9.

This girl is halfway to 18, and it's making my heart hurt a little.  

She is creative, smart, affectionate, thoughtful, introverted, tender-hearted, silly. These days she loves reading, gymnastics, telling jokes, and doing messy science experiments. She's as tall as my shoulder, and I'm cherishing these days where she still wants nothing more than to hang out with mom and dad.

Her birthday was the first day of summer vacation, and she was happy to sleep in, eat pancakes & bacon, and laze around the house all day. 

 

 

Her birthday request was going to Vins with Papa & Mimi, so they came up for the day, and brought Rosalie.  It was a perfect day. :)

 

Sleepover complete with science experiments, hammock swinging, and chocolate chip pancakes at bedtime. :)

Last day of school

And just like that, another school year in the books.  All three kids had a really good year at Mt. Leb.  We went pretty hard this year and the kids are tired.  One of my goals for the summer is to let them live slow, and to be present in our home and neighborhood. 

Today Alden and I had our last Starbucks date while running errands.

And, true love might be saving all the recent cardboard boxes for my crafters instead of hiding of hiding them straight in the recycling. ;)

First afternoon of summer vacation looks like this: