August

August has been busy.  Summer is quickly coming to a close so we filled it as best we could with playdates and field trips and family nights.

We’ve spent a lot of time in the yard and have amazing results.  Our grass is healthy, lush and soft, and growing like crazy!  Our flower beds have been covered with tarp and bark, beautifully finishing off the yard.

A attended kindergarten testing and flew through the questions.  She is undoubtedly ready and so excited to start school.  She even begged and reminded me everyday about getting her kindergarten shots.  (once that experience came, share was less excited but braved through it.) 

L and A attended a summer art class and thoroughly enjoyed it.  They took “daddy shirts” as their art smocks and came home with several projects on canvas.

My birthday was spent with L, getting her ready for the new year.  We attended meetings at the dance studio and went to her piano evaluation.  Piano lessons continued through the summer but with an inconsistent schedule, practice became a battle.  However, for her evaluation, she buckled down to prepare and preformed the required songs well.  As a reward for that goal, we got pedicures together.  And then when Husband got home from work (bringing home the most beautiful roses I’ve ever seen), we all went to dinner together.  That evening we hung out in our gorgeous backyard and invited the neighbors over for cake.

I got to go on a girls night with two close friends.  We went out to dinner, sharing stories and catching up.  One of them recently had a baby and the other is pregnant with twins so that dominated most of our conversation through dinner and as we wandered through shops after.

We spent a weekend with my side of the family.  It was meant to be a campout with the whole family but we couldn’t get there until Saturday.  One of my brothers had already left to go visit my other brother who declined coming due to injuries.  But since they were planning on video games all night, we went to camp anyway, joining my parents and one of the cousins who begged to stay and play with us instead.  The girls rode their bikes as we settled into camp.  It was A’s first day without training wheels and she took to it like a fish to water.  With a little help from Dad to get her started, she mastered the balance quickly and the girls rode all weekend.  I lounged with my mom, chatting and catching up.  Papa and husband joined us, making plans to visit my sister.  Husband spent some time working on my car (he spoils me so much!) and we grilled up a tasty dinner.  Husband, L and her cousin slept in the tent while A, E and I joined Grammy and Papa in the trailer.  We slept well and lounged through the morning, riding bikes and playing in the sandbox.

We headed to Grammy’s house to shower and get dressed up.  Then we drove to my brother’s house for the baby blessing.  The girls immediately disappeared to play with cousins and we got to see lots of family that crowded in for the occasion.  Grammy got to help my sister in law dress my adorable nephew and we shared in the beautiful blessing experience.  We stayed for dinner and finally made our way home.

We’ve taken a few field trips to the zoo, usually meeting friends.  We typically bring a picnic lunch, wander to see animals for an hour and then spend an hour in the splash pad.  The girls have such a blast every time and get thoroughly worn out.  Last time we went, the animals were particularly active.  One of the bears sat right up against the glass.  A approached and placed her hands on the glass, he leaned his head in towards her! It was as if he acknowledged her with a tender cuddle.  We also got particularly great views of a tiger that showed off for them and a white leopard that came right up to the glass and plopped down next to the kids to watch them, only inches away from them.  Meanwhile, L was wandering with one of her long time best friends and making plans for their new rock band.

And now, our summer is quickly disappearing and we will soon be back to school.  Each of the girls start school on a different week (not ideal since they’re impatient, but we’re trying to emphasis it as a special day for each of them).  L came home from her first day, bouncing and bursting with news and stories, reporting that second grade is millions times better and more fun than first.  She has several friends in the class and is off to a great start.