Cuteness

Smush falling asleep in the high chair. 

I don't have many pictures of him sleeping because he can be a light sleeper.  But this day he was not ready to wake up from his nap!

This backpack that the Oysters lent us has been a lifesaver this summer.  He likes it much more than the stroller, and is content in there for long periods of time.  He even sleeps in it when necessary. :)

He still doesn't really talk (at least in words we can understand), but his sign language has really improved!

I actually like his failed attempt better:

First Day of First Grade

Coincidentally, Micah's new headmaster is a friend of Scott's from college (and a big Notre Dame fan).

 You may remember from last year, on the first day the parents are invited to stay for a dedication service.  We had worship and fellowship together and prayed for the new school year.

Smush found some friends to play with.  He passed toys back and forth with the little guy next to him.

The first day is just a half day, so we were able to squeeze in some ice cream before getting Smush home for his nap.  :)

Trip - Part 3: "Boats, boats, boats"

Friday afternoon, Meredith and the girls drove up to the lake.  Eric picked Scott up from the airport after work, and they made it to New Hampshire in time to say goodnight to the kids.

Some highlights from the long weekend:
- my mom's 65th birthday!
- more blueberry picking
- my 66 1/2 year old dad proving he can still water ski (on one ski, even!)
- shrimp and scallops...twice!
- lots of swimming
- games of all sorts
- and LOTS of things involving boats.

These two were SO sweet together.

Smush loved this chair so much he even fell asleep playing in it!

Lucy sharing her reading skills with the younger cousins

Candy Land

Croquet.  'Cause we're fancy.

giant frisbee

All the big kids got to try tubing, and everyone liked it.

Hannah giving the "thumbs up"

Micah

Lucy

Lucy and Micah are big enough to maneuver the kayaks by themselves.  Lucy, especially, surprised us with her power and control.

One special feature of the lake is an ice cream boat!  A couple of high school kids come around on weekends with their cooler of treats.  The kids loved it!

Throughout the weekend, there was a steady stream of kids and boats in and out of the water.

Look carefully: Eric is towing the sailboat with the canoe, and Lucy is playing taxi in the kayak with Hannah.

Now we're unpacked and settled in at home - just in time for school to start.

Trip - Part 2

After dinner on Monday, Gramme drove the kids and I up to New Hampshire.  Micah and Hannah were pretty excited to sleep in the new bunk beds.  Smush got his own room (and slept great the rest of the week), and I had the loft all to myself.  My parents moved one town/lake over just before Thanksgiving last year.  Their new house features a long driveway, a huge yard, and more beach/shoreline.

Micah was determined to get a volley in badminton, and Poppa was very patient.

Gramme painted a white line towards the end of the driveway so the kids knew how far they could go.

 Poppa stayed home with Smush one morning so we could go blueberry picking.  It was the best picking I have ever seen.  The bushes were full of ripe berries that practically jumped into your hands!  We filled our bucket in no time.

We went to a Mary Poppins event at the library.  It was...interesting.  Then we went out for ice cream.  I ordered "the smallest size you have" for myself and the kids, and the cones were still so big we had to put them in dishes.

photo by micah

I gave Smush a few bites, too.  :)

Trip - Part 1

Last Sunday, the kids and I flew to Boston very early in the morning.  The big kids were great.  Smush was testy, but the flight was only half-full, so he got to walk around a little bit.  We got to spend most of the day Sunday with the whole family (Gramme, Poppa, Eric, Meredith, Lucy, and Nat), including a trip to the zoo.  Monday, Gramme and I took the kids to the ocean.  Micah and Lucy fearlessly jumped and swam in the waves.  Hannah and Nat preferred to stay a bit more shallow.  Initially, Smush loved his first time at the beach, but then changed his mind.  (He had a rough night, then didn't want to nap, so he wasn't himself.  A new tooth arrived the next day; then he returned to normal.)

Legos

bedtime