summer in review

So… we did not schedule anything for this summer. No camp, no classes, no travel. Aside from 5 mornings of soccer this month, the kids and I have been more or less just Playing for months.  And it has been awesome. Just what we needed in our very overscheduled life.

So here is proof of our mellow yellow summer :

Bennett has become a big-kid on a swing. no more baby swing.

Madeline is flipping up her training wheels and learning to balance. check out the knee and elbow pads!

she is really trying!

After this she spent the afternoon on the skut (bike with no pedals for balance practice) and was doing great but I had to put the camera down

We spend lots of time in pjs or shirtless, painting at the kitchen window.

The kids have found ways to entertain me every day. Plays, songs, costumes, recitals. they have really learned to work together on these little shows.

I have done a LOT of home cooking. Here are this week’s Mahi tacos with citrus slaw in process…

Lots of unstructured time with friends

hanging out..

camping at the lake

with friends

in the rain…

and the list goes on and on…

its been awesome. I am so grateful for this time with them.

exhausted. but in an excellent way.

kids at play

madeline is very proud of her long hair these days.

you know what IM proud of? the love between these 2 kids.

here is madeline going into b’s room after his nap to give him a snuggle

we had a movie night last week when don came back from sf

let them watch their first real movie. had friends and popcorn and cookies in the basement on the big screen. they are so hooked!

mmm chocolate chips

helping mommy make play dough

gardening

tomatoes of course. and this one was just so pretty

and cherry tomatoes. these were volunteer from last year!

bell peppers

pumpkins (from last year’s seeds!)

more peppers

rosemary

basil and parsley

and of course a few flowers (from seeds my mom sent madeline for easter!)

my kooky daughter

I love her and here are some of the many reasons why:

she ripped all of the hair out of one of her dolls because it was unjust that none of them look like daddy.

she ate the marshmallow right off of the paper towel- go big or go home. she is not afraid to make a mess for something yummy.

she gets into character the second we paint her face.

front yard fun in the planting

exchange

an exchange

Bennett: (opening a coloring book that Madeline has used the day before) Madeline did you draw this picture right here?
Madeline: Yes
Bennett: (high pitched) Ohhhhhhhhhhh its Fantastic!
Madeline: Thank you Bennett
Bennett: Its Wooooooooonderful.

catchup pics from may-june

on the train ride with a friend from school

about to dive into a frozen banana sundae

“mama will you put my baby in my ergo carrier?”

 

caught uncle deedge feeding him a donut ice cream treat!

smithsonian zoo

museum of the native american

camping in PA with friends

bennett is out for the count!

shaving with daddy

mommy break time!

camping in MD with friends