Summer 2019!

The last couple 60 degree mornings and 80 degree days have me dreaming of fall already! And at the same time, I know, in just an instant, it will have come and gone. I have several state parks to catch up on and a few other things, blogging wise, but summer is winding down for us. And looking back now, having less than a week of summer break left, this Mama is feeling nostalgic and all kinds of emotions. It's always bitter sweet to see another season pass, more and more I notice that yearning to hold on a little tighter to what is. It's been a lovely summer. So much fun, so much growth, so much learning and living, and in the blink of an eye, it's coming to an end.  We have VBS at church and one more trip camping, this time taking cousins along, and we will close out the perfect summer. Without warning, the years of cleaning up toddler messes (crayon on the wall, unrolled toilet paper, nail polish in conspicuous places, toys with ALL. the. pieces. everywhere...those kinds of things), constantly changing diapers, taming tantrums (still have the occasional one, but not daily) and fixing bottles, has been replaced by sports drop offs, music lessons, reading books, teaching household responsibilities and big kid conversation about cars and jobs and futures. I honestly can't believe how fast it went and what a blessing my life has been to witness every single moment of growth and change by these little babes, over the last 11 years. As hard as it is to let a season end, I am so grateful we are here, in this place, on this journey, together. And I look forward to the years ahead and where this life takes us, together.

Grayson, my big boy. He stands over 5 foot tall now, he's interested in the way his clothes look and his hair cut...all the things that just happen, without warning. He loves camping, he loves adventure, working, swimming, and all things summer. He's at Asbury Hills Camp this week, closing out his summer adventures. He has so anticipated returning, since the moment we picked him up last year! He's worked all year and saved his money, his gift money from Christmas and Birthday and Tooth Fairy, and he contributed a large amount towards his camp this year and we are so proud of him for that. He has been promoted to a grey and white belt and competed in his second Jiu-Jitsu tournament this summer and is so excited about joining the youth group at our church next month along with all the other things middle school. So, together, we enter a new age. A junior high age. And I look forward to seeing where it takes this boy!

Ada Grayce! Beautiful girl. She's getting her own little fashion sense and styling her own hair. She has all kind of questions about growing up and growing up, she is. She'll turn double digits on her next birthday, and that's a big deal for her. She, too, loves camping, hiking, swimming, dancing and reading. She's devoured at least two dozen books this summer, sometimes 4 or 5 in a single week. Her dance recital kicked off summer for her and she did wonderful, earning the "fancy feet" award! She's been joining the boys at Jiu-Jitsu in her off time from dance, so that's been a fun thing they have all been doing together. She's continued her piano playing and attended a week long dance intensive. She's greatly anticipating her first year as a part of the dance company performance team. Next week, she jumps into 4th grade!

Grady, my quiet little man, he's still pretty sure he wants to survive in the wild when he grows up and still rarely wears full clothing unless it's required. He attended his first real "camp", which was art camp at Papa and Rosey's church. He had a blast taking his lunch and getting the taste of a 7hr day, but was definitely ready to decompress and chill after a week! He reads me a few stories a week and, he is getting confident in his own reading skills! This has been a challenge for him so it's a lot of fun to see him starting to believe in his capabilities! He's been all things army men and LEGO lately. He could do those two things all day long. He, just this week, finally decided to spend his Christmas money on a pretty ambitious LEGO set, and after two days of dedication and perseverance, he completed it and it's awesome! He's also very into the iron beads and can make some pretty awesome things just by following a picture! He's so creative and fun. He's continued Jiu-Jitsu over the summer and participated in his first tournament. He did awesome and showed great sportsmanship! First grade is about to get one of the coolest kids in town!

Analeigh...sweet baby girl. She's just living her best life! She is barreling into preschool age full speed. She counts forward and backwards, she sings her ABC's, and she can communicate well without hesitation. She has a song for everything. Everything. She is so full of innocence and joy. It literally spills out of her. She can have a conversation about ANYTHING! Her fashion sense is alllll her own and she is so proud of each and every outfit she picks out and puts on all by herself! She loves all the shoes. This week, we had to size up, and you talk about one proud girl in her star shoes, she ROCKS them. And her biggest victory of the summer...USING THE POTTY! She got it the very first afternoon and there's been no turning back! She's well loved, protected and maybe a tad spoiled, by all her siblings, and I don't think she or they would have any other way! So this year for her, she has her own school time bag and will begin to establish a fun routine and respecting the others during their school time! She's beginning to help around the house by wiping doors, vacuuming and feeding dogs and she's such a happy helper! We love every ounce of this tiny little fire cracker!

And so it is, another wrap on another amazing summer. We have simple dreams for making the most of our time in this little house, all together, before they all go their own way. I love the kids enthusiasm over some of our dreams and how excited they are to help plan them and be a part of them, if it be running a 8 hr race together or traveling around the US one day, it matters not, the level of enthusiasm is the same! We've got each other, these babies, and our simple life and there's not a single other thing on the planet that could make us happier!