I think I am in denial.

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting a little cooler, and somehow summer is already winding down.

This is always a time of year I dread. I look forward to summer all year long, and then once it finally gets here, it feels like you blink and it is almost over.

Before I get too far, I also want to take a second to welcome everyone to Williamsport for the Little League World Series. It is such a special tradition in our area and something my family and I have always looked forward to.

Which got me thinking about this time of year in general.

The Little League World Series is here. Kids are getting ready to head back to school. College students are heading back to campus. All the signs are there that another summer is coming to an end.

First, to all the kids heading back to school or college, enjoy it. I was there once too, and I remember dreading the end of summer and feeling like I was losing all that freedom. But looking back now, those school years went pretty darn fast too. So, make the most of this year. Have fun with your friends, learn something, make some memories, and try to make it your best year yet.

With summer winding down, I thought this week would be a good time to look back on a few summer traditions that I am really thankful for.

The first is the Little League World Series.

Growing up, I always looked forward to my dad taking a day off work and taking my brother, my mom, and me over to South Williamsport.

We would spend the entire day there. We would watch baseball, eat probably way too much food, spend too much money, and make a lot of memories.

As I got older, the tradition changed a little bit.

One of my favorite memories was when my dad would drop my buddy Tommy Baggett and me off in the morning, and his mom would pick us up that night. We would spend the whole day over at the little league complex.

We did that for what felt like two weeks straight.

At that age, we thought we were the big men on campus.

Another summer tradition I will always remember was the last day before school started.

My parents would take us to Knoebels. Even though there was always that little bit of sadness knowing summer was officially over, it was still special because we were spending that last day together as a family.

And of course, there was my brother.

He would always get one of those giant tubes filled with different flavors of powdered sugar candy. He would eat the entire thing on the ride home. Then he would be sick that night. Every year. You would think we would have learned.

But those are the things I remember.

A day at the Little League World Series. A trip to Knoebels. Hanging out with my family and friends. And my brother making himself sick on a tube of sugar.

Those were summer traditions.

And looking back now, they were pretty neat.

So instead of being sad summer is over enjoy the time and make the most of it. Schedule out some fun things and have a ball!

Also fall in our area is pretty awesome with the leaves changing colors and of course hunting season. So that is something to look towards.

We have a lot to be thankful for so enjoy and make the most of it! 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1