Summer is gone....

So apparently my kids weren't the only ones taking a summer vacation- I realized my last post was after school let out...and to be honest, it's a bit difficult getting back into the blogging swing of things... So after looking through 2 months worth of photos, I've decided it wasn't worth the hiatus.
Here are the top things I've learned this summer:

(1) My favorite little boy is this one:

Especially when he comes in from the backyard and gives me these:

And especially, especially when he does a formal bow and then gets down on one knee to hand them to me.... be still, my heart...

(2) 4 days is not long enough to spend here:



eating these:

listening to this:

and seeing her:


(3) 10 days is not long enough to spend with these people:





especially when it took 24 hours driving in a minivan with 4 kids (+ a Beboo and an Audi to help out...THANK YOU!) But it was worth every second, cent, potty break, and meltdown....and we'd do it all over again next week if we could. So...can we, Pat?

(4) I think I could live here:

with them:

and be perfectly content- especially when my brother Rico makes delicious salmon for us to eat.

(5) When you start to look like the wrong end of a dog, it's time for a drastic haircut. 'Nuff said.

(6) It's kind of sad when your Last turns 1:


(7) I still need magic erasers in my life:


(8) Summer vacation isn't nearly long enough. Do-over, please?