End of "summer" stuff....

Summer technically doesn't end until the end of September, but in my teacher world, summer is done the day after Labor Day!

There are so many things I will miss about the 'summer schedule'.

Lazy breakfasts with Camryn.

I love eating breakfast with that girl - she babbles excitedly about her food, thinks dipping her toast into her cereal bowl is fun (and tasty), drinks up my smoothies like they are made of pure chocolate, and giggles and makes "ooh ooh aah aah" sounds at the monkey on my coffee cup. :)

I love breakfast with Taylor, too, but often she isn't up yet while Cam and I are hanging out in the kitchen - so it IS an extra special treat when we all eat breakfast together. :)

Play dates with friends! Summer is time to actually catch-up with people that I don't see as much during the school year - and play dates with other moms and their kids is one of my favorites! This was Ty and Tay at the splash pad together - wish we had spent more time there this summer!

Silly sister moments. Camryn has decided one of her favorite things to do is tackle Taylor with these big bear hugs. I have to make sure to referee though, otherwise it can easily cause tears if Taylor accidentally gets too rough back.

Hanging out on this dock. Enough said. :)

Outdoor play. Last summer, Camryn couldn't even sit up by herself. This summer, she is practically running around, so it is fun to be able to watch both little ladies playing independently. Camryn has loved this Cozy Coupe this summer, and also the little pink push toy.

Afternoon naps. Need I say more? I would either join the little ladies or enjoy having some "me time" for a little while. :)

Being able to see first-hand all the new stuff that Tay and Cam are up to.  Camryn got some new shoes - her first pair of tennis shoes (she looks so big wearing them!!). She immediately wanted to go outside and run around. Big Kid.

Camryn also decided hummus was one of the best things in the world - to eat straight up or suck it off a carrot or cracker. :)

This was Taylor's cupcake that she got for a potty training accomplishment earlier this summer. Cannot say enough how glad I am that we have completely hit the milestone. (She likes to eat her cupcakes with a fork :))

Yesterday was a glimpse into our our weekday mornings will go. I had a full day of work, so the girls had a full day at 'school'.

A picture of two (rather sleepy) looking little ladies eating breakfast next to each other at daycare.

And the 'four musketeers' as I fondly call them - Cam and Tay, Ty and Addi :) So glad they have each other!

This was my favorite part of yesterday. After picking up the girls after work, and once dinner was done, we just got to sit, snuggle, and read. Love.

Although there are things that I will miss about summer, there is also something exciting about the start of fall (and moving to a new house is pretty fun, too :)). Bring on the hooded sweatshirts, apple picking, and cooler weather! 


 

I'm going to be an aunt :)

It is no secret. I am SO excited. Jeff (my lil' brother) and Jen are going to have a baby. And this new little one is due to arrive SOON!

Jeff is my only sibling so this will be my first time becoming an AUNT! I can get emotional very easily when thinking about getting to meet this new little one, and picturing Jeff becoming a dad. There is something so powerful about that. And Jen is my brother's soulmate. She is wonderful. I can easily see her in a mom role - she'll be a natural for sure. Those two are going to have a blast being parents. And the gender is a surprise!! Can't wait to find out if Tay and Cam are going to have a little boy or girl cousin. :o)

So, with a baby coming, we got to have a couple of fun baby showers! 

First was with my mom's side over on the east side of the state where my grandma lives. PInk and blue balloons, pink and blue cupcakes, and a fantastic brunch. :)

Camryn was a big fan of the food - the girl loves scrambled eggs, can you tell? :)

Jen has the cutest baby bump :)

Putting our fingerprints on the "family" tree - such a neat idea for a piece to hang in the baby's room!

Cam thought it would be a good idea to play with Tay's little {clean} potty (we were in the thick of potty training, and this thing went everywhere with us!)

Grandma Betty and Uncle Drake

Presents!

Instructing Jeff how to use the Ergo :)

Mem and Camryn looking good together :)

 Family

Later in the month, we also had a get together with my dad's side of the family

Playtime

Food

Presents (note the balloon "over the hill" - it was also a few days before Jeff turned 30 :))

Little Charlevoix shirt for future Parker :)

Cake (well actually boston cream pie) cutting - both for baby shower and to celebrate Jeff's bday

Love this last picture - Jen's already a natural :)

Can't wait for baby Parker to arrive - and you KNOW I will blog when it happens!! :D

Summer milestones

Summertime usually means tasty trips and outings to get frozen yogurt or ice cream, right? Up until this summer, Taylor didn't want anything to do with ice cream, stating "It's too cold for me."

But then a couple months ago, her buddy Ty had some ice cream...Superman ice cream to be exact. Peer motivation is big with Taylor, especially when it comes to Ty. :) Ever since then, she has been more open to trying it. Last weekend she actually had her own bowl of the bright colored flavor.

The smile says it all.

But what the picture doesn't show is that although she was really excited about it, and exclaimed that it was yummy, she only ate a few bites both times we served her some. {Now give the girl some dark chocolate, and she has no limit ;o)}.

Summer also means lots of time in the sand! Camryn has made it very clear that she wants nothing to do with sand, until this weekend. I actually missed getting to see the transition from fearful crying to happily running around on the beach. I was out on a bike ride, and had left Ryan to play with the girls by the lake, and when I came back she was playing in the sand like it was no big deal! Yay!

Summer feels like it is wrapping up, but we are still taking full advantage of sunny weekends when we can!

Fun in the waves

Boat rides

Eating at the Landings

And just hanging out by our favorite lake