Holding on to Summer Just as Long as We Can

I swear summer just started and now, poof, it's over. I'm back to work and our summer of fun has officially ended. Don't worry, the fun won't stop, just the summer part. I have done a horrible job of blogging over the summer, so there's lots to catch up on! 

July started with a little fun at Brian and Mara's house for the fourth. The kids were in bed by dark and we enjoyed catching a few fireworks through the trees from their backyard.

We fit in some family pictures with Stacey Hamilton and I am IN LOVE with what she was able to get for us. The twins were less than cooperative, but we ended up with so many great lifestyle photos I might need to buy more frames to hang them all in the house (don't tell Eric!). 

Eric started his new job at Versatech at the end of July, so we spent a lot of time that month going on day dates- including golfing, wineries, the movies, an escape room, and eating out. It was nice to get to hang out just the two of us, plus some friends here and there. 

We spent basically every single moment we could outside, minus the times it was 100 degrees out, and found a love of the playground equipment at the park. We splashed in every puddle that showed up after a rain, moo-ed at the cows across the road, and picked up all the sticks and rocks Brady and Ashley could find. 

We also enjoyed many swims in my mom and dad's pool, and splashing away in the water table. What a refreshing way to cool off in the heat.

And when it was 100 degrees outside, we had plenty of fun playing around inside.

August saw me heading back to work. I'm so lucky to be able to work in a school where I can spend the summers at home with my kids, but it's always tough sending them back to daycare full time so I can go back to work. Their babysitter Amanda had sent me this a week or so ago, and I think it shows why I know my babes are in good hands. They absolutely adore Amanda, so that definitely makes it easier to leave them there with her.

This month the kids' Christmas present arrived- a Nugget! They are a play couch that you can configure many different ways, and these guys really love it. Their favorite configuration is where we make a slide for them to go down. They will climb up and go down about a million times before they get tired of it. 

This summer we also found a new love for the tunnel that Erin had gotten them for Christmas. It had been sitting in the bag in the living room for a while, never being touched. I got it out one hot afternoon, and now they constantly bring the bag to me to open for them to play. I could listen to them giggle forever while they chase each other through that thing. 

And then this weekend we squeezed in probably our last time in the pool before it closes for the year. These guys have loved the water this summer and we are so thankful that my mom and dad have a place we can have some cool fun in the sun. 

I hope you enjoyed that picture overload from July and August. I promise to try to be better about blogging this fall, for your sake and mine ha. Let's bring on the cool weather, football games, pumpkin patches, and finally getting to play outside again!