Summer Leftovers

I just can't move on into fall without making sure these pictures and moments from this summer get captured for the book.  

Here we have Owen "weeding".  He learned this from Oma this summer and, in general, loves to be a helper.  He gets the gloves on himself, finds the shovel, gets a bucket and tries to get those pesky weeds.  Thanks, bug!

 Like I said, loves to be a helper.  Can't wait until he can actually do the dishes.  And, I totally appreciate his recognition of the importance of preserving his delicate hands by wearing gloves.  Smart boy. 

 We ate blueberry popsicles one hot afternoon for snack.  They were a mess, but adorable.  The mess was bigger than these pictures show- I think I had to put the camera down and address the mess at that point.  Anyway, love these summer moments. 

 Ruby and Owen loved playing dress up with their winter accessories this summer.  Regularly we were seen wearing ski hats, random gloves, and sometimes a jacket around the yard.  I just hope they like putting all that stuff on when they HAVE to again this winter. :)

 We picked up a Philly's hat on our way home from our trip so we could represent.  We recently moved from the full brim hats to the baseball hat for sun protection...and it makes them look so grown up I can't stand it!

 We had a few awesome visitors this summer too!  First, Shelly, rolled into town for a few more nights than she expected.  We loved having her and got a few adventures in that way too...like going to this fair where Ruby and Owen rode their first ride all by themselves!

 Ruby and Owen have exploded into these amazing walking and talking little humans who care about each other, play hide and seek, say "please" and sometimes "thank you", have a total sense of humor, know how to "trade" and share (although we don't always do it), and have an opinion about what they want to eat, wear, and do.  When Chip is at work, I no longer feel like I am talking to myself all day. It is so nice to have company!  I love the personality and relationship in the following picture that Chip captured.

Owen LOVES to dance...does it anywhere, anytime.  Ruby usually joins in too.  Makes my soul smile.  They dance like nobody is watching all the time, which makes us dance like no one is watching pretty often too.  How could you resist?!  You might be doing a jig by the end of this video too. :)

Oh yeah.  CSA is still rocking our house...now with the most incredibly beautiful beets you have ever seen or tasted.  I heart them.

Second awesome visitor(s), Mike and Sarah Jeffries!  They joined us on a venture to Monkey Mt.  Good times. 

 And here is one of Shelly and the gang after the fair at our favorite gelato spot.

“One must maintain a little bittle of summer, even in

 the middle of winter.” 

― Henry David Thoreau