August, the good life

So, I seem to be the queen of random, lengthy, catch-up posts, but I neither want to give up sharing in this space or put more time/energy into it than I feel inspired about. So, here goes the first half of August...

Camille and Ayla made nature mandalas. Camille used only the sap from milkweed and the texture of the bark to hold her mandala upright. It stayed up for days on the downwind side of the pine tree.

 Ayla loves to carefully arrange things. It seems that half of her playtime is spent setting up things (toys, rocks, sticks, books, food, whatever) in patterns and lines and categories. So, it didn't surprise me that she latched onto this idea and worked at this diligently even though it was a windy day.

completed

more arranging

 A lot of August was spent soaking up time with friends and family before other kids go back to school.

I don't love ye olde minivan, but it's handy when each of three kiddos wants to bring a friend along on an outing. Totally worth it.

 lakeside in the evening, visiting friends

strolling the nearby bike path

soaking up summer's beauty and bounty

And then, my girls all left for over a week to spend time with both sets of grandparents. They had a blast and I was able to get a major kitchen tiling project done, and spend lots of time with the man that I love.

what 'curbside delivery' looks like in these parts

I seriously appreciated the power wet saw with a diamond cutting blade that my hubs insisted was necessary for the job. Did I mention that I love that man?

I spent a little time each day gathering from my seriously overgrown garden.

Ooooh, and we took a 10-mile bike ride most evenings.  

We spied a pair of sandhill cranes enjoying the bike path as well.

After several full days of hard work, the flooring was completed, though I never did get a great pic of it.

And the girls came home brimming with all of their usual exuberance, curiosity, and playfulness, and it was so, so good to have them home. Isn't that little tufted caterpillar a cutie? 

I can only sigh and say, it's a good life.

July ~ On the Fly (part III)

....Finishing up from parts I and II. 

Snapshots from July.

Somewhere in the big, full, bouncing month of July we celebrated a 12th birthday. I know it's cliche, but how on earth can Camille be twelve already? I have learnt so much from this daughter of mine. She came into this world with a big heart, a sensitive spirit, and a strong voice. 

May it always be so.

  She had two free tickets for an hour-long trail ride and wanted to invite one of her friends along on her birthday. Sounds perfect.

 ready to ride

 They had a sleepover and even made a pinata together.

 The homemade pinata was surprisingly reluctant to break. After everyone had taken tons of blindfolded swings at it, Camille decided to go full force. The candy was a tad hard to find on the forest floor.

twelve candles on a wee gluten-free cake

Ok, I could only find 11 so I snuck a little tea light in the middle. That works.

 lookin' out my back door

 from Mill Bluff Pond

 Look, Mama! I can pump!

explorin'

July has been all about water in one form or another; from floating down the Kickapoo River to daily swim lessons for two weeks. 

 moon sisters

...and rounding out the month with a blue moon.

I'm feeling grateful, every day. Even the hard ones.
That works.