Good-bye Summer

We've officially reached summer's end. Summer was good to us and yet so much went unsaid.

I didn't acknowledge a wonderful Fourth of July holiday with cousins, aunts and uncles. It was perfect except for a sick Natalie.

I never wrote about my week as an empty-nester. The kids loved every minute of their five mother-free days at Grandma's and I felt a bit guilty at how much I enjoyed my break from them. I'd love to see this become a tradition.

Here are the kids all loaded up and ready for a week at Grandma's.

My family gathered for a wonderful week of reuniting. It was sure good to have them all here.

Caleb went on his first Scout campout. I understand he was quite a trooper on his five-mile hike!
We got to celebrate Jonas' baptism with lots of family. After this visit we could say that we saw every member on both sides of our family. What a great blessing, especially considering the large distances that separate many of us.

I never mentioned all the beach days, play dates or the record breaking heat.

We definitely packed in plenty of fun. Like last week when Jon surprised me with tickets to Wicked. What an awesome show!

And then yesterday, Labor day, our last hurrah...the circus. It was a really fun show and hard to determine a favorite act. I'm going with the elephants.

Good-bye, Summer. I hate to see you go.

Tomorrow, I throw Caleb to the dogs...the Mt. Baker Middle School Bulldogs. Please pray for him (and me!)