But Wait There's More

I know my posts lately have been picture heavy and light on the writing, and I hope to correct that as we move back toward the regularly scheduled programming of the school year. But I can't help scroll through my pictures and see so many little images that represent moments I want to remember from the summer. No big trips or events or anything worth telling about particularly, just the projects and play that kept us busy once we actually got settled here at the house. 

Don rejoined us at the end of July. He made the drive east with his dad...and one of our cats (now THAT is a story I still need to tell). Since his sole job is to be a grad student for the next two years he had the month of August off with us, studying on his own at home before classes started this week. 

So here's little bits of the things we've been doing here. The big ongoing project I'll write about separately is all the painting...

A great picture of DWs 1 and 3.

One tiny little beach trip.

I designed and bought supplies for a safety-baby gate for our deck stairs and D made it a reality, while simultaneously itching what turned out to be the worst case of poison ivy he's ever had. 

We watched the sunset on the river after a night out for ice cream. 

That REALLY hot weekend necessitated a trip out to buy the one remaining slip-n-slide at Toys R Us. 

We set up our much-anticipated fish tank, to the delight of all. 

Another small project - setting paving step stones in the gravel under the deck.

D bought this onesie for M for his first Christmas and it was way too big at the time. I remembered to try it on just in the nick of time before he outgrows it! 

Two bags of sand in the came-with-the-house plastic sandbox have been worth their weight in gold. 

I love the expressions on this bunch in these last two pictures. They had gotten themselves all showered and freshened up before dinner one night after getting quite muddy on the slip-n-slide. 

It's so interesting for me to see all these pictures now, just a few weeks later, and to realize that the shift has somehow, subtly been made. From carefree summer into schoolish fall. It seemed like the sun was shining all summer and it shows in these pictures. To everything there is a season...

Last Little Bits

I think I managed to get caught up with pictures and themes from our two months spent with my parents, all except for these little snapshots: 

And now for school! I still have more to backfill here and will do so soon. But first I need to get a fourth grader and first grader properly launched at their new school. Wish us all luck! 

Miss C

My dear third child has had such a summer - we've been working hard to make it through those challenges of the two-year-old year and she has matured so much in the last few months. And through it all her days are full of enchanting moments that make me forget all the toddler vexations and show instead the amazing young lady she is becoming. So today's post is all for her. 

We sure do love her so. 

Sibling Love

A whole bunch of fun and sweetness, in no particular order: 

Fireworks and Field Trips

On Independence Day all the kids, my dad, my aunt, my cousin (who is just a bit older than Amy) and I all piled in the van after dinner and went to the high school for some proper fireworks. They were spectacular and the kids all had a great time. Caroline was not at all scared and has asked about them quite a bit since, and even Matthew was totally happy-go-lucky about the whole experience. So that was a win, though I always stress about non-routine, late-night events. Relax, Mommy.  

My dad usually took the kids out for errands on Saturday mornings, just like he did when my brother and I were kids. The above picture was from a bonus side trip to see the Balanced Rock right outside of town. They were all suitably impressed! 

And it took us two mall trips to get a much-anticipated ride on the carousel since it was closed the first day we went. Again, such a trip through my own childhood experiences - though now the horses have seatbelts.