Last Weekend of Summer

After some minimal begging I got Den to agree to go to the beach for the day on Saturday. We hadn't taken the kids all summer and I just didn't feel right about it. Can it officially be summer without the beach? Not in my world.

It was windy and therefore freezing when we first got there at 9am.

But the kids got over it.

V enjoyed trying to find his way into whatever wind shelter his daddy had created. He also LOVED playing in the waves, of which I have no pictures of, so you'll have to take my word for it.

The kept "warming up" on the sand.

My favorite thing about taking the kids to the beach is how well they play together. There are no distractions of toys or other kids, just each other. This is why I think we should live on the beach.

Joy & Sadness

JOY: My son brought home a cello Monday night. He's so excited about it, and so am I. I'm hoping that he can teach me at home what he learns at school.





SADNESS: I'm pretty sure this is the saddest sock monkey I've ever seen. I made it for Craft Hope. When I first saw the site they were making easy things, like blankets and burp rags so I was excited to be a part of the next project. Not so much when I saw it was sock monkeys! I never liked them, I think the socks I got are too long and skinny, but I promised I would send one so off she went today. And yes, that's a scarf and trust me it helps. Hopefully next time won't be any form of animal, obviously not my forte'. Praying some child still has fun with it or at least has a sense of humor!

The Family That Camps Together.....

Sunday of Labor Day weekend we decided to camp in the woods on Den's parents land. We did this with all his siblings, and a cousin and all their kids (minus 2 babies). Everyone made the same comment when they arrived, "all this stuff for just one night!" But if it was more than one night, the only thing we would have brought more of was food. Overall it was a success and we might just do it again.

Right away the boys were off looking for creatures and building them habitats in buckets. This was a salamander that was trying to escape before his photo shoot.

While Uncle Dave was searching under a rock for a hidden key to his trailer, Aunt Gina spotted this copperhead snake and saved his life. He took care of it and brought it to show the kids.

V stayed with mom mom overnight but hung out for a bit around the fire.

Of course there was campfire singing!

As much as I tried Den would not take his shirt off while chopping wood. He's so uncooperative.

Den and others LOVED when I blinded them with the flash of my camera. They'll thank me later.

The morning after.

That morning we went back to Den's mom's and celebrated her bday at lunch.

Just V

Now that school has begun it's going to be just me and the litte guy in the am, until I pick E up just in time for lunch. I'm so glad to be able to have the one on one time. He really does play so well on his own for the most part. I will have to be more intentional about playing with him and not just getting things checked off my to do list.


He loves being sneaky when we are outside and climbing onto the lawn mower. He does really well at making the "vroom" noises.




















He's been into wearing our shoes around the house. Why is this so stinkin' cute?

He was staring at his reflection of the cupboard handle and talking to himself.

This was a super long day, and he hung in there with only one 30min. nap in the car, until 9pm when we finally climbed in the car to go home.