Summer was far too short.  I know it’s not officially over, but at our house – it feels over.  

We had a soft start to school this week and I know the timing feels off, what with trying to move soon too, but we also love being finished with school in May and we all highly value the six weeks on, one week off system we’ve got going on currently so we know that in order to accomplish those things, we’ve got to kick it into gear now.

funny

It was so funny last week to take London and some of her friends on a scavenger hunt around our town for her birthday celebration.

They had to do silly things – like order a basket of nachos and count every single chip before eating all of them.  Or order a waffle and blindfold four teammates and then eat the entire waffle with their forks while staying blindfolded.  Or draw portraits of themselves and then give those portraits away to strangers.

They also had to purchase a small item to serve as their mascot and make sure it was featured in the rest of their photos on the scavenger hunt.

I’m so thankful that my kids have fun and kind friends – how lovely is that?

fashionable

I love the dresses at a just recently opened shop in our town – it’s called Off the Rack and the colors and styles are just so cute.

flavorful

We’ve been challenging ourselves to just eat what foods we find in our cabinets – I think I already mentioned that.  The main vegetable we have, apparently, is an abundance of carrots.  Thank you giant bag from Costco.

I don’t know why I haven’t tried these before in the Instant Pot but they were ridiculously simple and really very tasty!

You can find the recipe we used here —- Glazed carrots.

faithful

For months the back hatch of the Yukon has been broken.

It no longer is.

It’s funny the things you take for granted – like being able to load and unload items with ease from your car.

One kind gentleman solved the problem and directed me on what to order.  Another kind gentleman replaced the ordered parts and now the miracle is that when I push the button on the hatch, it actually works.

If that doesn’t sound like a miracle to you then you’ve never tried to load your groceries in the pouring rain with a broken hatch on your car.

I will never ever in my entire years of living being able to repay the overwhelming kindness of the friends and family in my life who have stepped up to selflessly and generously serve the kids and I in a myriad of ways during these last three years.  It’s remarkable and humbling every single time.

feels

This week there are two adorable photos.

One – our friends Brent and Amanda got a darling puppy.  His name is Thor and we all love him.

Two.  Goodness knows our family has its share of issues and squabbles and arguments and rotten attitudes.  (And, I’ll tell you, those have all been The Worst during this transition of prepping to move.  It is NOT bringing out the pretty in our house, I am sad to say.)

But for some reason these two sons of mine get along pretty swell and it probably has a lot to do with their age difference and a little to do with their temperaments.  They aren’t the fiery ones, that’s certainly true.

I love this photo of them fishing together this week.  They’re such chums about fishing and it’s encouraging to me to witness their shared joy and camaraderie by a pond.

______________________________________