Rachael tagged me to list my Top Ten Things About Summer. Sorry it took so long to get to it. For those of you who don’t like these fun little tagged things, bare with me - I will return to adoption related posts next time. I have to say Summer is not my favorite season. It never was in Michigan and it definately is not my favorite here in Grand Cayman. (Especially since it feels like we’ve been stuck in summer for over a year now!) However, living here gives me a unique perspective and so I will list my favorite things about summer, based on Michigan summers. Here goes, in no particular order…

- Flip Flops - I love all the colors and designs. They’re comfy and easy to put on and kick off. The possibilities are endless and they are cheap to buy. I never feel guilty purchasing a bunch of them when you can get them for like $6 a pair.

- Sprinklers - Okay so I haven’t ran through a sprinkler in awhile, but they are so much fun! I loved them as a child. I could spend all day running through one. Remember how good that cold water felt on a hot summer day?!

- Tubing - I grew up going to my family’s cottage on a small inland lake in nothern Michigan. One of the best things about going up there was tubing behind the speed boat. We’d hook up 2 or 3 tubes and go flying in circles trying not to bounce off into the water. It was especially fun when my Dad rode on one next to me. He used to try crazy tricks, like jumping from his tube to mine while the boat was going ahead of us.

- Camp Fires - I love the smell of a campfire, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. I could stare at a camp fire for hours and poke my stick - that still drives my Mother crazy even as an adult.

- Planting Flowers - Something I learned to love with Frank’s Mom. She is a natural gardener and it really takes some talent to keep a garden growing. I hope I can have a nice, well maintained garden when Frank and I settle in a home somewhere.

- Ice Cream & Popsicles - I hate the feeling of it melting on your hands and face, but I sure love the cool, delicious taste! Nothing beats a frozen treat in summer time!

- Watermelon - I actually really hate the texture of watermelon in my mouth, but I love cutting them. My Grandma used to make those watermelon baskets with fresh fruit inside. I used to love to help her. But, most of all, I love to watch Frank and my Dad eat enormous peices of watermelon that seem too big to be conquered. Somehow they always manage to fit it all in their bellies.

- Kids on Bikes - When I was a child, I’d play on my bike with my friends on our street all day long. My Mom used to have to turn on the porch light to get me to come inside. What happened to that these days? Now parents are scared of kidnappers and traffic or kids would rather be inside playing video games. I love the sentiments that come to my mind when I see kids riding around on their bikes outside.

- Library Books - Summer time reminds me of going to the library as a child, too. We lived on a dead end road, one street from our town’s public library. I used to ride my bike over and sit in the cool air conditioning reading and reading and reading. I loved the travel books - looking at pictures of places that seemed world’s away and I loved the “choose your own adventure” books - where you made a decision and it would say to turn to this page or another depending on what you chose. Do they still make those? Even now, as an adult, I look forward to reading the summer, fun, trashy books that you (normally) find time to read.

- Fishing - Another up north thing. I actually chose this more for Frank than myself. There is nothing like floating in an old fishing boat, relaxing with your bobber floating. I normally would be reading one of those trashy summer books at the same time But, the excitement on Frank’s face when his bobber sinks under and the fun of fighting a fish to get it in the boat. Don’t forget the best part of all - the cheesy pictures where they hold their fish out in front of them to make it look as large as possible.

For fun - some of my least favorite things….. sweating, family reunions, nice weather makes working more difficult - there is always something else you could be enjoying - and humidity - bad hair days!