I love summer. Why? Because it's green and hot and sunny. I enjoy the other seasons too, but I am girl who needs her sun. Big time. So winter is ok for about a week and then I am ready for mass quantities of sunlight again (I realize that by living in MN, I limit my sunlight amountage in the winter - I suppose I could choose to live someplace with a milder winter...). And spring? It's always so dreary and rainy and gray. Which is also nice for about a week and then I'm just done. But summer - oh glorious summer - the sun shines and produces great heat. One of the best feelings is laying on a boat, soaking up the sun and getting so hot that you feel like you're getting scorched, then jumping in a lake. It's great and oh so refreshing. As much as the heat takes it out of me (especially while I'm preggo), I really like it. Blame it on being born in Arizona if you want, but I just like the feeling of being super warm. Like when you're sitting outside on a porch/deck and it's hot out, but the breeze is blowing so that there is air circulating - can it get any more summer than that?!

Oh! And sweet tea. Oh.My.Gosh. I am a huge fan. Now, a little rant - the sweet tea that is made up here in MN just cannot compare to any sweet tea made in the south. I know this to be true. I remember the summer I lived in Birmingham, I think I consumed hundreds of gallons of that amazingly sweet, delicious drink (it's SO good!) and when I came home, I was so disappointed because I just couldn't find sweet tea that tasted near as good. Bah! I've learned how to make it, but am still perfecting it. My current favorite is mint sweet tea. Yum-o! The only problem is that I could glass upon glass of sweet tea and all that sugar is bound to catch up to me someday :) Speaking of consuming things, another summer favorite (well, actually I don't know if it's really a favorite, or just a preggo craving, but I can't get it out of my head!) is fried chicken. Oh man. I just want some so bad. A picnic! On a hot day! With sweet tea! Doesn't that sound amazing?! I really should whip out the super cool picnic basket I found a few years ago and make some use out of it!!! The real summer food favorites would have to be corn-on-cob, cucumber salad, fresh green beans, beats and fresh tomatoes (sliced with mozzarella cheese and basil!) - I LOVE all the fresh produce that we can get in the summer. It's amazing and tastes SO good - plus, I feel so healthy while eating it!

Ahhh, the smells of summer, you ask? Like fresh-cut grass, BBQ on the grill, bugspray (it's not the best smell, but definitely reminds me of summer!) and lake water? Oh yes! Oh summer, what a glorious time of year. Some images that have been racing in my head the past few days, as associated with summer: sitting at the side of a lake, at dusk, watching the water gently ripple; horseback-riding, sweat, bugs, the smell of leather and the sound of hooves stamping on the ground; laying out in the sun, roasting, attempting to tan; swimming, boating, canoeing; playing frisbee late into the evening, listening to mosquitoes as they try to eat me alive; summer thunderstorms; the MN State Fair (oh man, I could go on about this for a LONG time!); s'mores (oh my gosh, how could I forget! They are one of my favorites, too!).

So there you have it. My rambling post about summer and my love for it. Oh summer, how I adore thee!

Quick sidenote - I am 24 weeks preggo today! Holy smokes! In 3 1/2 months, this baby will be getting ready to make his appearance! Wow! Am I ready for baby #2, you ask?! Heck NO! Will I be? Probably not! I think that I won't be ready until he's here and in my arms, and even then, it'll still be a completely crazy and amazing adventure, having two little ones! Oh man! Isn't life great?! I love it!