We were really blessed with a beautiful summer – we didn’t hit those oppressive 100 degree temps until August. A few degrees may not seem to make a different, but it really, really does. Here are pics from one Monday in July – full out outdoors while it is still tolerable and lots of play indoors.

Tyler was never into fingerpainting so much…at least “back then”. And so I think at some point, I passed on all of my stash. Quinn is a different kid – highly tactile. We recently got more fingerpaint from Grandma Susie who was cleaning our her art supplies. Color me surprised when my kids enthusiastically wanted to fingerpaint!

And so we did and the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves! So I guess I might be getting more after we use up what we have. Sometimes I fall into that trap of attaching certain activities to ages forgetting that it all depends on the child. Maybe Tyler just wasn’t really ready for it then or as interested?

I have had fabric for some summer napkins for over a year now. I finally decided to get on the project and see if I could include the kids. Tyler has used a sewing machine at school and so was happy to help me figure out how to make it work. He decided to squeeze the foot pedal with his hands while I guided the fabric. As we were sewing the next set of stitches, he asked if we could do the one like a lightening bolt. Sure! I thought the napkin came out great!

Then it was Quinn’s form. Since Tyler had picked a fun stitch, I let Quinn take a look, Of course she picked the complex decorative ones and of course she wanted a different one on each side! We got through it and hers came out great too.

It was fun and I am glad I included the kids..and they say they want to help me finish the rest. I think we will stick to one fancy stitch this time though!

A slow morning in PJs, enjoying the morning sitting together on the bench swing. These moments, I just love these moments.

Quinn always amazes me with her self-direction and determination. She has an idea and she does it. And so it was this day. She had completed a drawing for Grandma Havel and decided that she wanted to wrap it. She had found some tracing paper and got to work. She did an awesome job. It was so cool to watch her work with the tape. Her fine motor skills are very impressive. She was very proud of her work and Grandma was quite pleased with her special gift!

This girl, oh this wonderful, mellow, sweet, drive me up the wall insane little one. In our family, Tyler and I are both fire. Because his personality is so much like mine, I feel like I already know him. Lately, things he says and does take me back to specific moments in my childhood where I did the same thing. And I love that familiarity, the many bits of sameness that we share.

But this girl, she is air. And this family needs air. She has this way about her that I can’t explain. She is quite verbal so every thing she does has a reasonable explanation and it makes us smile. “Well of course I need to do that, I am doing this.” It all makes so much sense and is so reasonable – she has no idea why I am in such a tizzy about it. She sings made up songs all the time. She has a wonderful imagination. All trash is treasure and can fit into whatever she might be carrying at the time.

“We should talk to Uncle Dean about going up to his house in the snow, because I like snow.”

Or whenever she is enjoying something, “What fun! What fun!”

When you clean out her play kitchen you will find just about everything that has gone missing in the next month. I found Star Wars’ R2-D2 in there yesterday. Chris said, “she likes R2-D2.” I also found rocks, pipe cleaners, paper, more paper, pens, pencils, toys. Whatever is special in that moment goes there. I also find many things special to other family members in there too!

She is so self-reliant. She is hungry and so this little momma raids my fridge. It is all so matter-of-fact. She will only eat a bit of what she gets though and store the rest of it back in the fridge.

She is so charming. Even when I am angry, she has a way of being that distracts me from my anger. I end up smiling or laughing even. And I am not one to let go of anger easily, but somehow she makes it so easy.

She just has a way about her and if you have spent a lot of time with her you know what I mean. She is so unfamiliar to me, though I do see glimpses of Daddy in there. Still, I love the mystery, I love how light it all is, and I am enjoying seeing what comes of this silly girl who goes about her day enjoying life.

This picture above and one below was taken in November. She got back in her cradle the other day and so I snapped another picture. This cracks me up. This little girl of mine loves to cozy right into her cradle with her dolls because she can. And so she lays there covered up in “blankets” singing songs and chatting with her dolls.

In two weeks she will be 4 years old. I really can’t believe it. I really can’t.

A few weeks ago, Tyler was not feeling well. So he planted himself in the big chair and just laid still for a while. Quinn feeling worried about him, sat on the ottoman and proceeded to tell stories to her brother and do whatever she thought of to make him feel better.

It totally melts my heart when they tune into each other and try to make the other feel better.