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Summer time...and the livin' is easy!

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Is there anything better than summer vacation? I mean, really, when you were a child, wasn't that the best time, full of the best memories? For so many reasons, I feel so blessed to have been called to a career in education, and summer vacation is like the cherry on top! Eight weeks of staying up late watching movies, wearing shorts and no make up, last minute road trips and tons of time with my growing boy.

Seven years of marriage! No itching here!
It's even more enjoyable now that Jeff is also enjoying his summer off. Sort of. Oh, you haven't heard about Jeff's endless teaching? While I look forward to spending my time with little to no formal schedule, Jeff has diligently taken on two rounds of summer school. The first was a continuation of his primary teaching job, helping seniors pick up just one or two more credits to graduate. The second is teaching incoming sixth graders in a program designed to aid the transition to middle school and hopefully reduce the chance those students end up in his credit recovery program six years later.

Despite Jeff's summer teaching, we have been very lucky to take some fun summer trips this year! We started by visiting my family in Maple Valley, although I don't seem to have pictures of that.

 Then, a road trip to Boise to meet Nathan's new baby cousin Elliot and celebrate Independence Day.

These beautiful fireworks were right above the house.

Nathan, JD and Elliot


 I flew to Sacramento for four days of AVID Summer Institute. AVID is one of the classes I teach. It was great to have a hotel room to myself and go out to eat and hang out with my AWESOME colleagues.
Is this my pageant pose?!?



Then, off to a weekend at the beach with Jeff's extended family. It is always fun to watch the mass of second cousins playing together and it was even more fun just to watch Nathan patiently play in the sand.
Our beach house in Netarts, OR
A room with a view.

Nathan LOVES playing in the sand on the water at the beach.


Nathan wasn't deterred by the cold water on his toes and would have gone back for more.



Back home, Nathan is still going to school twice a week, which is a great social time for him and quiet time for us. We have visited the library, the park, the mall, Jeff's school, the Vancouver Farmer's Market and lounged around the backyard. Jeff made Nathan a super cool fort out of some cardboard boxes, which he has saved in the garage for more than a year, just for this purpose.



Lastly, a camping trip in Newport, OR with friends. We spied on the fish at the aquarium, and played on the beach on a BEAUTIFUL sunny day.


Our friend Megan shooting her son Bennett with bubbles!

Since returning home, life around the Davolt household has become even crazier, but I'll explain that in another post. In the meantime, I'm trying to enjoy every minute of these last four weeks or so of summer vacation.

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