goodbye, summer!

Although fall has not officially started, it definitely feels like summer is over. Yesterday was my first day back at work. It was a bittersweet moment yesterday dropping the kids back off at my in-laws. We are so fortunate to have family that will look after our precious babies each day. Aubrey got a little upset, which definitely didn't make things any easier. However, once I got to school, I had plenty to do to keep my mind focused on getting my classroom ready and plans for next week.
We have had an incredible summer, full of trips, swimming, and spending time with friends. We have gone to the pool so much with family and friends, at my parents' house, at Health Plus, and some neighborhood pools. Hunter enjoys snuggling while in the pool and has even fallen asleep occasionally while in the pool. Aubrey's swimming has really taken off, and she has learned to come up for a breath as needed. While at the beach the last week of July, Aubrey swam across the width of the pool by herself.
One week in July, Aubrey participated in art camp with some of her friends from preschool. She had a fantastic time painting, drawing, and exploring various types of art. Several of those days, Hunter and I had fun walking with some of the other moms. He especially appreciated getting to rest while being pushed in the stroller.
The kids have really grown up this summer. Hunter is pulling up and walking behind toys. He also likes getting into cabinets as much as possible. The first thing he does every day is crawl to the bookshelf and pull all his books off. He also has been teething a lot lately and soon will have eight teeth. Brett and I have been amazed in the growth in Aubrey's vocabulary and articulation. She is forming much more complex sentences now, and she loves making words with her alphabet blocks. Last week, she even read a word off a shopping bag. Needless to say, Brett and I were very surprised and proud of her.
As summer comes to a close and the school year begins, I am reminded of how blessed I am that I get to spend time with them in the summer. God's blessings on our lives never cease to amaze me!
-Lauren

Memories!

Today we went with grandparents and some friends to a local blueberry farm. Although it was very hot, we had a great time picking blueberries. Hunter mainly enjoyed being held by his grandfather and eating the blueberries! Aubrey had a great time picking and sampling the berries, and at one point, throwing them on the ground. However, we managed to come away with 2 gallons of blueberries and some great memories! This is a perfect example of why summer is my favorite time of the year: I love spending fun, quality time with my amazing family!

-Lauren

Beach trip

We took a beach trip not long ago to Panama City with Brett's parents. The kids had a great time, and all of us came back more tan than when we started. Aubrey had a wonderful time flying kites, swimming in the pool, and riding the waves in the ocean. Hunter had fun in the pool once it had warmed up in the afternoon. However, it was great to get away and relax. June has been and is still very busy, so this vacation was great! We can't wait for our next trip!

-Lauren

weekend fun!

Yesterday, we had Hunter's first birthday party. We had a wonderful time celebrating with family. Hunter somewhat enjoyed his birthday cake, but especially liked the ice cream! We cannot believe that he is a year old already. It seems like yesterday that we were headed to the hospital.
We also had a great message at church this morning, and afterwards we enjoyed grilling out with some of our friends. Aubrey had a wonderful time playing in the sprinkler and on the slip and slide with her friends. We absolutely love summer for all the water fun! Now, we just can't wait for our beach trip!

-Lauren

New blog!

Since I had not updated our blog in two years, and we now have another member of our family, I decided to start fresh!
So far, our summer has been fantastic. I love my job, but nothing compares to being home with my babies every day. Hunter turned one yesterday and is as busy as ever. He is such a speedy crawler that I don't know if he'll start walking anytime soon. He is pulling up but not cruising the furniture yet. We are excited about Hunter's party on Saturday. We love great times with family. Aubrey's favorite part of the summer is swimming. We have had fun swimming at Brett's work, at my mom's house, and with friends in neighborhood pools. She is a natural water bug, just like her mom.

As we do more this summer, I will continue to update. The true test will be when school starts back!

-Lauren