So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good-bye (to Summer)

So long, summer! And yes, we showed the kids The Sound of Music and are singing all the songs, all the time.

First ever trip to California Great America! - August 21, 2022

August really feels like two sides of a coin. First half: cram in the last bits of summer! Second half: barrel into the school year and start panicking about how close Halloween is.

For the first half, we hosted a Summer Party for the first time post-pandemic... and it was awesome. Not a lot of pictures, but the time chatting with friends old and new, watching kids bounce all over and play, serving up homemade ice cream and not-homemade popsicles was time very, very well spent.

Summer party selfie - August 6, 2022

We followed that up with a visit from Grandma and Grandpa F and a road trip to Lake Tahoe. There is so much gained from staying in a house that isn't ours and being able to focus on the moment, the family, the fun.  It also doesn't hurt when that house is two blocks from Lake Tahoe.

The big kids tried kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding (and LOVED it). They learned lots of fun games, played mini-golf, and erupted a volcano (yay science!). Grandma and Grandpa were pretty tired at the end of the day, but we hope they had fun too!

Everett & Daddy on the paddle board!

When we got back from our weekend escape, it was go time. Imogen started Jr. K (the year before Kindergarten) and Everett started 1st grade. So far they both love their teachers and we are trying to figure out the schedule - what days to pack a lunch, extra snacks, homework folders, PE days... there's a lot going on. And this year we feel like we should be volunteering a little more. Wish us luck with that!

"Though she be but little, she is fierce." - W. Shakespeare

"I want to do a different pose every year." - Everett

Just when we thought we'd be sitting pretty in the new school year, Adelaide got a cold and was home almost a whole week. Flashback to the first few weeks of the pandemic when we were working full time and child-minding! It is exhausting. And full of guilt (but also giggles).

September, here we come. (And yes, Halloween costumes are conceived of now just to get it together and figure out when we're fitting in all the fall outings...).

So impressed with her writing.