today i am...

...marveling at how nice this summer has been.
I can tell you exactly how many freckles that Henry has earned this summer and just how many different shades of tan Havalah has turned.

We've discovered two new swimming pools and one very pretty lake. We found a new U-Pick blueberry farm, where you can eat as many as you pick.

We've sailed homemade cork boats down stream with some good buddies and we've gone to backyard camp with some sweet homeschooling friends. We've drank raspberry tea all summer long and have not gotten up before 8:00 AM more than once or twice.

We've collected 3 slugs, 2 potato bugs, 1 worm, 1 larvae and 1 spider, which each had their very own habitat. We've eaten hamburgers and corn dogs on the pier while watching the fishermen pull out fish after fish.


We've sat outside staring at the night sky trying to find the constellations and tried to predict when the next Blue Moon will be. (2012)

The kids have painted no less than 16 paintings of Angry Birds and they've fed the seagulls french fries and bits of cod, and Havalah has the nip on her finger to show for it.


The children have read over 150 books, and I'm still trying to get through the same one I've been reading since last spring.

We attended approximately 11 craft sessions at Michael's and learned a little bit about art from around the world.

We've played lots and lots of tennis, but not nearly enough of it on an outdoor court, thanks to a rainy June and July. As it turns out Havalah has a pretty darn good forehand, but Henry prefers ruling the net.

We spent precious time with cousins and aunts that came all the way from North Carolina, Denver and Idaho Falls. Love these people so very much.
I got to have my two sweet sisters under my roof for the first time in years and years and we created wonderful memories that I'll always keep close to my heart. I haven't knitted or sewn a single stitch since the weather turned warm, but my sister helped me redecorate my living room. (hello turquoise!)

I got to snap lots of pictures of these cousins enjoying each other all the while marveling at how much these two look (and act) alike.

Summer is coming to a close, but it's not over yet. It'll still be summer temps in Seattle for another month. At least it better be.

We've (finally) got our first camping trip of the summer to look forward to, tickets to one more baseball game, a special mid week day off with Jon, and swimming lessons that start in a week or two.
And I know it's time to begin homeschooling again when the kids start saying "let's start learning again soon Mommy!" (Disclaimer: I take no credit for their enthusiasm, but give it entirely to our incredible curriculum.)

On another note - I'm looking for a new and better way to edit photos. PLEASE share - what do you use and recommend? Am I going to have to brake down and, gulp, buy photoshop?