Man, I can't believe that summer is almost over! Where on earth did time go? That always happens, though, doesn't it? Summer whizzes us by, and then before we know it, we're writing essays titled, "What I Did Over Summer Vacation." Or something like that.
If Alison were to sit down and write an essay like this, hers might read a little like this:
What I Did Over Summer Vacation (So Far)
By Alison W.
"Summer started off pretty fun. My mama signed Henry and me up for swimming lessons. Henry kinda freaked out and screamed every day at the lessons. He didn't like hanging on the side of the pool. So he just screamed and hollered. Now he sits on the side of the pool and watches me. Oh and he eats lots of popcorn too. Mama says she makes it for him to keep him focused and still. I don't think it works, though, because I always hear Henry yelling "Hi! Hello Allie!" to me while I'm swimming.
Let's see what else? Um, we've been eating a lot of frozen yogurt. My mama said that she's "hooked" on frozen yogurt from The Golden Spoon. I don't know what hooked means, but I feel like I could eat that stuff every day. Especially the mint flavor with gummy bears. That stuff is so yummy. My mama says eating her frozen yogurt is as important as breathing air. I usually just smile and nod and say, "Can I get two toppings this time?"
Oh we're going on vacation soon. We're flying out to see my uncle, aunt, and cousin. That should be fun, and if I remember right, our last plane ride was kind of crazy. Mama likes to refer to it a "disaster." All I remember is Henry pooped his pants on the plane, and then my shoelaces got stuck in the escalator at the airport. Oh and I also remember Mama rushing off to buy some medicine called Addvill.
Another exciting thing that happened is Baby Kate started walking all over the place. She can walk everywhere now, and she usually ends up playing in my room or my closet. She's so cute, and I love being her big sister. My mama has taught her some sign language, and she signs for simple things like "more," "milk," "eat."
And Henry. As crazy as he is, he really is my good pal. We do fun things like play "FOOD" or "FAMILY." Usually I'm the mama, and he's the daddy. Oh and Baby Kate is, well, the baby. We have pretend food, and we take orders and stuff. Today Henry and I pretend cooked some tomatoes. We all laughed when Henry said that he added his special salt, pepper, and syrup to them. He always makes us laugh.
We also got to spend the night at our grandparents' house. My Daddy surprised my Mama with tickets to see Sirk Doo Solay in a place called Vegas. They flew to Vegas and saw the show, and my Mama was happy that she was able to go on a trip sans the kids. (And she always whispers that part).
Well, I think that's about it. Summer is almost over, but we still have a lot of plans left for the next few weeks. It should be a lot of fun! Life is good."
******
Hee! i think that about sums up our summer vacation so far! I have some (potentially) exciting news relating to The Paper Princess that I can't wait to share, but I'm afraid of jinxing things. . . so I'll just leave y'all with a cliff hanger! I have been reworking some of my illustrations for card designs. Here's the lastest one I redid. . . . still in its production stage! Do you like?
![](<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd-nc/1.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" border="0" src="http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights.gif" /></a><br />){kind=link}
Say it isn't so...summer isn't really over yet!?! Sounds like Kate + company are having a good summer. So happy you and the hubby were able to have a little alone time in Vegas! I can't wait to hear the exciting top secret news!
Posted by: sally | August 10, 2006 at 10:31 PM
Ahhh... yes... summer vacation. I suppose that will mean more when I have kids. Right now I just get longer days and a less hectic drive to work. The longer days are nice anyhow ... and Colorado summer nights can't be beat. Sounds like your small-fry are having a wonderful summer... enjoy what's left! :)
Posted by: jesser | August 11, 2006 at 06:11 AM
I DO like:) 'Specially the notebook paper cloud! Your whimsy is the greatest.
I'm wicked jealous- I've always wanted to see Sirk Doo Solay:( Someday...
I love the baby signs- can't wait to start teaching my ittle Molly.
Posted by: heidi | August 11, 2006 at 06:13 AM
sans kids??? wow. that is pretty amazing. we are taking a vaction with arlo in september and that seems pretty amazing. im not officialy off the hook so to speak until february, dang...
kate walking??? where does the time go? oh and leslie, that illustration of yours? so good...
Posted by: hannah | August 11, 2006 at 06:50 AM
no, i don't like it......i LOVE it! your illustrations are always so darn adorable. keep em coming!
Posted by: marzi | August 11, 2006 at 06:59 AM
sounds like the kids have fun together. it's good they get along...and i hope you enjoyed your time in vegas. it's nice to get away sometimes. did you like the show? me and my husband saw "o" w/out our little one last year in vegas before our newest addition came along.
Posted by: joyce | August 11, 2006 at 08:17 AM
Sounds like summer was grand! I'm jealous about the trip away without the kids!! Olivia & Briana did swim lessons too. Briana was in a class with twins that must have cried the entire first 2 classes but were better after that. Briana let go about the 3rd last lesson and it scared her but she went back the next day (a little cranky though).
Posted by: Lilie | August 11, 2006 at 01:11 PM
Leslie, so cute! What a sweet post! And I LOVE the illo. Can't wait to hear what is next for The Paper Princess!!
Posted by: Giao | August 11, 2006 at 03:48 PM
Wow, sounds like a great summer to me, especially the part about the kid-free vacation. I haven't tried The Golden Spoon. I'll have to check it out.
Posted by: weigooksaram | August 11, 2006 at 08:04 PM
Great entry! Kate walking! That frozen yogurt - mint with gummy bears - sounds interesting.
Posted by: shokufeh | August 11, 2006 at 08:47 PM
Like? NO! LOVE! Your illustrations are wonderful!
Glad you've had a happy family summer and so glad to hear you're coming to Colorful Colorado!!! :)
Posted by: claudia | August 11, 2006 at 10:13 PM
this is way too cute! i love it, the essay and the your illustration <3
Posted by: dawbis | August 12, 2006 at 07:55 AM
:) Thanks for encouraging me to get back into blogging! I will try to post this weekend! I really miss it. Busyness be damned! :P
Sounds like a great summer vacation to me! That frozen yogurt sounds absolutely delightful! I'd be hooked to it too.
You sure are one creative lass. Love that clever, funny Alison-style essay; and I love the "young love" illustration. I call that MAGIC and not "reworking". :P
Very excited about the top secret developments. I'm sending good anti-jinx vibes! :D
Posted by: Adrienne | August 12, 2006 at 02:29 PM
Delurking to say I love that card, especially the notebook paper cloud :o)
Posted by: Sheryl | August 12, 2006 at 03:24 PM
I love the way you wrote this post, it made my head wander reliving all of those forgotten summers of childhood.
& I can't wait to hear the good news about your illos! :)
Posted by: Kathleen | August 13, 2006 at 08:54 AM
What a cute post! You are so creative...it's fun to think of summer through a kids eyes. I wonder what my 3 would write...LOVE the illustration! It is so cute - can't wait to hear what the new developments are. I love my birdie cards from your etsy shop!
Posted by: Jackie | August 13, 2006 at 08:17 PM
'Hooked' is another word for addiction, Alison.
Posted by: justJENN | August 13, 2006 at 10:30 PM
The illustration is beautiful -- as usual. I should mention that I've decided to retire and live off the fortune your artistic talent will surely bring us. I have big retirement plans, though -- 60" plasma big!
Posted by: Hank | August 14, 2006 at 01:47 AM
Super cute illo, best of luck with whatever your big business plan is! With so much talent, you're bound to do fabulous and I loved Allison's essay!
Posted by: Melissa | August 14, 2006 at 09:03 AM
What a great way to tell the tales of summer! And you get to throw in all the "good" stuff because we know the kids would. Your new illo is darling and I can't wait to hear more about PP. Have a great and hopefully poopless trip to Colorado!
Posted by: debbie | August 15, 2006 at 11:54 AM
Too cute illustration. Can't wait to hear the big news! I enjoyed the essay also, your daughter is so smart. wink*. wink*.
Posted by: punkin' pie | August 16, 2006 at 07:14 AM
A trip w/o the kids. How nice.
I love the illustration. Very cute!
Posted by: Alicia A. | August 16, 2006 at 09:02 PM
Leslie - that sounds like a fabulous summer! So cute. and I love the new illo!!
Posted by: dawn | August 18, 2006 at 02:58 PM
tee hee--this was a fun post to read. If my daughter wrote a summer vacation essay, it would go like this: At first my mom started out with all kinds of fun plans and bright ideas about our summer, but now she's just mean and cranky and keeps muttering "only one more week..." I guess it hasn't really been that bad, but it sure went fast!
cute illo--I always love your stuff. Was I supposed to be contacting you about my shop? I'm lost in an August haze! Must stop reading blogs and accomplish something...!
Posted by: alex | August 21, 2006 at 08:09 AM
tee hee--this was a fun post to read. If my daughter wrote a summer vacation essay, it would go like this: At first my mom started out with all kinds of fun plans and bright ideas about our summer, but now she's just mean and cranky and keeps muttering "only one more week..." I guess it hasn't really been that bad, but it sure went fast!
cute illo--I always love your stuff. Was I supposed to be contacting you about my shop? I'm lost in an August haze! Must stop reading blogs and accomplish something...!
Posted by: alex | August 21, 2006 at 08:09 AM
Honk! and yes, I like. Maybe her eyes are a bit to pale (a bit scarry?), but I really like it except from that, and I think it is great that you excluded the iris. very special!
Posted by: Hanna | August 23, 2006 at 01:46 PM