Last days of August

This is Ryder.   He's 9 now.  NINE.  (Well, really he's some sort of middle-aged-man-kid hybrid.  He plays chess and reads big fat books.  I don't even know how to play chess. )

This is how we celebrated Ryder's birthday.  It was good times.

And now we have a giant slingshot in our backyard.

Ryder's birthday also happened to be the first day of school.  Lucky kid.

This was one nervous kid.  But he survived, and I think he might have even enjoyed it.

Catch up.....again

I'm super excited for school to start.  Like really excited.  Like counting the hours excited.  Summer has been fun, but I'm ready to add a little structure to my day.  And a little quiet time.  (2 more days!)

Blogging has taken a backseat this summer.  We've been busy (doing milkshake research and not watching TV).  So here's a glimpse of the last half of our summer.

Child labor

Field trip to see the sunflowers (with Aunt Kenzie, Aunt B and the cousins)

Gav's first karate tournament

Wren's re-adoption day.  

(We had to readopt her in the US so she could have a US birth certificate)

This is her being deputized by the Chicago police department.  I have no idea why this is part of the adoption process.  It was weird.  

Fun with the chalkboard wall.  

mmm. homemade donuts.  

Gavin teaching Wren how to jump in the puddles.  

Coming Soon:  First Day pictures,  a house project update and Milkshake Monday results.