Girls' Day

Myrick and I had a girls' day together this past week.  We did back-to-school shopping, got haircuts, had lunch out together, and just generally had a fun day.  She helped pick out new shoes for Pender and while we were in a store, she jumped up and squealed when she saw a tee-shirt that had a train on the front of it.  She begged me to buy it for Pender because she just knew he'd love it.  In our whole day together, never once did she ask for anything for herself, so I was very touched that the one thing she did request was for her brother.  Pender was overjoyed at his new tee and wanted to keep on wearing it even though it was a hot day and the shirt is long-sleeved!

 The new shoes!

 Sister's tee-shirt gift to Pen

 Sampling our apples and early evening reading

 The kids and Nate throw the apple cores for Whidbey to fetch... and eat!

 A late summer trip to Johnson's Dairy Bar

 Pender decides to be helpful

 Not sure how he got it under his eye...

Or on her nose...

Sibling Love

The septic system folks came to pump out our septic system one morning last week, and Myrick and Pender stood in the backyard watching - love the sweet nature of these photos which I shot through the screen door so they wouldn't know I was there...

Bee Sting

Her third one of the season - this one on her eyelid.

Michigan

Here we go folks - I had big plans tonight to do some serious blog catch-up, but alas, the camera battery just died.  Our Michigan photos are retrievable without it, though, so this is the only one for tonight.  School starts in less than a week, and we've been busy here wringing the dickens out of summer with girls' day, back-to-school shopping, Veasey play dates, bee stings, a Johnson's Dairy Bar trip, and more. Just trying to fit it all in before the mayhem begins.  Sorry for the photo delivery in this post - since we relied on other people to take our vacation photos, this is the only way I can figure out how to get them to show up.  For all who donated pictures to us (ahem, Rachel and Sally) - thank you!

Click here to view these pictures larger

Summer Reprieve

It pains me to say that with the daylight fading noticeably earlier and a start date for school a week away, summer is winding down.  I went to school today to spend time prepping my classroom, Myrick headed off to her last week of day camp, Pender went off to Mrs. Terri's, and tonight we practiced a school evening schedule.  Ughh.  This time of year holds both excitement and sadness for me: I always look forward to the possibilities that a new year holds, but since having kids, this time of year marks the passing of time and how very quickly it seems to slip away.  I can hardly believe I have a first grader and a baby beginning pre-k.  We've had a wonderful summer full of social engagements, vacation, productive home chores, family adventures, and more.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time sitting at Veasey Beach among the other mommies watching our kids in swim lessons together - what a delight.  A round of cooler weather, though, has reminded me that this season at our local lake is nearly at an end.  After school today I picked up the kids and headed to Veasey for a late afternoon dip even with the sun setting.  Here are my two bathing beauties enjoying their beach time.

Moon-Watchin' Kind of Night

Fresh out of the bath and on the heels of a backyard campfire s'more session, Nate decided to set up the telescope for a few minutes of moon viewing - pretty great ending to another pretty great day.  I'm beginning to feel the tug of school prep that needs to be done, all the while lamenting the end to a glorious summer.  In the middle of the year, when things get tough and budget season feels unfair, I'll have to remind myself that not many parents get to spend their summers like we do; where the paycheck lacks, the gift of time with my children makes up for it.

Pawtuckaway

Today was a mini-hike compared with yesterday's monster.  We met up with some friends for a short romp through the boulders of Pawtuckaway State Park just 5 minutes down the road.  What great rock scrambling - the kids were mountain goats again today, and we ended the outing by enjoying a trip to the pizza shop.  Another good, summer day!  I am feeling a little overwhelmed with my blogging - still entries to catch up on like the Michigan pictures and the horse riding of Maddie and Myrick.  I've really enjoyed spending a few minutes each day reflecting on our family time; it's been a little like a gratitude moment of all the great stuff I have to be thankful for.

 Hanging out with out friends under one of the great balanced boulders that creates little caves and fantastic scrambling opportunities.

Pender sits in the saddle of the horsey tree.