Frances, reading to the other children
Toddler plank pose
She's even got the fashionista pout. This is Agatha wearing my new birthday necklace from my mom. "Look, Mommy, we got a present! Let's open it! We can share it..."
It is July, so we are all off from work and school and camp. The first couple of days we got our bearings, and now we are deep into the routine of playing around the house, doing workbooks, and having small outings. One good thing about having small kids is that the scale of outings that interest them is also small. Many days we just have a visit to the local natural history museum (walking distance), an ice cream cone (two places, each a block and a half away), and maybe a trip around the block to visit Gran. A big day will entail a longer walk to the library. We did take Henry to his first-ever live theater (indoor) performance, and that was super-duper. I've also promised a trip to the local theme park, Dutch Wonderland, sometime during the break. And tomorrow we leave for a week at the beach, our big adventure of the summer.
Agatha is potty training! It really demonstrates my own laziness; as soon as I took her diaper off and got out the potty and said we were going to use it today, she did. Hasn't had a single accident so far. Here she is having a potty party with her friend, Holly.
When we return from the beach, it will be time to can applesauce and then, soon, peaches and tomatoes! We'll have two days in New York City at the end of the month, one night camping (!) in Juniata County at the beginning of August, and then the slow return to routine will begin: two weeks of morning camp for the kids while Michael and I work on our syllabi and get things done in the office. Henry's first day of kindergarten at his new school is August 25. (I am beyond excited about it.) Agatha starts after Labor Day.
Meanwhile, I am relishing the slow pace and spending lots of time together. I can see how much sweeter we all are and how well we all get along when we are not rushing or pushing to get much of anything done. It will be a challenge to hold on to that when late August rolls around, but I resolve to try as much as possible.
2 comments:
Dutch Wonderland? Could anything be more fantastic?! It sounds like summertime is treating all of you well; eat it up and enjoy it all. We love reading about all your adventures; the next best thing to being there. Happy Anniversary to you, Amelia and Michael- we love you so!
Those summer days are priceless, one needs to remember and reflect on them when things get hectic and nervous energy is working against sleep--reflecting on quieter, slower times somehow calms the soul. Have lots of relaxing fun and some new adventures on your vacation. Love, Auntie Grace
Post a Comment