Sweet, Sweet Summer

Summer is ending.

Yesterday felt like fall.

I might have cried a little.

This has been my favorite summer in CO since we moved here 12 years ago.

It has been HOT, and I have LOVED it!

The kids and I have had a good balance of activities.

We have done lots of fun things.  We have served others.  We have spent a lot of time doing play dates and sleepovers.

We have not had a lot of structure, and that has been really good for us.

We have had late nights and have slept in.

We have maintained our chore system, but the kids have been able to play outside with friends a lot riding their bikes and playing games.

The 3 bigger kids have had various jobs throughout the summer to earn money.  That has been a really good experience for them.

My tan is fading.

Leaves are turning.

The weather is changing. (Anything below 75 degrees is cold to me!!)

Sweatshirts and jeans are coming out.

Kids are going back to school next week(I am a bit excited about that one because I will be having 2 1/2 hours a day to myself Mon. - Thurs. each week!!)

They are ready to be back in school even if they don't realize it.

Bringing back some structure will be good, as well.

I will deeply miss sleeping in.

I know it has to happen, but today, I am a little sad about it.

I plan to enjoy it as long as I can.

I did this activity with Isaiah and Laila recently.
Drop vinegar tinted with food coloring onto a pan filled with baking soda. Sheer minutes of colorful fizzy fun!"

 They loved it

 It kept them occupied for quite a while

 Cheap, easy entertainment.

This is what it looked like when they were done.

 Sam is now practicing in pads, so adorable!

Abby's garden is coming along nicely.  I think we could have lots of pumpkins for Halloween this year!!  We are beginning to enjoy the fruit of her labor.

cucumber

With her zucchini, I made a regular loaf of zucchini bread(left side) and a loaf of gluten free(right side)

I also made zucchini cakes.  They were yummy!

Abby has been working hard all week on a club house.  This chick is so creative and will have a beautiful home someday.  I am amazed with the work she has done with junk.  Let me give you a tour:

The entrance

She made a storage closet to keep her tools and cleaning supplies

It wouldn't be a good clubhouse without rules.  These made me laugh!

My favorite is "no punching people."

This is the main area.  There is a dry erase board, candy box, tool box to hold essentials, a gate to keep them from falling in the window well, and a nice roof on top to protect from sun and rain.

She found these old containers to hold items and put in nails to hang things on.

She said Isaiah was stinking up the place so she got some lavender from her garden and put it as an air freshener in the roof covering.  She is one clever little girl!

Right now, she is out there alone, reading.  It really is quite cozy.  I wish she had made it earlier so she could enjoy it longer!

Did I mention that summer is ending?