End of Summer

As I say every year, it may still be in the 90s, but I am declaring the summer to be over.  Schools are back in session, public pools and splash pads are closing down, Labor Day is a few days away, and most importantly, Halloween is looming.

We had a relatively cool, mild summer, which made it a lot easier to be outside this year - even the low 90s temperatures we're experiencing this week are mild compared to the low 100s we often get this time of year.  We also had an incredibly busy summer, in exciting ways (trips, visitors, and house projects) and less exciting ones (lots of extra freelance work for both me and Dev).  I'm looking forward to a little more calm and structure this fall - except, of course, for the usual excitement of Halloween.

Some of my favorite summer moments from this year:

Beatrice picking rose hips

Dev teaches Arthur to blow bubbles in the water.

Learning to float

Arthur leaping into the pool

Taking a nighttime walk with glowsticks

 

Arthur explores wearing dresses

 

Watching movies in their fort

Soap boats

From the dress-up box

 

At Chinese class

Bubble painting

 

 

Excavating dinosaurs in ice

Every day I put B down to nap in her room, and every day she comes out wearing something like this.

After lights out, Arthur huddles by the nightlight, reading.

Animation of the kids playing with their new slip n' slide

And now, at least here at home, I'm packing away the beach towels and the wading pool and I'm declaring it to be fall.