Halloween

Halloween was busy with our annual church fall festival Friday night and trick-or-treating Saturday night. I'm not a huge Halloween fan, but I do love seeing the kids all dressed up in a costume of their choice. 

Pumpkin carving--something I have only braved one other time with all these little people around.

Annie didn't really have a costume this year, but she loved playing with this old witch hat.

Ezra the Pirate.

Lucy the vampire bat.

Dorothy the vampire.

The farmer and his pregnant wife. I am NOT pregnant, but I got a kick out of how many people thought I really was!

Going around the neighborhood.

Part of the loot.

Happy Halloween!

It's been a while.

After Annie's birthday and Marty's return from Japan, we launched into our first official year of homeschooling. Combine that with Annie learning to walk and climb  everything in sight, and, well, there just hasn't been a whole lot of free time around here!!

But there have been many sweet and wonderful moments in the last few months.

Final Beach days with friends.

Lots of bike riding. And silliness.

Oh, those beautiful late summer days.

Sleeping in. Rare indeed.

Lots of new art projects!! Learning the color wheel and how to mix paints.

The big ones.

Apple pie.

Visiting with Miss Kitty at a local farm.

The girls are always making beautiful bouquets.

Seeing history in person!

Annual Walden Pond trip.

My baby is growing up!

Papa and his girls hiking Walden.

Superhero recess.

Who knows what recess.

Jack-o-lanterns!

Hiking new trails.

200 year old stone bridge on an ancient Native American path.

Leaf piles!

All my babes.

I wish some of these moments could last forever.

Annie turns 1.

Oh, my sweet baby girl. What a perfect addition you have been to our family. You bring out the best in everyone.

At the crack of dawn, all the kiddies were up to celebrate--and the gift giving began! The big girls had been squirreling away old toys they thought Annie would enjoy, and they periodically presented her with various stuffed animals and such throughout the day.

In the evening, Linda, Lou, and Sarah came bearing pizza and rice crispy treats. We supplied the party hats and bubbly, and the party began!

Linda had made a little heart-shaped individual treat for Annie. Perfect.

It was a sticky, sweet, relaxed evening. Just like our baby. We love you, Annie girl!

Never gets old.

I will have about a million pictures like this before my kids are grown:

That sweet moment when they are finally peacefully sleeping and the house quiets down. It never gets old.

Building our time away.

During these long, hot summer days, I tend to have the kids do indoor activities from about 11:30-2:30. It keeps us out of the hottest part of the day and mixes up the activities a bit. One of my favorite things about this time is the creativity. Sometimes they spend hours with paper and various art supplies. However, lately they have been doing more Legos and mosaics.

I love seeing their little minds in motion. It makes me want to get creative too!!

Count down!

We are running out of summer days here! Marty leaves for Japan in 4 days. I start school with the children in 3 weeks. We need to pack in as much adventure and laziness as possible in that span of time.

We did make sure to get out as a family last week on Marty's last free summer day. It was perfect. Breakfast and the beach. 

We finished the day with a spur of the moment smore's roast and camp out in the back yard.

It may be a bit early to proclaim it, but I think summer 2015 has been a sweet success!

Life in July.

July, my friend, you're almost gone. 

We've been up to shtuff. 

NC was wonderful. Nothing beats 4 generations together under one roof. We laughed a lot. We ate a lot. We slept not a lot. The end.

We came home to abundance.

And sickies. Thankfully the sickies came and went and Abundance continues to grace us with her presence.

The days are slow and lazy. We rarely have a plan. We're hot and sticky, but free and happy. It's been a good July.