low key summer

I felt a little guilty this summer that, for various reasons, we stayed pretty close to home. One long weekend trip to Delaware, that's it. No weeks at the beach, no trips to Utah or Arizona, new york, camping, or any of the other things I would have like to have done if we had more money, time, or energy.  It's funny how much the kids don't care about that stuff, though. They were thrilled to play outside every single day. There will be other summers for a little more excitement.  We had fun.

This video sums up our summer activities pretty well. This is Harrison's and Carter's absolute favorite activity right now. Change out the vehicles but basically up and down the driveway. Forever. Luckily our neighbors are cool with it and often we have kids to join us.

 playing with bubbles in mommy and daddy's sink. If there is one thing carter loves more than ANYTHING it is playing with water and bubbles. It is a great way to keep her happy for like an hour at any point in time. As long as I don't mind the mess and mandatory outfit change.  Which I usually don't.

 Painting outside

 Look mommy

 Straw painting

 bike ride

 Painting on their own sides with breaks to admire each other's work

 This was our big summer (and, eh, spring...it took a LONG time) project. The FENCE!!! We had some pitfalls including neighbors with lots of opinions, getting a survey done, a sewage easement that cut out fencing plans in half, how to deal with big bushes that really can't be fenced around or through, and the realities of fencing on a hill (yes our yard has hills, I guess). But alas now it is 90% done and functional. We need some locks for the gates because Harrison likes to open them on up without thinking about his baby sister who doesn't yet get the "don't run into the street" thing (we don't have a busy street, I'm just paranoid...), but we're happy to have the project mostly behind us!

 somewhat nerve racking trips to the carwash

 Lots of building with mega blocks. Cities, towns, robots on wheels, etc.

Many visits to Harrison's preschool for playdates and playing on the playground. This is sideways but you get a better view of cute carter that way.