What we really did in August

August was a HUGE push month for Jake as he is in the final stages of writing his dissertation and will be defending later in the fall. (YEAAA!!) Jake spent, and is still spending, a LOT of long days and late nights doing this...

So I spent a LOT of time making fun things like this little number that Pinterest inspired me to do with scraps from my fabric bin. It was also a HUGE month for 418, due to a lovely number of orders and some gracious gifts. I stopped sewing for 418 at night back in the spring in an effort to set better boundaries, but when Jake disappeared to go write in August, I hit the sewing projects!

 Mid-month, we took a break from writing and sewing and life. We dropped the ladies off with Mimi and Bop Bop and had the Best. Date. Ever. Just us, out on this quiet little lake near us that we hadn't explored yet.

 It was peaceful and beautiful, and we paddled til the sun went behind the trees. THEN we went to see a 9:00 showing (who has done that since college?) of the new Bourne movie, which we loved.

The next day, the girls actually stayed with the grandparents all day while we started the day with a breakfast date, then Jake went to work, I consignment shopped and was in general immensely productive. Late afternoon, I picked Jake up and we had another SUPER fun, super funny paddleboard date on another lake area we hadn't been to. We played reaaaallly hard that time and did stupid stuff like handstands. You know that disgusting burp that happens when you cough a ton after swallowing a lot of water? At one point I was laughing so hard in the water that THAT happened.

One of my favorite things about being married to Jake is that we have the same taste in what makes a good time. That 24 hour period was a GOOD time with this guy who I think hung the moon.

Accessorizing

We had some fun with a cicada shell the other day. Blythe started it and became the owner/wearer of the shell after everyone else had their turn... until Joy smashed it on the living room floor the next morning. But it was a good time til then!

Meet and Greet Festivities

Preschool meet and greet day started with a family breakfast with Mimi and Bop Bop, then it was on to meet our new teacher! We waited for our turn...

Then Mrs. Tricia brought us in and wowed Abby Jane with a fabulous book of pictures telling us all about her and her family. The highlight was a picture of her daughter, who's getting married this fall, trying on a wedding dress. Four-year-old translation: Mrs. Tricia has a princess in her family.

Blythe and Joy had no hesitation busying themselves in the kitchen and bringing us various treats while Abby Jane and I were talking with her teachers.

 Excited girl and her sweet new teachers, Mrs. Tricia and Mrs. Becky!

 We went straight from the school to the pool for a quick swim with Ericka and Grant.

 Miss Ericka had cupcakes for the kiddos to celebrate Abby Jane's fun morning, conveniently left over from Grant's big boy party the night before (the one where they celebrated him moving into his new big boy room in preparation for his baby sister's arrival in November!)

Don't believe Blythe's face here- the twins were equally jubilant over their fun morning and yummy cupcakes!

Bananas and flaxseed

Poor some flaxseed in a bowl, pass out bananas, and take it outside if you can. Refer to flaxseed as sprinkles if you like. Be prepared to end up going through a whole bunch of bananas if your little monkeys are really in the mood. This was a six-banana morning.

 Some people might prefer to eat bananas and flaxseed with wings and sunglasses.

Zoo in the summer

We actually went to the zoo twice this summer! The idea of the Atlanta zoo in the summer sounds JUST awful and hot and miserable, but somehow, it was a really great experience both times we went! The first was with cousins, and the second was with our sweet friends, the Joneses. It was a wonderful morning to change things up and enjoy that precious family!

 We got an up close and personal moment with the lion, who also graced the entire zoo with a thunderous roar!

 Blythe holding down the fort on the gorilla photo op.

 The kids' favorite part of the zoo in the summer- the cool mists!!

 We just barely made it to the petting zoo before the bottom dropped out and we got soaking wet on our way out. But it was a perfect morning!

 Linds got this on her phone- I love this girl and am so blessed and refreshed by her sweet friendship!

Dress-up

I'm getting caught up. I was reviewing the last few weeks of pictures, and I have a boatload of fabulous pictures. It appears to me that what my girls most enjoy doing when we're not rushing out the door is putting on dress-up clothes as soon as they finish breakfast, and then the party really starts. And this happened on pretty much a daily basis during the summer. The following collection is from a couple of such mornings.

In case you didn't see this on a previous post, this particularly fetching leotard is circa 1986, when I took tap dancing. It's the most coveted item in our dress-up repertoire, and is best worn with a flashlight to shine on the sequins to create dazzling sparkles on the walls and sisters.

 Blythe the flying fairy.

When I was a little girl, we had a special coffee table my dad had made when he and Mom were poor newlyweds, and it was sturdy enough for us to dance on top of. When Jake and I were newlyweds and bought our very first piece of furniture, it was this coffee table, and my one caveat was that it be sturdy enough for our kids to dance on if they wanted to. Exhibit A...

Simply wearing your shades during breakfast can really help you get your game face on for the after-breakfast dance party. 

 It's the little things that snazz life up.

A Day in the Loveliest Village

In the beginning of this month, the girls and I went down for a day in Auburn! We had the delightful pleasure of seeing our sweet friends the Muncies and the Millers. We've known these sweet friends since our newlywed days, and there weren't all these little people back then! We so enjoy keeping up with these sweet families, and I was thankful they were able to get together for our last-minute trip!

We started the morning with some bouncehouse fun at Froglegs, perfect for after our little morning road-trip. Then we were off to a delish lunch at the Chicken Salad Chick. If you haven't been and have one near you- go! They have something like nine different kinds of chicken salad. Fabo.

Next, we went with the Muncies for yogurt at Chill, where the Muncie kids are literally poster children and our children only wish we were local and went often enough for them to be, too. :)

By this time, they were all hot and tired, but we had to document the oldest five of the crew. Little Mac was with his mama. From left to right, three two's, one five, and a four year old!

No trip to Auburn is complete to our family without walking around Samford lawn. These are the steps where Jake proposed to me!

Blythe and Joy are doing "Waaaaaaar Eagle!"

Last but not least, a stop at Toomer's, for what it does best.

Can't wait to go back when the air is a little cooler, the leaves are beginning to change, and it's beautiful season of football!!!!!