Part summer, part back to all of it. I love having the kids around, but its definitely too much time on their hands...too young to be employed, too old to be easily amused for hours at a playscape or a backyard kiddie pool.
August 26
Cousin sleepovers are always fun and these two get along so well.
Aiden is all about fishing these days. Pop was able to get him on a friend's boat to test the waters of the river.
First soccer practice for Shaun and Amanda.
We had a couple cousins stay with us for a few days while their parents were away. We joined the practice and made use of the adjoining playscape and the beautiful evening.
August 27
Somehow, just like that, we have a kid in high school.
High school! So crazy!
When I picked her up, we walked the empty halls to find her classrooms and I thought of her dad walking these same halls for four years. The circle of life, how time flies...all the things.
In my head, our special back-to-school dinner was meandering and leisurely as the kids, one by one, shared their hopes and fears for the upcoming school year and Shaun and I lovingly imparted our vast amounts of wisdom and advice as we sent them off into a new year. I cooked steak and twice-baked potatoes and used our china on the back porch on a beautiful summer evening.
What actually happened is J was working, Shaun didn't fully comprehend (or remember) my intentions for the evening so he and Aiden stayed out extra long fishing and we had two little kids who were not going back to school and did not fully appreciate steak. And I had to run to the highschool with Avery to pick up her Chrome book.
And it was ok. I was disappointed, yes, but I've now lived long enough to know that the biggest issue in it was the expectations I had set up. And I had a choice in how I was going to handle the space in between my expectations and my reality.
They had one of their best fishing evenings ever and I'm so glad about it. I've longed for Shaun to slow down life enough that there would be room for fishing and that happened this summer. It is life to Aiden.
August 28
Doin' it. Four kids in four different schools. But since the middle school and high school are attached by a hallway, Avery and Amanda ride the same bus. A high schooler?!?
Waiting at the bus stop in our neighborhood, THE coolest 3-5th graders.
J didn't start school until the following day, so I had help with the kids.
One of the neighbors hosted a first-day-of-school ice cream social but it was
pouring so we brought it inside.
Later, Gavin and Aiden sat down to do homework together. :)
August 29
Baby dayz. :)
August 30
Not the best picture but it represents the time Aiden and I get to have. He's content to take a back seat to the goings-on and will patiently bide his time until there is time and space for him. When its just the two of us, he opens up and we have the most amazing conversations. Much of it is about fishing or Star Wars or Greek Mythology or creature factoids or the latest book he's reading. But almost always, somewhere in the middle, he sneaks in a hard question or a keen observation on life. He's fascinating and I'm super grateful I get to be a keeper of his heart.
August 31
Guts are highly valued around here. Doing hard things, afraid, is celebrated. As a new high schooler not confident in her skills, Avery went to tryouts for the soccer team. Three hour practices and on this day, a Saturday no less, it was a double session...one in the morning, one in the evening. She was worn from the conditioning and admitted that she was crying while running, something I've done more than once. But she pushed through.
Speaking of soccer, Shaun and Amanda played in a pre-season tournament both Saturday and Sunday.
September 1
15th Annual Lobster Fest!
This year was short and sweet and small but so lovely.
Facetiming Melody, who was in Indonesia!
