This summer was a busy one, but busy in a way that I enjoy. There were very few scheduled activities (except for the plethora of birthday parties)! Yet we were busy every day, going to the pond, the park, a different park, the beach, blueberry picking, etc. This lack of schedule also opened up opportunities for all four of us to learn some new things! When I look back, I realized this was truly a summer of accomplishments.
LP
LP is still working hard on riding his new big kid bike. He is riding less and less on the training wheels, and with some practice on a flatter surface, he will soon be ready to have them off all together. He is also quite good at pumping his legs on the swing, and now he can swing “almost as hi as Grandpa Hobo!” (Grandpa Hobo is my dad, who is 6’4″). He can write the alphabet, and throughly enjoys making lists where we spell out words for him. He also has started using the words “absolutely” and “assume” correctly (and constantly).
IP
IP mastered an important skill this summer – potty use! She is potty-trained for the daytime, and only wears diapers at night and at naptime. The first 10 days were touch-and-go, and I was starting to worry we may have to go back to diapers, but she then quickly figured it all out. Now she is super proud of keeping her underpants “clean and dry” and she loves it when she gets a “BIG star from Daddy!” on her potty chart.
G-man
One of the major yard projects the G-man tackled this summer was finally getting the stump of an old Norwood Maple out of our yard.
Additionally, the G-man’s garden this year was the most amazing one I have ever seen (and he makes me look at lots of gardens)! He grew tomatoes (5 varieties), corn, mountain of kale, shallots, carrots, gherkins (which are the latest hit with friends since we bring them everywhere), basil, cantaloupe, and more. Words can’t do it justice, so see the set of pictures at the end!
Mom
This summer I read a ton of books, but that is pretty much par for the course. I also learned a new skill – canning! With a lot of prep help from the G-man I canned almost 20 pounds of Roma tomatoes and five quart jars of tomato sauce from our garden tomatoes. I also continued to prepare weekly meals in advance, so I enjoyed late summer afternoons even more than usual.
Now that school is here, we are all back into a schedule. For me it is getting up early to get to work, and trying to come hope at a decent hour 2-3 days a week. For everyone else, it is getting used to preschool days, swim lessons, music class, and other assorted activities. We will all learn a lot more this year, and I’m sure we will have more new skills to add to our personal lists. But I do look forward to having another relaxed and fun-filled summer next year, complete with even more accomplishments to be had!
Garden Pictures
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