End of Summer Break

Today was my last day off with the kids before school starts. Ella starts in 6 days. We had a fun trip to the pottery store and Olive Garden with the Biehl's.

The summer has flown by. We are sad it is coming to an end but excited for Ella to start 1st grade. She gets a locker this year and cannot wait to put up her locker mirror and magnets! Theo might start preschool this year if we get some things worked out (see #6).

Here are a few of the SUMMER 2010 highlights for our family:

1. The new Country Store opened July 5th. This pretty well trumped all! We had a crazy-fun July with family in town from across the globe and the country and lots of Grand opening hoopla!

2. We all enjoyed a couple trips to the Lake with cousins and relaxing boat rides.

3. Ella learned how to swim without floats. She swims in water over her head, dives for rings, and does flips. I am certain this little girl who once screamed bloody murder at bathtime is surely part fish . . . or mermaid as she often corrects me.

4. Theo spent most of the summer clinging to the stairs of pools. All of sudden 2 weeks ago he decided to take the plunge underwater from the sideline. Ever since, he has been swimming all over with floaties and jumping off the side of the pool with no fear!

5. We still have a no-where-near-interested in-potty-training Theo. Oh my, this may go down as one of the most pathetic attempts to potty train a child. He does not care a bit about a dirty diaper. Peeing on cheerios, chewing gum and other bribery is not working to date. We will keep trying . . .

6. Theo mailed his pacifiers to cousin Seneca in June. He still has his trusty blue blanket.

7. Ella is weeks away from earning her purple belt in Tae Kwon Do. She is doing great and currently has her yellow belt with black stripe.

8. We've had a wonderful college student help us this summer 3 days a week. She has been our lifesaver with this summer's crazy work schedule. The kids will miss her dearly. She takes them to do fun things and comes over with new games and crafts often.

9. We've had a bountiful peach, blackberry and tomato harvest. Our standard dinner is to grill something along with tomato mozarella salad, corn on the cob and fresh bread. What will we eat this winter??

10. We have appreciated many evenings at home to watch the sunset and enjoy our home as a family. A few summer nights we even managed to eat out on the patio!

We look forward to a fun fall and my favorite time of year for photos!