The Clooten Family: Loving summers at the Lake

Just yesterday while driving back from the Lake of the Ozarks, where we spent a long weekend at my parents lake house, I realized how quickly the summer is flying by! I began getting really anxious (freaking out really) and very sad. I have just a few weeks to get everything prepared...an entire apartment to pack, classroom and lesson plans to prepare, daycare and feedings to coordinate for Eli and every other little thing that goes with life and all our transitions going on right now. Plus the realization of leaving Eli and only getting to spend maybe 3-4 hours each day with him in the evenings after I get off work. I have been so blessed to spend just about every minute of every day with him for the past 4 1/2 months...I truly don't know how i'm going to leave him! :(

I have to keep myself focused on the positives because I can get so easily caught up in the negative. I'm very excited for the opportunity to teach and for the challenge of having my own classroom! The moments I do have with Eli once i'm working full-time will be that much more precious (as well as the time I get with Chad will be more cherished)!

This realization hit me so hard because I've been somewhat avoiding all the work I need to do and enjoying my last bit of time with Eli without working. I've had a lot of fun this summer and spent quite a bit of time at the lake. I enjoyed a week with my mom, a few weekends with the whole family, including some time with my good friends Ashleigh and Justin and their awesome daughter Chloe too. I've also gotten a lot of time to hangout with my crazy fun nephew Sam (4 1/2 yrs old) and cutie patootie niece Kinley (20 months old)! So, for now i'm cherishing the moments I have and looking back on the great times this summer...enjoy some photos to document my summer fun!