There they all go.

This was the moment when I almost started crying.  But I choked back the lump in my throat and hurried up the hill to catch up with them instead.  I've been waiting for this day for 11 years, no sense in crying about it now that it's here. 

Look at them, so ready and eager.  They shopped for and picked out their entire outfits and accessories.  Right down to the ridiculous Sketcher Twinkle Toes that they only wanted because they've seen commercials for them no less than 150 times over the summer.  They were assigned different classroom teachers, but they share lunchtime and recess.  They told me that they sat close enough to each other from two different tables to still be able to talk to each other.  That made me smile.

I don't really know how it all happened so fast.  But I'm happy for them.  And really, the only way I could let them go is because they have their protective and sweet older brothers to load them on the bus and help them get back home safely at the end of the day. 

This was Darin's second day of school, so he got to be in the picture with the "school kids". 

Of course we followed the bus, and made sure everyone got to the right classrooms.

And that was it.  We said our goodbyes, and they each faced their first day at school.  Darin took me out to breakfast, but then he had to be on campus all day long too.  It was quite possibly the quietest day of my entire life.  It was a strange mixture of sadness and posibility.  Who knows what lies ahead for me...I thought of the kids all day long, always wondering what they were doing and how they were feeling.

Imagine my great relief when they finally came home that afternoon to hear that everyone was happy.  Everyone is going to be fine.

The girls wanted to go to the pool, and since it will be closing in just a week or two, everyone was happy to go for a swim:

 

That's our house, just over the fence from the diving board.  Not too bad!

It's been a lovely summer, one for the record books.  And I'm optimistic that the school year can be just as great.   

We took a trip.

Back towards the end of June, my newest niece Mina was born.  We now only live about 4-5 hours away from each other.  It was high time we went to meet her.  You wouldn't believe how much I got to hold Mina.  I think she really loves me.  But I am terribly depressed that I don't have a single excellent shot of Mina on my camera!  This is the best thing that I've got:

I think this is an excellent picture that helps give you a glimpse of the fun people we got to hang out with on our trip to D.C.  But it doesn't really show you Mina.  So I'll just have to steal a picture of her:

Isn't she perfect?!  So I held her as often as I could, and my kids tried to hold her all the rest of the time.  It was grand. 

We also tried to be good D.C. tourist.  This was the first time we took our kids to the Nation's Capital.  You really can't do it all in just a few days.  Especially not in the heat of August.  But we had tons of fun people to tour with, and that made this trip unique.  The fact that we missed getting to the top of the Washington Monument, and missed the tour of my childhood in Kensington, just means that we'll be back sooner rather than later. 

Seeing the "real" C3-P0 almost made up for the fact that Darth Vader is in the Smithsonian Storage unit! 

Seeing the ruby red slippers from the Wizard of Oz, with Grandma Dorothy was especially special. 

And the "First Ladies at the Smithsonian" was almost more excitement than my ladies and I could handle!  You've never seen a group of girls more excited to look at old ball gowns. 

But hanging out with cousins, even if we made them look at the National Archives with us (or Boring Archives if you asked the 5 and under crowd!), was really what this trip was all about.

Pretty sure it was Uncle Steve who suggested we go to Mt. Vernon on Sunday afternoon.  It was perhaps the most impressive museum of our entire trip.  We all agreed that we could have stayed there for many more hours, but as it was, they were shooing us out as they were trying to shut it down. 

(do not be fooled, CZ has on like 5 inch heels in this photo!)

All in all, it was a fabulous trip.  Mostly I'm so glad we saw so much family and helped the kids establish those ever important childhood cousin/aunt and uncle memories.  As per usual I get home and realize how uncomprehensive my photos are, but let's hope the memories live on!  

Me and my brother with our kids.  Weren't we just kids ourselves?!

In case you hadn't heard, these kids are growing up darn fast!  

Stay tuned, the first day of school is Wednesday.  Although we have purchased all the school supplies and supplied most of the kids with first day of school outfits, I hardly feel prepared at all for what is about to hit us...

More visitors and more treats!

Last Saturday, Cousin Lisa drove into town.  She had attended a funeral in Mt. Airy, NC which is about two hours away, so we easily lured her into a visit. 

Driving so far with four kids alone isn't easy!  But I love Lisa for thinking she could do it.  It's those kinds of decisions that make me know for sure that we are related!

It was so fun for our kids to have built in play mates.  Swimming at the pool has never been so fun.  Watching Lisa do a back flip off of the diving board will remain a summer highlight. 

Not to mention how honored we were to spend Elsie's first birthday with her.  

Thanks for sharing some of your summer vacation with us Marions!  We had a blast.  (Although I think Lisa did a way better job of photographing our moments together.  Too bad I didn't download her photos before she left.) 

After the Marion's pulled out of town, it was time to quit sitting by the pool and turn a little bit of attention to hanging up pictures, and unpacking our 15 book boxes.  

After such a full week, Darin and I had to sneak away on a little weekend date.  I think our kids think that if mom and dad go out, Sugarland treats will return home with 'em.  They might be onto something...

For my friend Karen I tried to photograph our treats.  Too bad the lighting was kind of bad.  I'll leave the professional photography to her, but you get the idea, YUM.     

 
I think the overwhelming favorite from Sugarland is the vanilla.  They just do it better than the chocolate.  But the peanut butter cup delight had me and Darin drooling.  We couldn't figure out why the kids didn't like it?! 

No matter the cupcake flavor, I was still just so excited that I had found the coffee table of my living room dreams, at the Raleigh Flea Market,

It's going to be so perfect in front of the couch that I found on Craig's List, which sadly is still sitting on my front porch because of it's smell!  I was an obvious Craig's List novice that asking if the couch was coming from a smoke free home wasn't my first thought or question.  Live and learn!  I remain hopeful that the reupholstering will help it out. Not to mention the two weeks of fresh air and sun, and two boxes (so far) of baking soda.  What do you think?  Will it be a lost cause?  I sure hope not.  

And that's the latest.  We're off to D.C. later on this week for an almost complete Zackrison family gathering.  And oh.yeah. have you heard?  The sewing machine arrives on Thursday, along with our final 1000 pounds from Korea.  My family better enjoy my company this week, because after we're back from D.C. I think I've earned locking myself in the sewing studio for a few days!!!  

XO,
Annee