Here we are, the end of July. [gulp!] Summer is over half way through. In fact, most of our friends only have 2 weeks left until school starts, so it's feels like summer's end is coming faster than it really is. We'll start school the last week of August to give us a chance to really enjoy the last few weeks before we dive in.
BUT, before I dive in to what our summer has been about, I have to update you, quickly, on April & May. (and to be frank, i'm not sure how much longer this blog will stay alive. I just don't seem to have the time anymore to keep at it. and really, I do it more for myself to keep track of our lives and as the boys change less and less I'm seeing less and less of a need to keep up a blog. just putting that out there for those who even read this!)
OK. April. Drew's 6th birthday was great, we had a small family get together and he felt very special and loved his American flag cake (a cinch to put together!). The boys both got rollerblades, and while Evan loved them from the get-go, Drew was a little slower to start on them. Now, the end of July, they're both racing around them in the cul-de-sac every chance they get! We had a big snow mid-April, which meant sledding and snowmen. Again. The boys loved it, I was over it by then. Oh wait...this happened again in May! This year we celebrated both Easter (with friends and my folks) and for the first time, Passover, in honor of how I was raised and because we love to symbolism the traditional celebration holds.
 |
| First tooth out! |
May held [mostly] better weather. We went to the zoo twice, the gardens once, and a nice hike up to Devil's Head Lookout! It was a slower month and oh so enjoyable (looking back). Oh, we did a TON of yard work...like 5 solid days worth. The front of our house (with the addition of a new roof) is almost unrecognizable!
 |
| At the top of Devil's Head Lookout |
 |
| Evan has decided he wants to become "good at making pancakes". So he practices. |
June was our busiest (and most fun!) month. With the arrival of our good friends the Wilseys, we
each traveled to the other's house once a week for 5 weeks,..that 10 day-long visits in 10 weeks. it made the weeks full, but so worth it. Add into that mix Memorial Day (where we went to a very special and respectful ceremony to honor the fallen), a 3-day camping trip which included a 15 mile hike around a very large reservoir, VBS, and ended (pretty much) with celebrating Evan's 8th birthday and 4th of July, it was a BUSY 5 weeks! Evan had a wonderful birthday -- he loved all the family time and going bowling with friends. The 4th was great with a parade and hike with my folks and long-time friends coming to stay for the night as they were passing through on a family vacation!
 |
| All 7 crazies...all month long! |
 |
| Family hike for Father's Day |
 |
| Camping and hiking -- our summertime favorite |
 |
| Half-way around the 15-mile perimeter of the reservoir! |
 |
| And for the first time, he requested a "regular" cake...not a "shape cake". Sniff. |
July itself has been less busy than June, but still full. We camped for 4 days just outside of Aspen. It was GEORGEOUS. The hikes were more strenuous and technical than we anticipated, but the boys did great and we all loved it. When we returned from that trip, the boys went strait into a week-long soccer camp where they learned a ton and went to bed early every night! My grama (mom's mom) came into town a little over a week ago to visit and be here for my nephew's 2nd birthday, so that's been nice to see her a few times. We were able to get a nice 4-generations picture today at the twin's party, too, which i'm thankful for! The boys put on a little piano recital for her this past week, complete with an intermission which included tea and cookies! Evan lost both top teeth this past week and I think he looks years older with them out.
 |
| 4 Generations! |
