Ending Summer

We’ve been a little busy not being busy! Last week, the kids and I checked all sorts of things off my summer bucket list.

First, we went biking in Jackson Park. It turned out, JT loved the bike jumps and had a great time. We also enjoyed playing “Follow the Leader” through the forest – even tackling obstacles like downed trees in our way.

Then we picked blueberries at our local produce stand. We picked over three pounds in about half an hour!

Haley started gymnastics. She’s in level one and she’s working pretty hard in class. Her coach is awesome and we love that she’s learning to be strong and poised (if she wasn’t already).

JT started soccer. I made a little joke that this is what I look like as a soccer mom. And football mom. And baseball mom. (The other sports are indoor.)

I’ve been practicing for my triathalon. My first triathalon. I did a practice group open water swim last week and had a great time. I hope the real swim goes as well!

JT and Haley have continued a lot of reading and writing over the summer. We had summer journals and I have been doing a read aloud for each child. Haley and I are reading The Secret Garden and JT and I are reading Among the Hidden.

Every year, my mother-in-law takes me shopping to get a “back to school/work” outfit. It is super fun and I always get something I just love and wear a lot. This year, Haley came too and she got spoiled as well. We went crazy at H&M!

The back to school ice cream social came so quickly. Haley and JT and I went to meet their teachers, drop off their school supplies, and see who else will be in their classes. JT has two teachers due to a job share, and his morning teacher is a childhood friend of mine. So it’s fun to say I’ve know his teacher for over 25 years! Haley has a friend in her class from preschool last year, and she’s feeling great about starting kindergarten.

Speaking of starting kindergarten, Haley is a very good reader. I’m interested to see how that goes in school. Yesterday she read her devotional and cruised right through words like “defeat” and “being.”

We did a little shopping last week and the kids picked out things with their savings. JT got a new Lego set and Haley got a princess cash register. It says hilarious things like, “Glitter clean up, aisle 3.”

We also squeezed in back to school haircuts with Mrs. Horan! She took about three inches off Haley’s hair to get it cleaned up, and of course just a trim for JT. His hair is so thick there was a bigger pile than Haley’s when his was done!

Haley also had all three girls she knows in kindergarten at her school over for a playdate. We wanted to make sure they all four knew each other before the school year began. They are split up 2/2 between two classes, so each girl knows someone before the year starts.

Meanwhile, my tomatoes don’t think it’s time for fall quite yet. Look at this beauty!