Lifelines

These photos were taken last Sunday after our visit to The Wilds with the James family.
We went back to their place for pizza and swimming and since I’m currently too tired to find my camera to show you what we’ve been up to since yesterday, I’m digging in my archives.

Our backyard is filled with fallen leaves.
ALREADY.
I can’t believe that summer is over.
I said this the other day to Charlie, “Where did the summer go?”
“It’s right there in your arms,” was his reply.

And it feels that way.
It sort of feels like we missed summer somehow.
Hmmm.
Well, I think I feel that way but I might be alone in that sentiment.
Lots of people stepped in to help make sure that my kids had some summertime fun and didn’t just sit around the house while Mama nested with baby.
Thanks, People Who Summer-Funned My Kids.
You know who you are :)

Anyway, there won’t be many more wet and wild posts–at least for awhile!

It went fast but what I DO remember was a ton of fun and I am very, very sorry to see it go.
(Except for the heat. That heat was horrible and it can just scoot right on down the road and not come back ever again. I thought we were being barbequed alive.)

It was an amazing summer for my Littles, with BOTH really taking off in the water. Looking back at our trip in early May where we could hardly even get Greer off the pool stairs, she just blossomed over the past three months. She’s not a strong enough swimmer to be out in the deep end un-vested but she’s well on her way.

Creux definitely takes his cues from Greer, too. If she’s willing to do something then he’s all in. If she’s not, he thinks whatever it is a bad idea. (And trust me, it takes a LOT to convince Creux that something is a bad idea.) He can swim un-vested in the pool too–but only if we’re right there in the water. He has a high tolerance for half-drowning himself–meaning, he does fine but swallows most of the pool in the process and sets my nerves on the highest setting allowed.

I’m not sure what she’s so worried about in this photo but I just like it for some reason.

(Maybe she’s realizing that her care-free summer days are ending? That’s the look I’ve been wearing for days now. I saw a squirrel racing through my yard yesterday with a huge nut in his mouth and I dropped my head to the table in defeat. It will be snowing before I know it.)

Sweet Emma and sweet Luxe, enjoying the end of the night together.

Jenny & Gang, thanks for all the fun this summer–we’ve had a blast with you guys!

After dinner the other night, we ran up to DQ for a “Welcome HOME!” treat for Brit.
Certainly no one was complaining from my camp.
We LOVE ice cream!!!

(Though DQ is my least favorite, especially if we have to actually get out of the car. If I’m getting out, I want gourmet ice cream like Graeters or Cold Stone. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way for me then as every darn sweet-toothed soul in Westerville was in the drive-through line which had been our original plan. So we had to go in. And then we had to go back out and eat on the GRASS because there wasn’t enough room for my massive family in the place!)

Before you know it, we’re going to have a half-pipe in our backyard.
Sigh…

After they swam (and splashed and squealed and sometimes tried to drown one another), we had dinner and then I herded my small pile of people plus one outside for some bike/trike/scooter play.

Chas was super sweet by offering to take them all for a ride in the big bike thingy and Rhyse suggested that they do it with popsicles!

What could I say other than, “YES!”

(And let me tell you, William was not waiting for me to figure out my camera settings.

Nor was he happy when I finally did.

He just wanted his popsicle.
IN PEACE.)

And so, Chas hauled the three of these guys around the neighborhood.
(Thank you, Chasie!)

They came back exhilarated.
And STICKY :)

I hope, for always…

I couldn’t believe how long these guys played in the pool last night!
It started off just with the little ones in there but soon the big boys came and brought a whole new level of Good Fun to the mix!

Jenny, any time…he was an absolute delight!

Our friends are back in town and it didn’t take long for us to all reunite!
We spent the afternoon over at Jenny’s and when we arrived, they were playing with this super cool water rocket!

The kids had a great time swimming and playing together! (And having popsicles up in the fort–a super cute moment that I missed with my camera. Shocking, I know.)
I know mine really missed hers so it was nice for them to all be able to spend some time catching up.

Thanks for having us over, Jenny!
We’re so happy you guys are back!

I spent SO MUCH time with Luxe.
And thank God for that.
I know I’ll never get those “new baby” days back with her and I have to say…I took every minute I could get, greedily.
Or maybe it would be better to say, hungrily.

But I knew at the time that she needed me more and while I missed being with my other kids like crazy, I made sure they were busy and having fun.
Missing me as little as possible.

And I knew that it wouldn’t be long before I was back, full-time Mommying again.

This week in particular, I gave to my bigger kids as much as I could, asking Emily to stay with Luxe and letting me loose with the other four.

It worked like a dream.

We’ve had so much fun playing together this week and I was truly able to go poolside and just be mom again–the “old” mom, the one they remember pre-Luxe.

Of course there’s been a bit of a…hiatus from fun for me with them.
And there still will be, to a point, here and there.

But at least for three days this week, we lived it up “old school” :)

To Chas, Rhyse, Greer and Creux–I had the best time just hangin’ with you guys.
You are super cool kids and you make me proud.
And OH so happy.

To Emily, thanks for loving my little one and letting me do what I needed this week with my big kids.

And finally, to Jenny and Kevin–thank you so much for letting us have the use of your pool for the last few weeks. It’s been a fun little “staycation” for us this summer and honestly, it’s the best thing that could have happened for our family since we haven’t been able to actually go anywhere and “get away from it all.”
Being able to swim in the evening, in privacy, with just our gang was a wonderful way for us to reconnect and we had the absolute best time at your place.