2nd day of school!

In case you missed how cute they were the first day.

School!!

1st day in all their shiny brightness!

We missed a desk shot of Ava--her class was packed with big 6th graders and I just couldn't make myself wedge in there for a picture.  Boundaries and all.

Jemma with our favorite teacher!

Oh man.

I missed this kid.

Celebratory lunch at Wendys.

Celebratory cookies at Bucers.

Henry's favorite part of school?  Going to the park!! (that would be recess but here we are 3 weeks in and he still calls it the park.)

THIS is happening.

I know.

they're mine.

goodbye summer vacation...

We loaded up last weekend for our annual last trip of the summer to the lake.

And just as we rolled down the driveway, Henry says "Jemma...I need to throw up."  Ed slams on the brakes, pulls him out of the car and throws him to me and sure enough...Henry pukes all over the yard.

Sometimes there is a very fine line between laughing and crying.

However!  After a long nap for the little man, we rallied nicely and loaded back up and hit the road with a bucket and a pack of wipes.  And, I'm happy to report, no more puking.

Dinner with our favorite people.

Beating big daddy at Go Fish.

My little mama.

Like father, like son.

 

This kid is so darn handsome.  

And sometimes he seems so big and I get just a glimpse of him as a teenager...and then he's a kid again: 

Oh man, I like them.

my kindergartner

Jemma got a letter from her teacher.

The joy!

selfie master

I find these on an all too regular basis.

these two.

'nuff said.

when did all of this happen??

She's the most amazing mix of grown-up little girl these days.

Who knew it just gets better?

"take my picture!"

Backpacking!

Oh man.

I have a deep, long lasting love/hate relationship with backpacking.  I love to be in the woods, I love hiking, I love seeing how brave and strong my kids are.  I pretty much hate sleeping anywhere but in my bed.  The cold, hard ground just about does me in.

However!

I'll do pretty much anything to hang out with these two:

Loading up

Jack and I like to be in the front!

My favorite!

These two do my heart good.

And these two.

Oh these two are already planning a trip to Hawaii for their 19th (golden!) birthdays.

I have no doubt they'll go.

This one packed in her tent and set it up no problem.

Nothing tastes better than dinner at camp.

Ed cracking up while my dad reads some Patrick McManus.

Jack packed Cougar all the way in.

love.

I can't describe what it feels like to swim in a high mountain lake where the water is just warm enough to not be snow, but Ed's face can.

Taking turns washing hair.  It somehow helps to wash your hair and your body separately.

Survived the bath.

And then found the best place for lunch.

My aunt and cousin joined us this year and we were so glad!  Two more happy faces around the fire.

Ed almost knocked Kayte into the fire with this load of wood.

Jack helping Grandma squeeze everything back into her pack.  Serious business.

Waiting for the whole group picture.

Got it.

(sort of)

Trying to decide the driest way to cross.

Hiking out.

We survived!

And celebrated with food and drink.   And sleep.