We barbecue as much as possible—it’s easy and it gets us outside. We go to the town pool a lot and we got a kiddy pool of our own. It’s small, but plenty for Miles, our toddler, and my daughter, Allie, likes it as the crash landing pad at the bottom of our plastic slide. We have friends over and make it potluck or a pizza night when I’m too worn out to think about cooking. We’ve also moved game night outdoors—our answer to the fact that we’re not as physical as we’d like to be. I’m teaching Allie to ride a bike (she’s almost there), we play tag and not-quite soccer and kickball, and at bedtime last night she dragged us to the window to prove to us that firefly season has indeed finally begun. Of course I was being the lame mom, trying to get her to bed, but I had to remind myself that this is what summer—and childhood—and life for that matter—is all about.  So I let her stay up a little late, left the dishes and joined in the firefly chase. Nothing makes better memories than spending that kind of fun together with family.