at home this summer

This week has been so warm!
Summer lingers and we certainly don't mind it.
Thinking about this past summer,
we didn't really do anything grandioso
or take big trips or do big things.
We stayed close to home.
And did a lot AT home.
Which is good by me!
Here are some memories that I didn't
get around to bloggin' 'bout.

Bugg learned to play 'catch'.

My brother skateboarding with Bugg.

I can't count the number of times
Mia got soaked in the front yard.

One day, we ate popcorn for dinner
in the front yard with the neighbor kids.
I told them if they plant a popcorn,
it would grow.
Next day, it did!

Thank goodness for Wyatt's music therapy.
It has been his refuge when the noise & chaos
gets too overwhelming.
He loves it.
And for those that have asked....
I thought I had the link but I guess I don't. Sorry.
I'll keep trying.

On this particular rainy day,
the girls took a bath in the little pool.
And ate chocolate chip cookies in it, too.
So much for the getting clean part.
But at least the floor got mopped afterward.

A traveling lemonade stand
to help raise money to

bring Makayla home!

Girls' night out!
We went to The Chocolate
and ate in the dreamy Blue Room.

Carnivals, carnivals.

Slime was a total winner.
1/2 C washable school glue
3/4 C water
few drops of food coloring
1/4 C water
1 T borax
**Stir together 3/4 C. water & coloring. Mix well.
In a separate cup, stir together 1/4 C. water and borax. Mix well.
Pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture and mix until all the water is absorbed.
You may need to use your hands.**

Mama 'n Mia date to the Benton Paul
rooftop concert.

A great summer.
Oh, yeah.

In the meantime,
we're squeezing out the summertime
drops that are left.

a new season to celebrate

Ah, the changes of Summer to Autumn.
mmmmmmm.....

The vibrant trees
on the mountains look like flames.

Sounds of the season
(accompanied by Wyatt's pounding!).

Canning peaches & jams
with my ma-in-law.
I love this bonding time!

Our Autumn check-list.

Breakfast.
Minus the walnuts.
Hello, yum.

Yes, yes, Autumn is the best.
But I've been celebrating more
of a different kind of season lately.
The one-babe-at-home-with-mama-season.

It's just me & Rooskii.
For 3 hours, 4 days a week.
It is awesome & beautiful & so fun!
Kinda reminds me of the olden days,
when it was just me & Mia.

Like when I took her to her 15 month check-up,
just the 2 of us,
and it was so easy.
She had my full attention.
No wheelchair, no whining from extra kids,
no losing my mind keeping track of everybody.
Fantastic!
And then, like we do after every doc appt,
we went to our favorite bakery.
To cheer up the freshly vaccinated baby.

And boy, does she know!
She knows she is getting special
time with her mama.
And I think she is in love with it.
Just like I am!
It is amazing what one-on-one time does for me.
I notice more details.
More joy. Less of the whiny stuff.

I love being able to really focus
on Ella and her new discoveries (ahem!)
and laugh and play and
take walks and
do chores & errands together.

btw, this is Mia (2005)
CRAZY!

Ella jamming and.....

Mia jamming in May 2005.

We go on all sorts of adventures.
Like story time at the library.
It is so cute to see her sit with
all the wee ones on the carpet.
For about 2 minutes.
Then she up and wanders off
to explore the shelves
(and try to pull every book down).

This paci-baby-outside-food-lovin' girl
is such a blessing to our family.
(to translate into Ella-lish: "poppy, bebe, ow-hi, nana)

Nite!