can summer really be almost over?

it is the end of july - the kids here start school in 2 weeks (although preschool doesn't start til after labor day). summer has flown by so fast - and has been such a blast! haha i am starting to wish for and look forward to the beginning of school and a normal weekly and daily routine. living out of a suitcase does get a bit old. and so does saying goodbye to my bed! but alas - two more trips...maybe a third...and summer will truly be over!

the aftermath of letting them pick out their own cookies from the bakery - of course they picked the cookies that had 2 inches of icing on a 1/2 inch of cookie...



HAHA...the joys of being in youth ministry...soap suds slip n slide



the kids' first hotdog roast. YUMMY

all the cousins playing in the lake with mimi

3 cousins out on a walk



i went to take a picture of her and she waved at me!!! i laughed SO hard ( this is the little ride on car that gave her the big owie...)



marie's first really big owie - a big fat busted lip. she was driving one of those little ride on cars, hit a bump, and the thing fell forward - and of course she held on to the steering wheel handle thing instead of catching herself. but she's a tropper - was smiling within 30 minutes. :)


the beginnings of her "i'm a big girl!" stage. she simply has to do everything her big brother and sister do - including climbing into and sitting in big chairs all by herself. her personality is definitely starting to shine through.

can't you just hear her thoughts? "see me mommy!!! i'm sitting in this big kid chair!!! and i did it all by myself!!!"