Farewell Summer

Sam and Luke helping to build the garden aka the "veggie vault"


Sam and Tate in his pool

Sammy on a sunny day over at Tate's house

Luke and Sam at the water park

Paul building the "veggie vault"- The veggies are safe from deer, chipmunks, squirrels, foxes and the occasional bear!

It's been so fun watching our plants grow!

Here's the big treehouse project. It's behind our house and we hope that it will bring years of enjoyment to the kids. It's almost done, but it still needs a roof!

Tessie had her first meal this summer. We started with avocado, but I think she's eating peas here.

Here's the birthday cake that I baked for Stephanie. I thought that frosting ended up looking like deviled egg filling, but it didn't taste like it. Thank Goodness!

Luke, Ella and Sammy riding the kiddie roller-coaster at Lakeside Amusement Park

Ella and Sammy at Lakeside- They earned free tickets for completing their summer library reading programs

Sam and Ella again on another ride that goes in circles

Paul and Sammy taking a break at Lakeside

Miss Tess with her big brother

my boys of summer

Mt Crested Butte

Luke and Ella hiking

me and my Lukie

Paul was pretty tired after this hike. That's quite a load he's carrying!

Farewell Summer

I'm not unusual in that I really think of the new year beginning in September and not January. Well, tomorrow, the first of September, we're back to school. This year, Sammy is joining in while we work through Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons together. I have many more plans which I will share a little later, but let me just savor this last bit of Summer just now.

Something Fun

I bought The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society a while back, but I'm just now getting around to reading it. I also downloaded the audio version from my library to listen to on my new MP3 player. Since the book is told in a series of letters, the audio version has different voices for each of the letter writers. I decided to follow along while listening to the book at the same time. This is a decidedly fun way to both read and listen! I'm finding that I'm having to work on my listening skills. As much as I like listening to books, I do find that from time to time my mind starts to drift to other things. Reading along while listening keeps me focused. I'm already enjoying this delightful novel.

Daybook-Birthday Edition

Outside My Window -a sunny day. It's not too hot and there are some clouds, but I don't think it will rain today. I must remember to remind the boys to water the garden. Although we've had a lot of rain this summer, it's beginning to taper off now.

I am listening to- quiet. I nursed Tessie to sleep. Luke is upstairs eating his lunch while listening to a book and Sammy is sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch. He's seems to be talking to himself.

From the learning room-not much. I'm rather behind with my plans for the quickly approaching new school year.

I am thankful for- another year of life. Today, I am 37! How did that happen? Seriously, how did that happen???

From the kitchen- I am not cooking today!!! I made the normal lunches for the kids. I did not even make breakfast for the kids I am ashamed to admit. Instead, I loaded up the kiddos and drove to Starbucks for muffins. They were out of muffins and I bought brownies instead. I know, I'm horrible.

I am wearing- jeans, flip-flops, sky blue tank-top with a light green button-down shirt.

Holiness in the everyday- trying to pray without ceasing.

I am creating- a room for Tess. Paul painted her room a glorious pale blue with a hint of lavender. I'm thinking of sewing a twin-size quilt for the extra bed in her room (like I need another quilt project). Her room has been motley storage until now. I can't wait to put it all back together. I have two prints by two American impressionists, Frank Benson and Edmund Tarbell to hang in her room. I've been waiting to hang these prints for over three years! I'll add images of the prints to this post.

I am reading - too much! I'm determined to go back to reading just one book at a time (although I just downloaded five books to my new MP3 player). I am about to start reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I've moved it to the top of the stack on my nightstand.

One of my favorite things- Sunflowers! Paul just brought me a bunch of sunflowers for my birthday.

Plans for the rest of the week- finish knitting this hat. I only have a few rows to go and I'm just about to begin the decrease rows. I also need to put the house back in the order after the painting adventure.

My little sunflower

Lately, my blog has been all about pictures. I realized that I haven't really written anything this summer and I have so many things I want to share, but Summer has been so full that I haven't had time to sit and focus on writing. I've neglected my daybook entries again. I compose entries in my head, but somehow they just don't make it to my blog. Sometimes, I write them out on actual paper and I still don't copy them to my blog. What's up with that?? I can't wait to share some of the things happening around here like the tree house project, my knitting, the boys' garden and my curriculum plans for the Fall, but for now, here's Tessie in her little knitted sunflower dress. No, I did not knit this. My aunt Rosie, avid knitter, discovered that sunflowers were my favorite flower and sent me this beautiful handknit sunflower dress for Tess. If my sunflowers in my garden don't bloom, I won't be disappointed because I have this little sunflower girl! Thanks Aunt Rosie for this gorgeous dress.

8 Months

Miss Tess at 8 months