Summer Recap (Better late than never!)

So, here we are. It's October. The last time I posted it was June. I skipped an entire season! There is good reason. Our summer was busy, busy, busy and so. much. fun. School has been in session now for just over a month and I already long for those days of summer when we could just wake up and decide what fun that day would hold. We spent a lot of time playing at parks and beaches, picking berries, going to the zoo, meeting friends for picnics, running through the sprinkler in the backyard, and going for long walks and bike/scooter rides. I'm laughing at myself right now because that's how I remember it already, but in reality, I know that our summer also held plenty of sibling bickering, illness (even a trip for Charlie to Children's Hospital), and afternoons of whiny kids. But it really was a sweet, sweet time with my family.

There's no way I can go back at this point and write detailed posts of all the highlights, so here, instead, are the some of the best memories in pictures...

A June trip to Seabrook, WA with just a few of our dearest friends..

 

A vacation to Chelan with the Walters crew...

 

Our annual July 4th Neighborhood celebration...

 

The birth of my sweet new nephew, Carson

 

Fun with friends...

(This is quite possibly one of my favorite pictures ever!)

 

A week on the Oregon Coast with the Gledhill clan...

(And a stop to visit Nana Bea on the way.)

 

And just like that, summer was over! I can't believe how fast it flew by! Now onto fall!!



The Haircut!

About a year and a half ago, Grace decided that she wanted to grow out her hair to donate to Locks of Love. She was bound and determined to make it to 10 inches despite the daily battles (and sometime tears) over brushing all of those tangles. About a month ago, we measured, and she had finally made it! I made an appointment to go the next day to have it cut. She was so proud of her accomplishment, and the hair salon even put her picture on the wall as "Haircut of the Week." We are both loving her new and easy 'do...although she tells me she's going to start growing it out to donate again.

Before

 After

Mother's Day Teas

The Friday before Mother's Day was such a fun day! Both kids had tea parties at school that I got to attend. They had prepared songs and skits and had even practiced serving the moms! Spending one-on-one time with my kids is so rare and special these days, and I really treasured these opportunities.

Charlie's teachers

Off to Grace's school! 

 The next weekend, Grace and I got to attend the Ladies Tea with my mom. Girls can come to the tea once they are 6 years old, so this was Grace's first time coming (and a day that both she and my mom had been waiting for for years!)

Ready to go...

 Three Generations

 My mom brought Grace up on stage with her to do the announcements. Grace, of course, loved being in the spotlight!

 Grace's good friend, Clara, also got to come. Such little ladies!

sweet kids

I have no idea when or why I took these pictures (or how Grace managed to escape!), but I found them today while going through my computer. I sure love these sweet faces.

Three Piggy Opera

Grace's kindergarten performed the Three Piggy Opera back in May. It was absolutely adorable to see kids singing their hearts out in their piggy masks. Grace was chosen to play "Pig #2" and LOVED getting to sing into the microphone. Ever since the performance, Grace has been asking me if she can move to New York to be on Broadway. I love that she isn't afraid to dream big!

Go Red Sox!

Grace just finished up her first softball season. She had so much fun being part of a team and learning to play the game. It was amazing to watch the girls go from knowing absolutely nothing about how to play to making great plays and big hits. These pictures are actually from her jamboree. (WAY back in April! I'm slightly behind!!)

 This was the only day she had one front tooth missing. She lost the second front tooth later this same day!

 The whole team with Coach Mapes