Lost Time

After a trimester of what I would consider pure h-e-double hockey sticks (too dramatic?), I am finally getting ME back.  My sense of motivation has returned, along with a realization of everything that should have or needs to get done.  When I realized that there were only three more weeks left of summer vacation, I felt like it was my motherly duty to make up for lost time.  In contrast with the past couple of months, each simple moment has felt much sweeter...

A picnic in the park.

Cheesy orange fingers.

A proud tree-climber.

A hot day at the fair with my favorite people.

Building up her immunity. (Lovely.)

Sisters who adore one another.

Big imaginations.

Playing outside before sunset on a perfect Sunday evening.

 That big smile as Ava learns something new.  

 A family camp-out in the backyard.

That's more like it.

Even Caje was invited.

Pizza delivery.

More pictures of my kids eating.

 A friendly pillow fight.

A cozy campfire.  And an impromptu guitar serenade with silly personalized lyrics.

Fuzzy slippers on a sweet baby, who I may never stop referring to as my baby.

                  

I hope my kids can now look back on this summer and remember a few enjoyable, albeit condensed, moments spent together.      

School starts tomorrow and I can't wait to get up early and make Ava's first school lunch.  (Seriously, I have been anticipating this.)  I have a pretty amazing mom who I'm trying to portray, which means my kids can expect notes in their lunch bags, pancakes in shapes, picking outfits in advance, and books before bedtime.

I really dig this mom stuff.