Checking In

We are still alive and kicking over here! I can't believe my last REAL post was about the last day of school and we are already starting to gear up for the start of school. The kids start at their new school in exactly three weeks. I can hardly believe it! (I can also hardly believe Olivia will be starting kindergarten, an occurrence which is seriously tugging at my heart strings these past few weeks.)

Our new house is coming together and we should be completely settled within a few weeks. There are some long-term jobs on our list, such as painting a room or two and buying some new furniture to fill in empty spaces. But that will all happen in due time and we are just busy loving living here in the mean time.

Baby #5 is due in exactly 9 weeks - another fact which I can hardly believe. Surprisingly, I am really hoping to have all 9 of those weeks. Gracie was 3 1/2 weeks and both Alex and Olivia were 5 weeks early. They were all perfectly healthy and over 6 pounds at birth, so that is not a concern. But we will just be settling into our new school and routine when I hit that 5 week mark. I think we'd all really like some time to get used to one new adjustment before the next wave hits. Either way, I'm doing my best to have us all prepared.

Briefly, here's what our summer has looked like:

Olivia - growing up a little more every day

Alex sporting his summer style - a mohawk! Eric's idea that has grown on me.

Isabelle's home-away-from-home for a week - Camp Westminster.

The camping girl, sad to be ending her favorite adventure.

Gracie is just as full of spunk and spirit as ever.

Our family's favorite summertime even was a huge hit with everyone again this year.

We spent the Fourth watching the fireworks on the lake with my brother-in-law, his girlfriend and my parents.

Feeling like our homeschooling days of old while doing some summertime get-ahead workbooks.

The 3 littles love their new house, even while they missed their big sister at camp.

Our new backyard, which has been put to VERY good use over the past 2 months.