so long, you know.  And, at $5 a pop, visiting the local aquatic complex isn't a daily option.  Oh yeah, and my backyard is about as inviting as Death Valley in July.  Dirt and the heat of a million burning suns.  Yuck.

Thank goodness God had the foresight to create a little wonder called the Colorado River a few eons ago.  It ain't glamourous, pretty, or have crystal blue waters.  But that water runs cool when I dip my feet and the price is right!

Last week the bestie and I took the kiddos to the river for some free, cool fun.  We found a little inlet with a slow current and was only ankle to knee deep.  It was the perfect spot for everyone to play, have a good time, and be water-safe.  We're going back again today.

And who doesn't love some float down action?!  Saturday marks the 2nd annual Brandi Bender Birthday Colorado River Float Down.  Whoot!  Whoot!  It'll just be me, a nice inflatable, lots of sunscreen, and 4 hours of just going with the flow! Oh yeah, and about 5-7 other people.  Good times!

So, there's my answer to beating the summer heat.  If you need me, I'll be at the river!