We've been thoroughly enjoying our summer this year. The evenings have been particularly pleasant. One of the joys this year has been watching the 4 year old collect fire flies with help she can get 8 or 10 in a Chinese soup container with wholes within 30 minutes. You have to get them just as the sun is setting - they start lighting up the back yard and you can still see them landing on the grass. There aren't as many in our suburban back yard as the farm fields when I was growing up, but seeing any makes me happy since they are a sign of clean air.

We've eaten dinner outside a couple times this year without getting overrun with mosquitoes. The other night a game of wiffle ball broke out after dinner and the baby got his first grand slam, because Mom was afraid to send in the high heat brush back pitch.

I believe that once you cave to the heat and humidity and put the air conditioner you become captive to the indoor environment and stop enjoying the awesomeness that is summer nights - maybe we'll make it through August and I'll never have to put that giant window unit in.. you can't hear the ice cream man if the windows are closed.