End of Summer; End of an Era

Hard to believe it is September.

Really hard to believe. I was just getting into the groove of long, warm days and endless hours in the pool, in the yard, in the sun.

I can safely say this is the first year I've never wanted summer to end -

Autumn has long been my favorite season - 

but summer with kids is sooo much easier. They are happy, barefoot, exercised...their naked bottoms bronzed ever so slightly by afternoons in the sunshine.

So how have we arrived here - the last hours of Labor Day weekend - so quickly?

With the alarm clock tomorrow morning, we are slapped back into reality.

School, schedules....darkness! Not to mention the holidays loom closer and closer by the hour.

(Side note: Who's started shopping for Christmas? Crazily enough - I've started; every year I tell myself I am going to be more organized for Christmas and every year I fail.)

Fall hasn't officially even started and I am already exhausted.

Granted I have a little summer cold with a nice mixture of allergies slowing me down but regardless I am tired. Autumn has long been my 'busy season' - if a SAHM can say she has a busy season...this is mine. Between now and January 1, it will be hustle and bustle and endless, endless to-do lists.

In a way, I love it. I love the structure and the checklists but I think what is really weighing on my heart is time. There is just never enough time and when you are measuring time against two growing girls...it stuns you and takes your breath away.

Grace will be five in three months.

Charlotte will be three in a matter of weeks.

Grace will be in school - all day, every day - in one year. 

In a way, I view this as my last year with Grace.

In reality, I know this isn't true.

But this will be the last year without the pressures of school, the outside influence of friends and the beginning of an onslaught of after school/weekend activities. 

It is an old cliche - one I despised as a kid - but nevertheless true. 

It goes by so fast. 

SO, SO, SO fast. 

It really is one of the cruelest realities of life. When you are young, you don't understand how hard it is or how fast it goes...then once you get a little older, a little more perspective, you just can't believe how true it really is.

All those years, all those adults - actually telling you the simple ass truth...and you didn't listen!!

Ok enough of my crazy rage against time...let's recap the weekend and get ready for tomorrow and all that comes with it!

Friday night was one of those summer nights. Ate dinner outside, stayed up a little too late, drank a little too much vino - but all in all, good fun. 

The girls even got their first driving lessons.

It was so cute! They loved it.

My phone crapped out two seconds after this pic! Darn!!

In other news, Stranger and Hiccup are still around! They have completed their entire puppy shot series and go in for the BIG appointment on Thursday. 

Saturday we kicked off Court's manic harvest schedule for the next solid month by having one last hoorah! Dinner in Yakima!

Both girls fell asleep in the car on the way up to dinner and stayed asleep until their meal came.

I'm telling you summer sunshine is magic!!

They wouldn't wake up!

We even tempted them with their first Shirley temples! 

(Charlotte loves maraschino cherries...but nope...on they slept!)

My summer cold - tied in with some problems I'm (still) having with my teeth kept me up ALL night Saturday. I was seriously up from 1 am to 4 am so Sunday we laid low. 

But today, to close summer, we went to the parade in town.

It was your typical parade. Marching bands. Floats. Fire trucks. 

Tractors. 

Oh and this!

Didn't know this was parade material in small town USA.

Just another indication that time is marching on and I am getting old.

But on time must go and so must we.

Farewell sweet Summer. Hate to see you go but it's been a good one. One of my favorites. 

Do me a solid will ya? 

Tell Autumn to be good to us and Winter to be short and sweet.

Thanks!

Proud Mommy Moment

Yesterday, Grace and Charlotte returned to gymnastics. We had the girls take the summer off for obvious reasons.

I was a bit apprehensive about going back to gymnastics. Grace has been out of her casts just shy of four weeks and while she is doing well, gaining strength and not complaining of any discomfort, her gait is still off. The doctors say it will take a couple of months and that we should encourage all 'normal' activities to help strengthen the muscles in her legs. We've repeatedly asked Grace if she was ready to try certain activities and for the first few weeks post cast removal the answer was a definite no. Things started changing. Her strength began returning and so was her confidence. Soon, the answer about going back to gymnastics changed! She was ready!

Charlotte has been ready all summer! Charlotte turns 3 at the end of September and at age 3, kids can participate in gymnastics without a parent assisting. So when I was re-signing the girls up, I fudged a little and told them Charlotte was 3. I was looking forward to an hour of sitting and sewing, catching up on emails, watching my girls participate as opposed to jumping around out on the floor in Mommy & Me kinda fashion.

I am happy to report that all went well yesterday! In fact, it went smashingly! Charlotte rocked her class. No apprehension. No tears. Followed directions well and overall, had LOTS of fun! At the end of class, the teacher gave me a thumbs up and said Charlotte did great!! After class, I told her I was so proud of her!

Grace also had a successful morning! A few of the other girls in class were having a difficult morning. Not following directions. Running all around the gym. A few tantrums. The coach had talks with just about every child - all except Grace. At one point, the entire class went running across the gym - laughing and giggling and carrying on; clearly having a fun time. The look on Grace's face was interesting. I could tell she oh so wanted to be a part of the fun but she stayed in line where the teacher had told her. I know she won't always follow the rules - and not all rules are meant to be followed - but I was proud of her nonetheless. I was even more proud when the teacher told the class that if they could climb the rope to a certain point (about halfway) the girls could ring the bell! Ringing the bell is a big deal because it means you have done something all by yourself. I didn't expect much out of Grace on this activity because I had watched her try climbing that rope before. But a switch was flipped when the teacher through in the bell-ringing curve ball. She walked right up to the rope and climbed the damn thing like she'd been doing it her whole life. Like she'd been born in Tarzan's tree house and started swinging on vines before she could walk! It was unbelievable! I was stunned. So overjoyed for her because she was the only one to ring the bell!

The only bit of trouble we ran into was when Charlotte heard that Grace had climbed the rope and rang the bell! That sent Charlotte spiraling into uncontrollable sobs because she wanted to climb the rope and ring the bell too!! Of course she does!! All in good time Miss Charlotte! All in good time!

I must admit my mommy heart burst with pride yesterday. Both girls growing up and having confidence-building-moments. Teeny tiny moments like this make the millions of frustrating, exhausting, repeat-yourself-300,000 times moments SO worth it!!

Early Picks

Our new house is located caddy corner from an apple orchard!

Oh yeah!! (Said in Vector's voice if you've seen Despicable Me!!)

We've anxiously been waiting for apple picking season...and finally picked a few the other evening. 

Unfortunately, we are still a wee bit early. When these babies come online though...watch out!!

I'm banking on the plethora we pick to keep the proverbial doctor away for a looooong time.

I think we are due for a dry run on the doctor front. 

Quick Trip...Big Fun

During a time of the year when Court is beyond busy, we were able to take a little break and head to Seattle for two nights!

Even though it was a quick trip, we were able to sneak in lots of fun!

We kicked it all off with dinner at Ruth's Chris - our home away from home!

I'm telling you...no one does a steak better!

The next morning, after a trip to Top Pot, we headed to the Pacific Science Center!

We went to see the IMAX film Flight of the Butterflies in 3D.

On the way, we got to see all the water exhibits!

The girls had never seen a 3D movie and what an introduction they got!

The movie was about the monarch butterfly and it was very well done. Interesting and believe it or not - emotional. I cried. At a movie...about the monarch migration.

True story.

It was fun watching the girls reach out and try touching the butterflies that appeared to be fluttering all about us. 

 Upon exiting the movie, we realized that it was gonna be a really nice day! 

And as it was approaching another meal time, off to Ray's Boat House we went!

Upon arrival, we had the option of sitting in the shade or the sun. Obviously, we chose the sun. 

Fifteen minutes later we realized we'd made a mistake. 

These girls, who spend an incredible amount of time in 90+ degree heat for weeks on end, couldn't handle the Seattle sun! We could practically see them melting in front of us.

Hempfest was going on while we in town and that meant traffic, traffic and more traffic. 

Luckily, the sun zapped  the girls and slept through the painful ride home.

And then something truly amazing happened. I mean - out of this world, never-happens-amazing!

The girls fell back asleep after we took them out of the car!!

An you know what that means!

Mom and Dad got to take a nap too!

And not just any nap. A three hour epic nap! 

Best day EVER!!

When we woke up, it was time to eat again!

So off to Benihana we went...

with Auntie Molly!

Who knew Benihana was super family friendly?

The children's menu roll up into chef's hats.

Uh genius! Girls loved it!

Somebody else loved the chef's hat!!

Ever since Auntie Molly babysat a few weekends ago, she has been requested on a daily basis.

Often through tears.

The girls were very happy that Auntie Molly joined us!

The "chopstix with training wheels" made eating more fun!

Grace is not an adventurous eater on a good day but she tried everything and decided to stick with the rice. Charlotte on the other hand...

Finally, a shout out to our friendly waitress June!

She kept us well hydrated throughout the evening...if you know what I mean.

With that, our jaunt to Seattle concluded.

Next up, getting stuck on the pass on the ride home for over an hour due to an accident!

Not the ending we were looking for but home safe n sound nonetheless!

Visits...of All Kinds!

The girls and I snuck away for a few days to visit my parents.

While it was hot in our neck of the woods, it was even hotter in Boise. Luckily, my parents have a pool in their neighborhood. All of Boise must have been camping or vacationing or something because the pool was empty everyday! Score!

We swam. 

We hit the splash park.

Enjoyed quiet time by the river at dusk. 

Excitement, heat, a long drive and staying up way past bedtime eventually led to this:

Just a few short days in Boise, then we headed back with my mom in tow!

My dad followed a few days later to visit and to drive my mom home!

They had yet to see our new house, our new dogs or the chickens!!

This guy showed up right after they left.

Yes, that is a kitten.

In a nest.

In a tree.

Clearly, the word is out in the animal world that we are good people.

Funny how the universe works. When all those "let's-have-another-baby" feelings (I blame them completely on Prince George!!) start bubbling and brewing, I am flooded with babies - but of the canine/feline kind. 

Not exactly what I had in mind but it has quelled the fires...

for now. 

Grace's Perspective

Grace is taking more and more of an interest in taking pictures. Perhaps having a camera shoved in your face since birth will make you want to get on the other side of the lens from time to time! After a BBQ at Court's parents where my mom and brother were also in attendance and a day out and about, I finally went through my photo stream. It was fun and interesting to see what she captured!

Uncle Johnny-roo

Beer...er ah Uncle Johnny-roo again!

Playing with perspective

Her feet. 

Lots of photos of her feet.

Bruising and blisters from casts. 

Surgery scar. Court told her its a kiss from her cast.

Mommy in the morning. Fresh and fun!

Mommy in the late afternoon.

Not so fresh. Not so fun. 

Luckily, she's only given the camera on rare occasions. Otherwise, I'm sure we'd have far too many pictures like the one above!

Birthday Celebration

Court was kind enough to turn a year older over the weekend. He's not really a birthday-celebrating-kind-of-guy but when my sister graciously offered up her babysitting skills, the birthday celebration was on!

With Molly in charge, we hit the road for one of our favorite, close-to-home (but not too close) destinations - Walla Walla. We arrived early afternoon with enough time to walk around downtown - which we hadn't done in ages! There were so many new restaurants, wineries and stores! We did stop into a new patisserie and scored big time when we ordered their peach and blackberry pie tart thingy. 

It. Was. So. Good. 

I could have eaten three - before dinner - but we were responsible and split one. 

Why is it SO hard to be good?

Meanwhile, our munchkins were partaking in their own patisserie a la Auntie Molly!

Soon it was time to head for dinner where we sat for over three uninterrupted hours eating and drinking and talking. So fun!

Side note: My track record of mis-hap packing for date nights continues. Remember this? 

Brought my black shoes - but two different shoes.

Doh!

This time I brought a matching pair but for whatever reason, they didn't fit. They were too big...or it was hot and my feet were sweaty and sliding every which way. Either way, they were ill-fitting four inch heels - not a good combo under the best of circumstances.

Ever been out and seen a girl clodding along like a linebacker in high heels, than you know exactly what I was up to on Saturday night. If I tried to walk on my toes, my heels would slip out and I'd trip. If I walked heel first, my stride and balance were all off making me look a grizzly bear prancing in a circus. Not pretty.

I didn't get up to go to the bathroom until the end of dinner and only because I thought I was going to explode. The thought that I could potentially tumble in the middle of a restaurant in my mid-30s because I didn't 'test run' my heels was enough to risk an even more humiliating accident. Luckily, that is why God made alcohol!

Regardless of my ongoing inability to appropriately dress my self far into adulthood, we had a great time! In the morning, we hit the breakfast buffet and then made our way back home. Short but sweet!

It's amazing how long you yearn for some quiet, peaceful time away. But when it finally happens, it somehow doesn't feel as glorious as you anticipated. Don't get me wrong, there is some gloriousness - it's just short lived. Before you know it, the clock starts ticking - counting down the time until you get to come home - and you can't wait!

Happy birthday Court!