Sunday, August 30, 2015

End of Summer by Diane Burton



The end of August reminds me that summer is ending. Kids will go back (or start) school in another week. Here in Michigan, it’s the law—I’m not kidding—that schools cannot start until after Labor Day. Tourism might suffer. My granddaughter is anxiously looking forward to starting third grade, while my grandson is just anxious. After five years of daycare and preschool, he starts kindergarten. My daughter is singing “Halleluia” that both kids are now in the same school.

I remember when my life revolved around the school year. First as a student, then as a teacher, and finally as a parent. What a relief when both kids were on their own so Hubs and I could take vacations whenever we wanted. I love traveling in the fall. The colors are phenomenal and well worth trips Up North.

When we moved to our new house almost two years ago, it was to be close to our grandkids. This summer, we've seen more of them than ever. Daylong visits and overnights, together and sometimes separately. Hubs let grandson help build an HO model train car. Bo-ring, according to g'son. This from the kid who assembled a Lego Death Star that had a 92-page instruction manual. Building a birdhouse to take home was more fun. I'm teaching g'daughter to sew clothes for her American Girl doll. At least it isn't a Barbie. I don't know how my mom had the patience to sew Barbie clothes for my sister. 


Besides all the visits from the kiddies (planned and impromptu), it's been a busy summer. Busy but enjoyable. I’m glad August is almost over. We started the month preparing for a visit from the Arizona contingency (son, his wife, & their precious new daughter). My daughter and I (mostly her) made sure they had everything they needed for an infant but didn’t have to bring on an airplane. Their visit was great. First time all the grandkids were together. I loved it! 


After a week, we all decided the visit was too short. Too bad they needed to get back to their jobs.

On the writing front, I had two week-long blog tours set up by Novel Book Tours for The Protector and The Case of the Bygone Brother. I learned the hard way never to do back-to-back tours. Especially when trying to get another book ready for my editor. As soon as it goes off (supposed to have it to her tomorrow), I have to work on my short story for this year’s Roses of Prose Holiday Stories. This will be my third year. I’ve really enjoyed writing short, which is difficult for someone whose books normally run over 100k words. Challenging but fun.

I think I need a break. LOL A trip to Traverse City sounds great.

How about you? Has your summer been laid back or crazy busy?

27 comments:

Margo Hoornstra said...

Crazy busy here and I loved every minute of it. I know what you mean about how special it is to get all the kids and grandkids in one room at one time. Priceless. Your three are adorable. The most important thing is making and keeping those precious memories!

Rolynn Anderson said...

Busiest summer ever with guests...but the most fun ever, too. First family reunion here at our house with four 20-25 year old nieces and nephews amongst the rest of us 50 +ers. As you discovered, Diane, visits always take interesting new turns with young-ins around! Fitting in the editing of two novels...whew! But I keep telling myself that making stories with my family is much more important than fabricating stories at my computer. I'll always defer to the family fun! And, Diane, thanks for reminding me about the Holiday story...this long writer has to start flexing her short muscles, too!

Diane Burton said...

Margo, making precious memories is so important. While my books will be part of my legacy, more important to me are the memories my kids and grandkids will have of fun time together.

Diane Burton said...

Rolynn, what fun that reunion must have been. I love what you said about making stories with family. I had so much fun this summer.

Patricia Kiyono said...

We have never been able to get all nine grandkids in one place at the same time. They all live in the greater Grand Rapids area but range in age from two to twenty-four, so it's difficult with jobs and other grandparents, etc. Love your picture!

As for my summer, it's been busy with writing, remodeling, and taking care of the two youngest. Their new daycare situation didn't work out, so we had to take them while they looked for something else. I know what you mean by living around the school schedule - having taught for so many years, my kids know that June, July, and August are the three months mom tries to finish what she couldn't do in the other nine months!

Leah St. James said...

I'm definitely starting to feel deprived in the grandchild department! Hopefully some day. :-) I'm so glad your summer was filled with so many special memories

Jannine Gallant said...

What an adorable photo! I'm busier in the summer than the winter. More paycheck hours at the boat ramp than at the rec center. Seems like the girls just got out of school and now they're back in, again. Time flies by way too fast these days.

Melissa Keir said...

Fabulous photo. This is my first year that I'm not going back to school. I've quit the full-time job to sub. So I'll have more time for the publishing house and my own writing. Summer flew by too fast! It always does. We did an engagement party for my daughter and just celebrated my father-in-law's 80th birthday before he and my mother-in-law head off to Scotland.

Enjoy your fall! Winter will be here before we know it!

Brenda Whiteside said...

What a great end to summer, Diane. And I love that they can't start school early in August like they do here in AZ. Wow to Patricia. Nine grandkids. I love finally having one!

Diane Burton said...

Patty, you've had a very busy summer with watching the little ones. You have to be so vigilant I can't imagine you could write much.

Diane Burton said...

Thanks, Leah. I thought my son would never get married, let alone have children. When it did, everything happened almost at once.

Diane Burton said...

Thanks, Jannine. I remember feeling the same way about school & my kids. Time certainly flies.

Diane Burton said...

Melissa, I'm so happy you've left full-time teaching. I can't imagine how you did so much. You must have been run ragged. Good luck subbing. Did that and didn't enjoy it.

Diane Burton said...

Thanks, Brenda. At least in Arizona your schools are air-conditioned. Most in Michigan are not. Even though we're having a cold spell right now as soon as school starts the temp will be in the high 80s or 90s.

Susan Coryell said...

Oh boy, Diane--we had a crazy, hazy and fun-filled summer with all 14 of our kids, their spouses and collective 7 grand kids rolling into and out of July so that all could see the Hawaiian branch of the fam while here. August calendar was so full of activity--it looked like a toddler had scribbled all over it! Hoping for some flat-lining in the fall. Loved all your posts--you are a busy girl!

Kara O'Neal said...

A very busy summer. We went to New York City, which was my first time to ever visit there, and we took our three children. It was nerve racking but something I'll remember for the rest of my life!

Alicia Dean said...

What an adorable picture! I'm sure you're having a good time with those grandbabies. My summer has been sooo busy, but then, that's year round. With no kids in school and no grandchildren, summer isn't all that different from the rest of the year, other than this insufferable heat! Although, the last few weeks, we've been pretty lucky, considering it's August in Oklahoma. Enjoyed the post!

Alison Henderson said...

When we lived in Minnesota, school never started before Labor Day by state law, too. I think it was so everyone could go to the State Fair, which ends Labor Day weekend. I'm glad you had such a terrific, grandchildren-filled summer, Diane!

Diane Burton said...

Susan, sounds like you've had a busy but great summer, too.

Diane Burton said...

Kara, what a great experience. I remember my first trip to NYC. Truly great!

Lucy Naylor Kubash said...

What a sweet picture! You can see how much the older kids love the new baby. Something to treasure. I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of August. It seemed most of our summer was spent planning/getting ready for our trip west, going on the trip, and then taking care of our daughter's doggies so she and our son-in-law could go out and visit her brother for a few days. Now everyone has gone home and it's pretty quiet. I think it took me years to get over the feeling that I couldn't plan anything in the fall because of school activities. Funny how it becomes so engrained in you when your kids are young. But now it is nice to not have to worry about it. I'm hoping for one weekend road trip to enjoy the fall colors in Michigan.

Diane Burton said...

Alicia, hope you get a break from the heat. I think you're sending it our way. Next weekend is supposed to be in the 90s. Yuck!

Diane Burton said...

Thanks, Alison. It's been wonderful--the reason we moved here. Now if we could get our son to move back here... Until then we'll just have to spend winters in AZ. Rough, huh???

Diane Burton said...

Hey, Lucy. Your comment snuck in when I was commenting last night. Thanks so much. Your summer sounds crazy, too. It took me a while to rethink when we can take vacations. I love Sept. Things are still open but fewer tourists. It's great. Love the photo of the kiddies. Today (Monday) I'll have the oldest. We're making doll clothes.

KatB said...

"The Arizona contingency" - I love that! And what gorgeous grandbabies. I see a little bit of you in each one of those faces. :)

Kathy L Wheeler said...

My daughter just had a baby in January. I was lucky enough to see him the first week he was born, but not since. I'll be going back over Thanksgiving! Beautiful picture, Diane.

MJ Schiller said...

I spent the summer mourning over my triplets' leaving for the University of Missouri-Columbia in the Fall. Now that they're gone, I'm finding I actually like being home with just my hubby. And Skype and FaceTime make it almost seem like the kids are still here. Plus, this weekend is the Tigers' first football game, so we'll be up visiting the kids and chowing down on some Shakespeare's pizza. (If you're ever in Columbia, MO, try Shakespeare's--and the yogurt place behind it, I think it's called Randy's, is equally delicious!) Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Summer, Diane. Your grandkids are adorable! Love that shot!