Summer Time Blues

I'm really not "blue" that the sun is setting on summer. I'm excited about the year to come... but summer was just so dang wonderful, it's going to be hard not to miss it just a little bit. Here are some of my summer highlights:

-Getting to be on the lake with my family for 3 days. I LOVE being on the water. Boating, skiing, swimming, I love it all. And this is what my family has always done together, so it was really nice to reunite and enjoy time together. My mom and I got brave, climbed up a waterfall in an attempt to rope-swing off. I can proudly say that I chickened out and climbed back down and my brave mama did not. She reached out on the ledge of the waterfall, grabbed that rope and swung/jumped down like a champ. I <3>

- Mexico with Tyler's family. It was restful, fun, beautiful and rejuvinating. I laid on the beach, played a little bit of (slightly lame, but still fun) volleyball and spent time with people that I love a lot. Bliss.

- Staycation 2010 with my sweet husband, Tyler. We stocked up on Groupons (if you know nothing of this, do yourself a favor and check it out, ESPECIALLY if you live in a place with really wonderful restaurants that you want to try but can't afford to do very often: groupons.com) We ate at great Austin-y restaurants, got massages, spent time together and even went to see the Summer Zilker Park Musical, Annie. (Someone needs to pat Tyler on the back for doing that with me. I don't think he hated it, but it probably wasn't at the top of his list of things he wanted to do :) What a sweet man he is.)

-Reading lots of books. I feel like that's ALL I did this summer, and it was truly glorious. Among the books I got to enjoy this summer are:

House Rules by Jodi Piccoult: A young boy with Asperger's is accused of a murder. Jodi Piccoult's writing is fascinating and so in depth and she lets you in to each character's mind. So good!

The Pact by Jodi Piccoult: An attempted suicide pact between a teenage couple goes awry and the blame is placed on the boyfriend involved. One of Jodi's earlier novels. I was completely entrenched in the story line and it left me depressed for a few days. I wouldn't recommend it simply because it was so dark. But that doesn't mean it wasn't stinkin' awesome.

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Piccoult: I know, I probably seem a little obsessed. And maybe I am... but I just know that I love her writing and she's my go-to when I need a good book. In this case, I had been traveling from Mexico all day, was about to get in the car for a 9-hour drive to Mississippi for Lake Vacay with my fam and needed an Audio book to get me through. It was a good choice and kept me intrigued. However, I found that I don't really enjoy audiobooks as deeply as I do real books. Maybe it's the fact that my attention is so divided?? Either way, it was good.

Sarah's Key by Tatianna deRosnay: A very shocking and sad story about the French roundup of Jews as ordered by Germany during the Holocaust. Read it!!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett: Another eye opening novel. This one centers around African American maids in the 1960's and their relationships with their bosses and their children. A hopeful and redemptive ending. It was probably my favorite I read all summer.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Mcguire:

I REALLY enjoyed this book. The political nature of the book surprised me (having seen the musical... FYI-it's really nothing like it) but I deeply enjoyed it and fell in love with Elphie and her plight to be accepted and known even in her crazy days. It actually made me appreciate the musical even more, despite how different they are.

What was YOUR favorite part about summer 2010?

And here we are. August 10th. I'm headed back up to my classroom for only the 2nd time this summer to get ready for some sweet kiddos. I can't wait to post everything that will be happening within the next year. Hopefully I'll stay on top of my blogging game :)

Enter Classroom Insanity and Joy!

Lauren