even more summer days

even though i've started school this week, i'm going to share even more of our summer days.  you can totally feel sorry for me if you want because my family is planning all kinds of fun summer-y things to do this week.  without me.  rude.

john and i decided that since grace is about to begin first grade, she was old enough to handle a few chore and money responsibilities.  she is very excited about it.

aunt steph took grace out for a girls' night.  that was super sweet of her and grace loved it!!!

carter man really enjoys serenading crying babies.  he's pretty good at it too.

we got to play with lily (and sing to trace) at their farm.

there is beauty everywhere...sometimes, we just have to look for it.

grace has learned how to "dry" her own hair. she can put it in a ponytail too.

we grilled chicken and i made some pineapple salsa.  it was yummy!

love! love! love! this cow print!!!  i really need to live on a farm.  or at least next door to one.

we made some dee-licious reese's peanut butter cup cookies.

mmm!!!

i don't know what to say...i just smile.

grace celebrated her friend's birthday with a tea party.

those girls drank a lot of tea.  a lot!  and she drank with her pinkie up for the entire party.

we made a back to school countdown/prayer chain. 

hopefully, you're summer days are not over yet.  enjoy them while they last.  trust me. they go by fast.

more summer days

this summer, my grandparents moved into a retirement community and we've (mostly, my mom) have been cleaning out their old house and getting them situated in their new house.  i went through hundreds and hundreds of photos and designed this gallery wall for their new place.  i sort of love gallery walls.  this is the largest one that i've ever done!  i like it, but i may be a bit bias.

this is my favorite picture of all the hundreds that i went through...it's my great grandmother and her sister.  i love the bows and ruffles and tights!

one (of many) lazy afternoon, she plopped herself on the couch, grabbed the remote, and turned on a hallmark movie and i was all like, "what happened to disney junior?" and "when did she become a teenager?" and then i watched the movie with her.

umm...ok

supermodels

and, he's out with his lunch still on his face.  summer is exhausting.

i love it so very much when i find her reading!

some days, he's a football playa!

we took a couple after dinner bike rides.

we swam some more...this time with the boys!

i am going to miss her when school starts.

who's up for some ring a round the rosie?

i'm going to miss him too.  sometimes.  just kidding.

so glad that they love each other and enjoy playing together.

these summer days are about to come to an end and i'm sad.

summer days

our summer days have been mostly fun and busy.  way back at the beginning of the summer, we spent a little time with the taylor's in texas.  there is always (and i mean always) some form of dress up involved!

this guy was my little snuggle bunny one texas morning.

we have tried to swim as much as we could because swimming is fun and fun is good.

this day we were able to swim with friends!

we have eaten so much yummy fruit this summer.  he always asks for watermelon from the grocery store.

i made my own laundry detergent.  i know, just call me martha.  so far...so good!  i used this recipe.

he wants me or john to lay with him for five minutes every night...this night, he told me all about planting trees.  i never knew he was the expert tree planter that he claims to be.

we've been able to spend some days cuddling with this cutie!

he's a story teller.  he tells his stories to whoever will listen.  he tells his stories as he sits, builds, walks, draws...  

and he has a "sleep hat."

and he can give an amazing hug.  sometimes.

this summer, we also HAD to do some things...like go to the dentist.

like i said...our summer days have been mostly fun and busy.

the time we actually went to the zoo

unlike our last trip to the zoo, this time we actually went into the zoo.  our summer has had some unusually cool days and this was one of them!  we got to visit the zoo with the rest of the city.

the kids love to feed the birds!

they like to see how many birds they can get on their feeding stick.  i think we've got three at a time.

don't you think they are so pretty?!?

we also got to feed the giraffes...carter only feeds them with his mouth.

crazy kid!!!

her face!!!

chillin' like a villain

one of her favs!

and one of mine!

ewww!  i kind of don't like ostriches.  a lot.  their so big and those toes!  but, the necks totally gross me out!!!

why are they so big??? and poor panda!

carter man loves the dragons!

i love the ducks.

the chickens too!

we had a great day with super weather and some awesome kids!