The Summer Child Home Tour

I hope you didn’t miss the Simply Summer Home Tour I just recently posted with my bloggy friends, Country Living and Birch Lane.  It was a lot of fun.

But this was the Summer Home Tour I really wanted to do.

This is the home I really wanted to show you.

This is the Summer that feels just right to me.

Initially, when I sat down to try to envision what a Summer home looked like to me, it was filled with the carefree Summer child.  It wasn’t about the props, the vignettes, the staging (though I’m certainly not saying I don’t enjoy those things).

It was about the life, the laughter, the lazy afternoons, that fill a home during those Summer months.

So today, I’m sharing with you The Summer Child Home Tour.  I love to play around with my camera and try to be the paparazzi to my kids and catch them in beautiful childhood moments.  I hope you enjoy this little glimpse at what our home more accurately looks like during the Summer.  But mama’s – don’t be discouraged.  I totally left out the fighting, the clutter, and the exhausted mother.  Wasn’t sure I wanted to document those forever 😉

Who doesn’t love a slow paced morning and lounging in pajamas until noon?  This girl truly soaks it in during the Summer.

It really fills my mama heart to see the kids get to play together more often.

We try our hardest not to fill our days too full, and enjoy things like play-dough and creating.

My oldest has been working her hardest to make hats for the local Family and Child Center.

The Summer days have allowed her to make 5 already!  So proud of her.

Our little guy pretty much stares outside all day, longing to go out.  I try to distract him with a vacuum, which is his favorite toy of choice.  Have at it boy!

These 2 are best little buds and really love to have the extra time to play together.

They are often found in la-la land and it is so entertaining to listen to their stories.

But sometimes we do get the “I’m so bored” look.

But I’ve learned to truly appreciate the help of an older child in the home.  As a mother of 4, Summer time proves to be the busiest season trying to keep up with everything, but moments like these help keep me together.

Of course, there is plenty of outside time as well.  The kids have to play in the sprinklers every time we water the lawn and move hoses.  I had to act fast to get this shot!

With the addition of a table on our porch, we’ve enjoyed snacks or tea parties out here almost every day.

And perhaps more lounging than necessary 😉

The kiddos pretty much live in simple skirts I like to whip up for them.  Just a rectangle with a gathered waste.  I’ve made so many I can make them in 15 minutes flat.

While the kids play outside, I can usually be found watching them on the porch swing, indulging in a magazine or playing on my phone.

They typically don’t leave me sitting there alone for too long 😉  Which is fine by me.

And pardon the panty shot – I guess husbands don’t notice those things behind the lens.  Or the grumpy 5 year olds.

But I won’t lie – the best part of a Summer day is winding down with baths and bedtime.  I’m usually more than ready for it!

And grateful for a little help once Daddy comes home.

P.S.  The only thing that makes me love these Turkish Towels from Birch Lane even more, is a fresh and clean and worn out 2 year old in them.

And it’s so good to see my DIY bath tub tray being put to good use.  

She loves her relaxing just about as much as I do.

Ahhhh, Summer.

Your days are long, but our hearts are full.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little peek into our days, and I hope we all strive to see the beauty in every day.  I know I struggle with this at times, but it is a gift I often pray for.

Thanks for being here and have a wonderful day!