School starts tomorrow. The backpack is packed (and organized!). That's sure to last until at least tomorrow. Lunch is made, ready to be packed into the new 'must have' Arctic Zone lunch tote. The creature is showered and reveling in her last hour of freedom (read: she's on her iPad) before the lights go out.
It's been a good, if busy, 10 weeks. The first summer in our new summer community. Arden got to build great memories with her grandparents. She spent day after day in the pool. She spent two weeks at horseback riding camp. She demonstrated her athletic prowess in every new thing she tried, kayaking, sailing, tennis. She experienced the freedom of a community where she could hop on her bike and ride aimlessly. She got to be a kid.
Dora had her back rebuilt and is now the bionic woman. Our issues with the hospital have not ended, their post-operative 'care' leaves much to be desired, but the core surgery seems to have worked. Each day features a family walk - moms, dogs and kid - something her back hadn't allowed for years. We are planning a triumphant return to WDW once she is fully healed - a pain-free week (or two) with the Mouse is the best celebration in our eyes.
Soon we will tuck ourselves back into house #1. I don't yet know how I feel about this. I've learned to love living in 800 square feet (10 minutes to vacuum the entire house, folks). I've learned to stay organized because 800 square feet is really, really small. I've fallen in love with having the laundry on the main floor, a community of friendly folks waving to each other from their golf carts, the full restaurant (and bar!) just steps away.
But in some ways I'm excited to go back home. We love our house in the fall and winter. It's nearly time to pull out the Halloween decorations, Thanksgiving and Christmas not far behind. It's nearly time to flip on the heat and breathe in the glorious 'first heat of the fall' smell. (Shhh....what oil bill?) It's nearly time for our favorite fall adventures - Topsfield Fair, apple picking and maybe this year we'll actually make it to King Richard's Fair.
Farewell, summer. It's been glorious.
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