Aww thank you so much for sharing this, Amy! I am so fascinated by large families and all of their dynamics, both interpersonal but just logistical. I love that your mom was creative and made the space work for all of you. And yes, when you're a kid you don't tend to think anything is weird, it's just how it is!

The humidity is its own special kind of torture! And honestly I might prefer the intense dry heat over the humidity (having grown up with it in Austin, and I know it's probably worse where you are!). I also think summer seasonal depression is a real thing and wish there was more writing about it, and ideas for what to do. For SAD there are the sunlight lamps...what's the equivalent for cold and dark (haha - but really!). There's another element here of worrying about how it's getting hotter and for longer, and what the future will be like. As in, will Arizona be livable in 20+ years? Will the economy continue to do well through this intense heat? We really do worry about these things and those possibilities add a whole other layer of mild anxiety to the down feelings we already have about the heat. Ick! Awww, it sounds like your family baby wants to keep up with the older sibs! I know some kids like that too!

I really appreciate your reflections, Jaida! I do think what you mention - being out of sync with most of the rest of the country - is part of it. And you know, I also feel like on a deep, biological level my body seems to be expecting a change in season and is ready for it but it's not happening and instead is still SO dang hot. So I feel out of sync on an even deeper level. I do appreciate the acknowledgement and I think saying it out loud does help. Not in a complain-y way but just, "Wow, it's so hot and this is hard!" I love the idea of little changes inside and I do think that helps. I have some fall hand soaps to put out, and probably even baking something fallish would help. Appreciate the encouragement and validation!

Dash is so sweet with Maeve! And thank you! This skirt is one hundred years old (okay fine maybe 10?) and still going strong!

I really loved your post on camping at KOAs - I have no experience with them but you put them on my radar. Perhaps for our future Midwest summers especially! I agree - being out of the house is so nice to be away from all the visual reminders of tasks.

Happy back to school to you! We start SO early so we're quite out of sync with most other places. So smart to be thinking ahead to cold weather clothing, and taking advantage of sales!

Noting this for a future post! I think you'd like it. We have our spreadsheet budget and then mirror our different line items as categories in Monarch. I love seeing all the data and getting a snapshot of where we are in your grocery, personal allowance, etc. budgets during the month.

I really like this approach - you are keeping it at a perfect level for your kids' ages, and can always expand as they have more attention/interest in things. I am going to try something similar, so thank you! And I think morning is also when we should try things - generally at dinner there can be a lot of squirrely-ness. I love the idea of just asking for dinner/snack ideas, and also sharing anything that is coming up. I'll pop over and read your post as well, thanks!

Thanks for your question! For me personally I like keeping track of every book I read including ones I didn't finish because those are part of my reading journey too. By around 25% (and sometimes more!) if I'm not loving a book then I feel like I gave it a good try and it's just not for me. But for me personally I still think I get "credit" for trying and spending that time with a book. I don't rate unfinished books on Goodreads, unless I was really far into it and was so frustrated by it. And I also add them to a "did not finish" shelf, and I'll usually put a review like, "Made it to 30% and was not loving the characters and so abandoned." Sometimes I abandon books before 25% but for those I usually just remove from my Goodreads shelf and don't include them as a "read" book.

Thanks so much, Amanda!

Oh I like that idea a lot, Megan! Thank you for that suggestion!

Yes it definitely adds up! I think we spent around $250 this year, also with no new backpacks or lunchboxes! I have seen charts that show Arizona schools are some of the least funded public schools (boooo) so maybe it shows up in how much parents need to contribute to school supplies. Which of course I'm happy to do but I'm sure that affects less affluent areas much more. :/

Thank you, Sarah!! Cheering for you! Those back to school fall vibes will be SO GOOD!

Ooo we have not been to Carlsbad Caverns and we definitely should go. Making a mental note. And I had not heard of Mammoth Cave NP, and you know I love national park! Thanks for these tips.

Thank you, Tram! Love seeing peeks of your summer in Wisconsin. I can understand how it would be hard to return to "normal life" ... but also be appealing too!

Thanks, Mary!

Thanks, Sarah! With this heat I am definitely so glad our district switched to this modified schedule. But I'm thinking even with good weather that a longer break would start to wear me out. Hope you keep finding summer fun! Definitely jealous of your weather -- we need to start spending summers up in Wisconsin ASAP!

Ah dang on the no beach reading. I did up getting to read quite a bit on our beach trip, although never at the beach! Too many kids to watch and not a comfy enough spot to sit. We still need to optimize our beach life - but still fun overall! Love the plan to not teach at all in the summer, and to be fully prepped by the end of the kids' school years. You can do it!!