The last of August

The end of August brought us to the end of our time with Oma...for now. :)  Wow, I am not sure how to capture how grateful we are for her help and love.  From laundry and helping with the endless rinsing of bottles and dishes, to weeding our yard, making baby food, and babysitting Ruby and Owen so mom and dad could get out together..she did it all!  I felt like her visit was our "summer vacation".  Kids went back to school here in Utah the day she left, the weather  is a little cooler, and it is really beginning to feel like fall now.  Ahhh...it was a great summer.

 Ruby loves to hold little books and "read" them.  I love it.  She looks so grown up!

 This little man is insane!  He has started crawling, pulling up on anything he can get his hands on, and now says "mama" (to mama's delight- this is after Ruby started saying "dada" a few weeks ago).  The two of them are getting to be a handful in lots of new ways but we are figuring it out and having a blast with all the new energy and tricks.  Every day is a new adventure.  Videos of some of the fun to come.

 Sleep is so interesting.  Just when you think you have something down, they change.  They both have mostly dropped all night feedings and are sleeping for the most part (still having to get up to pop several binkies a night between the two of them) for about 11.5 hours.  And then, someone decides to pop out a few more teeth, which means more waking, crying, difficulty going down, etc. etc.  We do heart Tylenol though.  It seems to work miracles.

.

 Gosh.  Love these three more than I could have ever imagined possible.

Ru and OT are eating a few "popsicles"- a summer evening snack while Oma and mom weed the garden.

 More fun flowers in the garden

 The new ride.  Safer for this family of four than the Mazda we traded in.

 A hike to Ruth Lake before Oma heads back east.  Great weather, great company, and great lunch with a view!

I just love this picture.  Nice self portrait, Chip.  You captured the lake reflection in the background and Ruby's skeptical look about the driver she has been assigned. ;)