Summer's End

Summer is officially over.

Not just on the calendar, but on the weather map.

I love these crisp days, though.

The leaves blowing around.

The colors on the hillside.

The breeze blowing and making everything feel somehow new... or old.. or different.

We had a very busygreatbigchange kind of summer.

I am glad to see it come to a close and get on with this new chapter of our lives.

As a friend recently reminded me...

Change is NEVER easy.

It is possible, though.

And...

It is possible to do it without completely losing my mind...

...partially, but not completely.

A Day At The Beach...

One of our favorite summer activities is to hang out at the beach.

Sometimes we are out there 3 or 4 times a week.

This year, summer has taken its sweet time arriving.

So this has been our first trip of the year.

The kids always have so much fun. They run and run and swim and dig and eat... and then fall asleep on the way home.
I mean... does it get any better than that?


I will say, though, that Mama is feeling the pain of not going swimming since last year.

OUCH!

Those darned muscles...



I will also say...


That something was seriously NOT working with the sunscreen!

Everyone, except Mark (who doesn't really venture outside of the umbrella's shade), is sunburned. Chey joined us at the beach and is really RED.


I know, I know... but I did cover everyone... more than once... with sunscreen...spf 50...


What's a girl to do?

end of summer fun...

U...G...L...

Do you remember cheering with your sisters or friends when you were a kid?

I do.

The cheer squad gathered in the back a few days ago.

Miranda was the coach.

They spent a couple of blissful hours (for me)

hanging out in the back yard cheering.

The end of summer weather has been perfect for cheering, trampoline, swingset...

We love the fact that our kids use their imaginations.

We love that they aren't sitting in front of video games and being couch patotoes.

They have more fun hanging out outside,

using those wonderful,

creative brains.

They love each other and enjoy each others company...

most of the time.