104 Days of Summer Vacation

I just love Phineas and Ferb, but I sometimes feel its a little unfair that they are always living out the dream in summer-time.  They never go to school.  There are a few Christmas specials, but I think only one of them actually takes place in winter-- during Christmas vacation.  I remember when we went to Disneyland five years ago (really?!!) and we saw the Phineas and Ferb characters riding onto Main Street on a float that was playing their theme song, and William had on his Perry the Platypus hat and they gave him a thumbs up, and I started to cry just a little because I was so happy to be there and was kind of starstruck too.  Great day.....

Well today I am going to start my 104 Days of Summer Vacation.  The last day of school for my boys was a week ago-- a hot and glorious field-day-end to a wonderful year.  I started this whole quest for Joy when they all began school in the fall, and just as it always does the school year flew by.  I learned a lot, and so did they.  They all liked school, and their teachers, and their friends.  They all did really well.  James is reading like a pro now.  William has mastered most of his times tables.  Peter is doing long division, and multiplying fractions.  They have had unique and wonderful experiences in their unique and wonderful (and sometimes chaotic) charter school.  I have still cried a few times dropping them off in the mornings, and wondered how on earth they got soooooo huge and old.  Peter and William have both grown about three inches this year.  But it has been very good, and I have learned about life and joy-- possibly haven't earned my master's degree in joy quite yet, but definitely got a good start on the dissertation, and I'll be defending it soon...

Which brings us to today.  Why am I starting my summer today?  My grandma died a week and a day ago.  She died the day James had his kindergarten graduation.  James said it was the best day ever, but also really sad.  He told his class before the awards and "diplomas" were handed out, that one of his grandmas died that morning.  His teacher didn't quite know how to react.  He has been sad.  All the boys have been sad.  I have been very sad.  It is strange to not go help her in the mornings.  I feel like I'm forgetting to do something every day.  I miss her more than I ever thought I would.  And it just seems wrong to have something so sad happen at the start of summer vacation.

But..... I have learned a lot about joy this year.  I have so much joy in my life, because I have love.  I have love and gratitude for my boys, my husband, my home, my parents, my siblings, my neighbors, my ward, my Savior, and my Father in Heaven.

And I am going to take massive, not passive action to reach my goals by the end of this year.  That's going to mean a lot of really hard, really good work. I'm going to be doing lots of walks, and hikes, and eating healthy, and drinking water, and saving money, and reading books, and illustrating my books.  And part of that goal-reaching will be posting on my blog each day for the 104 days of summer vacation which ends right before my birthday--after the boys' summer vacation is over, and school has been in session for a over a month.  Because in the real world no one actually gets that much summer vacation.  I think my boys have like 76 days or something.  Not fair Phineas and Ferb.  But I still love you.