Summer

Since there are only 8 days left of summer vacation, I thought I'd recap our summer and what summer has meant to us.

We visited the zoo when my grandma came to visit for a couple weeks.  She became a great grandmother on her birthday which is also our oldest daughter's birthday.  What a great birthday gift!  

Our youngest, M was born in May, and our two middle boys, T and K were both in June. They are 4 years and 6 days apart.  Here the three boys are blowing out candles on a cake meant for T and K.  

For father's day we went on a walk and took lots of pictures.

T went to camp for the week and came home again.  As you can see, he was greatly missed!  

Our daughter went off to camp 2 days after T came home.  Here she is, 2nd from the left, with all her friends. 

I spontaneously decided to let the kids splash in the puddles after big rainstorm moved through.

I found 2 toads in one of our window wells.  H had a lot of fun showing them around our yard and watching them hop around.  Here she is with Hops.  She named the other on speckles.  

During a wonderful rainy day, I let the kids go out in the rain and play.  I played and took pictures too! 

We met a friend and her kids at a water park.  We spent a good part of the day playing in the water.

Our family went to family camp and enjoyed a Western Themed dinner

We keep in touch with my former foster sister and her mom.  Her mom invited us to up to her house on the lake and we camped out one night. 

This is the next day as kids were taking turns on the paddle boat

A random walk we took

K learned to ride his bike without training wheels!!

We hosted a backyard end of summer party for our kids and their friends.  We played Wiffle Ball and watched The Sandlot after dark outside. 

Now that summer is nearing an end, it's a little sad and really exciting.  I am excited for all the new possibilities that this year brings for each child, as well seeing new friendships form and old ones strengthen.  I am looking forward to my quiet days with just M and all the moments he and I will share together.  I'm looking forward to less bickering.  Routine will be good, and it makes me thankful for the lazy days we've had together thus far.  One more summer is past.  I'm excited to see my children learn and grow, but I just wish I could freeze time and they wouldn't grow older.  Thank you God for blessing me with the four most wonderful children a mom could ask for.  Help me to remember to treasure each moment.