A Charming Summer Bistro Dinner

Savoring my favorite season's moments with my family.

- WRITTEN, STYLED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRYSTLE MARIE NICKELS

I can still remember when my children, Hunter and Haylee, were just little toddlers, their chubby feet padding across the grass as they ran from one outdoor adventure to the next. Back then, our summers were spent almost entirely outside—early from sunup to sundown. Living in the military base housing at MCAS Cherry Point in Havelock, NC, our days were simple but full. Mornings were for sidewalk chalk and chasing bubbles in the humid Carolina air, followed by afternoons splashing in the kiddie pool or digging in the dirt, their giggles filling the air. We'd only come inside for a quick nap, just enough time for a breather before they were begging to go back out. And every evening, when Garrett got home from work in his Marine Corps uniform, we'd fire up the grill for dinner, soaking in those last golden moments of the day. Those summers were fleeting, yet they left an imprint on my heart—a reminder of how much I love this season and the way it invites us to slow down, savor, and simply be.

Many summer evenings, my husband, Garrett, will often join me at the table after a long day, as we watch the sun dip below the horizon. Even after all these years, I still love these quiet moments with him—just talking, laughing, and soaking in the stillness together. And when Hunter and Haylee decide to pull up a chair, it's even better. They'll share stories about their day, snack on whatever I've put out, and just enjoy being outside and together. These summer evenings remind me how fleeting these years with them at home are, and I find myself wanting to press pause, to bottle up these moments of togetherness before the seasons—and life—shift once again.