The last time I wrote, summer was just starting. Now, here we are in October, gearing up for all things fall, despite the fact that the weather is still (thank goodness) in the 70s. I'd like to say that instead of blogging about life I was immensely enjoying life all summer, and while, yes, we did lots of fun things, there were plenty of times that I just sat on the couch and did zilch while the kids napped. Hence, not even so much as a smidgen of a check in to this blog happened during the summer. Instead of a long rewind recap of summer, here are a few highlights. Sorry kids, add "Mommy stunk at keeping up with blogging" to the list of ways I've already ruined your little lives. Or, enjoy these few snippits of our summer:
Sprinkler fun!
This was the greenest our lawn looked all summer. It was a very hot and dry summer!
Triage center for all of the dolls and animals. There were lots of broken bones that day.
Lemonade stand with the cousins
I painted Avery and Claire's nails for the Fourth of July! And, I'd like to point out that I thought of that awesome idea *before* opening up my Family Fun magazine and seeing the exact same idea. I totally thought of it first.
In jammies, ready to go see the fireworks for the first time in our little Dunham family history!
Claire was very upset in June when she realized that dance with Miss Susan was over until the fall. I called around and found a ballet class in Canandaigua for the summer. Claire and I loved our Monday trips to Starbucks and then to ballet.
I'm very lucky to have Claire and Jack to do handiwork under the dining room table with Jack's tools!
Of course, there was a girls' trip to NYC. We met Shea at a sushi bar in midtown for lunch. We found our way there all by ourselves and weren't the least bit overly proud about it.
Claire and I spent the rest of the day in the city just the two of us. We hung out by the fountain across from FAO Schwarz, in front of the beautiful building formerly known as The Plaza now sadly known as condos.
We rode the ferris wheel in Toys R Us.
And we walked around Times Square. We weren't the least bit overly proud when we found our way all the way back up to 95th and 3rd, even transferring subways, after hopstop refused to work on my phone.
We met a friend from long ago at the restaurant used for all of the shots of "Monk's" in Seinfeld. The food was great and seeing Karen was fantastic. Say hi, Karen! You've officially made it in life...you're on our blog. There's no greater place to be ;)
We played at Claire's favorite playground, and I got a little nuts and let her play in the water in her clothes. Watch out, world, it's a whole new Betsy Dunham comin' at ya. I've never seen Claire so genuinely happy and loving life as she did that day.
Who is this gorgeous grown up girl and where did my little one go??
We went with Adam to Peanut Butter and Company for lunch. It was amazing. Enough said.
Can I just say, these two goofballs couldn't be more perfect for each other. They are one in the same human being sometimes....
We had an al fresco breakfast and played "I Spy". I spy my favorite girl in my favorite city, on a beautiful summer day....sigh.
We are so lucky to have Aunt Patti in the greatest city on earth so that we can go visit lots and lots.
Jack got his first hair cut. He hated it. Moving on...
Yes, it was that hot. On more than one day. I would have complained tons and tons, but I didn't have to, since we finally put air conditioning in the house. Instead, I cooked eggplant parmesan and spaghetti, just because I could. It probably cost my $20 to run the air that day with the oven on, but I. Did. Not. Care. It was glorious.
A loud thunderstorm woke the kids up from a dead sleep one day, so we made popcorn and watched a movie. Who rocks??? Oh yeah. That would be this mom. (Do all of these pictures and memories help make up for my lack of writing them down for you, kids??)
We took walks by the lake and fed the ducks.
We even bought cracked corn for the ducks at the Tractor Supply Co, rather than stuff their bellies full of bread and risk killing them all. Or is that a myth?
Two little peas in a pod.
We had a beach staycation day at Canandaigua Lake. Complete with picnic lunch and Starbucks. Talk about glorious...
Jeff was hoping that by purposely making a funny face in the picture that I would not put it on the internet. He was sadly mistaken.
Claire drew her first figure with an actual body rather than just a head with arms and legs. I was so proud that I promptly framed it.
Dance recital, take 2!
Our little ballerina. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!
First trip to the sprayground. Why we waited all summer before going is beyond me. I think we're moving in there next summer.
Last but not least, we made a mat with a city on it to drive the little cars around. It was a pretty cool project, thanks to the new love of my life, pinterest.com
There you have it, summer in a larger-than-anticipated-nutshell. And on days like today, when work is not the easiest, I can remind myself that summer is just 9 months away :)
