These days

It's as if the heavens have opened up and poured down smiles, running bare feet and the start of summer tans. To say sunshine and warm, breezy days have been gratefully welcomed is an enormous understatement.

Our biggest complaint is that bedtime comes too soon and behinds have to be wedged off swings. There's simply not enough hours in the day for all the bike riding, sliding and squealing that needs to be done.

Our yard has come alive with brilliant blue robin eggs hatching in a nest, a pair of visiting mallard ducks and alfresco dinners allowing us to enjoy it all. The kids notice the perfect blue skies, and belt out Taylor Swift tunes while flying through them, carefree.

Among the group there's a monkey who could climb UP any slide she crosses paths with; a nature lover who spies every bug, bird and dandelion; a swinger who is self-powered high above us all; and an explorer who inspects garden hoses and lawn equipment.

Oh summer, we've missed you.