"When you're a girl, your dreams come true..."

This has definitely been the summer of leaps and bounds. At the end of the kindergarten school year, Madeline was reading (tentatively), swimming (while tightly holding onto a pool noodle), and riding her bike (with training wheels). Just a few months later, she is reading (confidently), swimming (back and forth and back and forth, in the eight feet deep water, while singing at the top of her lungs), and riding her bike (sans training wheels, and quite proudly). Tonight she is having a friend sleep over for the first time, and it feels like tomorrow she'll be packing for college. It amazes me to see her grow so quickly, and in so many areas. This afternoon gave me such a chuckle. She is an amazing free spirit. Normally we swim in the four foot water, and she practices swimming but is always aware of whether or not she can touch the bottom. This afternoon, as she watched me cross into the deep end, she blurted out, "I want to come with you!" We brought a noodle along "just in case," but it was quickly forgotten. The cutest part-- as she flitted around in the water, daringly dashing from here to there, she began to sing. Loudly. Unabashedly. "When you're a girl, your dreams come true. Your dreams come true. Your dreams come true. When you're a girl, your dreams come true..." I had to laugh as she swam around, unaware of who was listening, who she was swimming by, or who was smiling as she swam, floated, and sang; blissfully happy and without a care in the world. I love it.

My little Margo has also changed so much. She is quite the chatterbox, the boss, and the cuddler. In her best moments, she is goofy, grinning, and loving. In her darker moments, she is Ms. Terrible-Two. Ms. Tantrum. Ms. My-Way-or-the-Highway. Madeline wasn't quite this routine in her wishes, or dramatic in her reactions, so it has taken some getting used to. I know we have another strong personality in the making (shocking, I know). She is also the little monkey-see, monkey-do. Her older sister is her mentor, and at times it seems like everything Margo does is something she saw Madeline do. It's pretty funny, like today at the orchard when they were each singing "Donuts, donuts, last time we ate donuts" even though I'm pretty sure Margo doesn't remember that day. Regardless, it's adorable, and I enjoy watching her personality continue to develop. This fall will be a new challenge for us, as Madeline has full day school, and I look forward to settling into a new routine and seeing who she'll be next.

The summer has flown by, and I've practically forced it to slow down at this point. We've been filling our days with day trips, yet also trying to set aside time to stop and smell the roses. I feel like it's finally summer; ironically, as it is the first week of August. We've been to the Zoo, the Mansion, the Pool, the Orchard, the Picnic; and soon, the Drive-In, and Backyard Camping Night in our friends' yard. The memories have been made and I can't wait for whatever remains in store. And for now, I'm off to sit on the deck on a cool night, and enjoy the sounds of silence (and chirping crickets). Happy summer!