Adara is 8

I love this spunky, sensitive girl and her big plans.  I love that she was equally excited about a pink unicorn and a battle axe game, and her very specific set of plans to celebrate her day.  I love how hard she worked to make sure none of her friends felt "dis-cluded" at her birthday party, and how delighted she was to share her gifts not just with them but with their little brothers who arrived a pick up time.  I love that she has started to love reading, that she's working so hard to learn the violin, and that she delights in taking off around the neighborhood on her bike. I love her independence and bravery and how she rises to a challenge. I love her love of ice skating and stars, and that she can't learn something new without turning it into a 'class' for her siblings or friends. I love that she's happy at school this year, and that her favorite days are still spent home with her siblings.  I love that she wants me to lay in bed with her every night and talk.   💜

We celebrated her today with donuts and gifts before school, and an afternoon swimming and playing with friends, and looking at the stars before bed.  It was a good day. :) 

Into the rhythm of fall

It's taken a few weeks, but I think we are getting the hang of this year.  The kids are more settled at school and I'm starting to get used to sending them all off every day.

Girls weekend with friends in one of our favorite spots.

 

Alasdair had to leave town before we got back, so Joel kept my kids for the afternoon AND made us dinner. And let Alden use the biggest knife he's ever seen. 

After school snacks and "cutting practice" for Alden every.single.day. When you have a kid who is obsessed with knives, you try to channel it!  One day we had this conversation:
Me - Alden it's beautiful outside, let's go out and play
Alden - Can I please stay here and peel the rest of the carrots first?

 

Watching soccer practice with friends

Making coffee and some extra homework on a Saturday morning

6 mile bike ride with Alden on the greenway!  And you know it's fall when the kids have to check out Miss Vicky's house on the way home from the bus in case she's started decorating for Halloween...

More cutting practice while the girls do homework

 Love getting pictures from Alden's teacher 😍

 LebFest

And today, we ended September with the most lovely fall day.  

A walk with Starbucks and a good friend before church

A warm sunny afternoon at the apple orchard (I think we ran into 6 families from church 😂) and mac's maple ice cream.

And apple pie for dessert.

Our pie crust recipe is from the best mother in law. From the set of recipe cards from my wedding shower, it says this one the back. 

15 years later, the kids know Daddy will make them an apple pie every fall! :)

Back to School (part 2)

Alden and I had a few last adventures before his official first day.

Friday we day-tripped to Boston to for a boys & moms day with Nico & Aunt Rebeckah.  So much fun to watch them have fun together.  

They planned to share this chocolate milkshake and took turns taking sips all the way through. 💙

Uncle Nick left work early to visit us too! 

Labor Day weekend we got stuff done around the house, let the kids catch up on time together (now that Emily is out the door before Adara wakes up, the girls don't see each other until after 3:30 on weekdays - I don't like that!), and had a fun visit from the Ware cousins. 

The last day of Alden's summer included a cake pop, a stop at Stateline Sports (his new happy place;) and a visit to the Montshire with other K friends.

And then ~~ first day!  He got dressed in an old favorite T-shirt, w remembered some last minute school supplies and rode our bikes to school.  Adara was such a good big sister, talking him through what to expect and holding his hand on the playground.

 Love that he's at a table with his sweet friend Evie.

Alden was nervous and teary at drop off, and I ran into the guidance teacher who helped Emily with her tears on her first day and asked her to check on Alden ... which made me cry!  (Her name is Emily and her son's name is Alden, so she's always had a nice connection with my kids;). I love knowing he'd have people to watch out for him.

I knew he'd be fine, so I made a quick exit and went out to a quick breakfast with some other mom's of kinders school friends, and then drove to Manchester for a church building project meeting... got home just as the kids were getting off the bus.  He had some moments of missing mom but a good day overall.

And I'm glad that after my 3rd and final 'parent orientation' tonight, we'll be done the back to school gauntlet for the year! ;)

And I know before I know it we'll be doing his 4th grade recognition!  Emily's first and last days at Mount Leb went by in 5 minutes. 😭