Summer Babes

First because I couldn't help the comparison between the kids on their first trip to the Gilbert House and our most recent trip almost exactly 3 years later. Cheeks was adamant that I get a picture of them on the chair. And if they are going to hold hands while they stand there, I will not say no to clicking a pic. I didn't renew my pass when it expired last October, but I gave the kids the opportunity to go two places (I had to pay for) for the rest of the summer and the Gilbert House was one of their choices. We spent almost 5 hours there - definitely got our money's worth.

We've had some absolutely delicious lazy days. After the crazy first half of the summer with lots of fun visitors and busy days, we all needed some laziness. So you want to use your screen time while lying in my bed in your pjs and look cute doing it? Sure thing baby o' mine.

The last week before school started I convinced my sister Melissa to join us at Pacific City for one last beach day. We climbed around on the mega dune, played in the sand and enjoyed the Oregon Coast, even if it was foggy for half the day. It was so lovely to be there with my sister, watching my children thoroughly enjoy themselves.

Boy Howdy and his sister have started reading more in earnest. Cheeks tries to sound out just about any word she can find, and Boy Howdy is loving being able to read his beloved "Calvin and Hobbes" without needing to coerce his father or me into reading it to him.

These two. They have their moments of constant irritation, but I love watching and hearing them loving each other and the friendship they enjoy. This summer we didn't hike like I wanted, we didn't pick as much fruit as I wanted, but we played with family and friends, went camping, got to know the neighbor kids, and enjoyed having no schedule to answer to All Summer Long.