Wrapping Up The Summer

Wow, there has been a lot that has happened since July. We have been hard at work with canning, playing in the water, walking, and spending as much time together as family as we can. Here are a few pictures to catch up.

Natalie playing out back with her favorite things. Water and a cup. Can I just tell you how grateful I am to have a back yard/patio area for her to play in?

This was the beginning of the canning season, before things got messy, and busy and tiring around here. She appears to be helpful in the picture, but really her helpfulness lasted about 1 minute, then she just wanted to get down and cry or go play with her toys. I do have to say she was a trooper through all of it. I was also given several tender mercies from Heavenly Father while I worked on this. Namely, the fruit didn't ripen faster than I could do it, and Natalie napped for enough time each day for me to get the fruit into jars and started processing.

I love when she wears this little apron and helps me in the kitchen. She is turning into a big little lady. She no longer likes to sit with the tray on her high chair. She insists that she be able to sit up to the table. Meaning, I really need to get on finding a booster seat for her.

My sister Rachel politely asked me to post more pictures of our family. I was flattered that she liked us that much, and glad that she reminded me to slow down and take more pictures. I really haven't taken as many as I should the last month. I get so used to doing the day to day things and don't feel like there is anything special about our days. The truth is though, that those are the most special days and the things that are most important. So, here we are before a walk. We love to go on walks and are soaking in the last few days  of sun over here.

We are starting to have some cooler days as you can see by our sweat shirts.

Isn't fruit so pretty when it is all done and lined up in rows? I guess I like to admire my work.

Trying to get her to smile for the camera. She mostly just wanted to grab the Ipad. 

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My sister and her husband and 2 of the 4 children came and visited for a long weekend in August. We sure enjoyed the company with Justin being out of town on work. We did some shopping one day, hung out, ate a lot of good food and visited the park. Trey and Natalie were born just 6 weeks apart and it was fun to see how similar their behaviors are while they played. When they were in the double stroller together many people exclaimed, "Look at the cute twins!" They really look nothing alike, but are both kind of cute stinkers so I guess it works.

We have also spent a lot of time playing with this little girl this summer. Her name is Ivy and Natalie loves to say, "I-ee." Ivy is a little bit older than Natalie, but Natalie loves to tag along after her. She is a sweetheart and we are glad her family is our neighbors. We actually met at story time at the library and then a few months later got lucky to move into the same neighbor hood.

They liked the sound this metal plate made when they jumped on it.

She loves to zip down the slide. 

I love her smile in this picture.

It has been a very good summer. As always, I will miss it, but Fall and Winter are good to look forward to as well. Really, I am just counting down the days until Christmas.