Dinner Al Fresco

When we were building this house we were most excited about the kitchen and the back patio. At our last house we had a small covered square too tiny to fit a table and grill. We told ourselves that if we ever built again we would really like a large back patio. Well we were able to get a large patio in this house and we love it!! It has enough room for a sitting area and a dining area. 

Emmy's favorite thing to do is done alfresco (thanks Fancy Nancy!).

Our Morning Walk

IOne thing I never want to forget about this season in our family's life is our morning walk. I'm so grateful for whoever invented the BOB Double Stroller...this person is brilliant! 

Easton is usually the first one up. We try to patiently and quietly (try try) wait for sister to wake up and then it's breakfast (some mornings she eats in the stroller...al fresco) and hitting the streets. Even on his fussiest, teething mornings, this stroller is like magic for him. Emmy and I play I spy and count how many rabbits we find in yards. We collect flowers, watch the construction, I take turns on the roads sprinting while Emmy cheers me on, check the mail from the day before, pick our favorite yard on a street, and we try to sneak up and see the turtles in the lakes. It's the perfect healthy, screen-free start to our morning. It also saves my arms and back when Easton just wants to be held. I know they won't always want to ride in the stroller every morning...or that we'll have time for it, but I hope to soak up every morning that we're able to go on walks together. It's become my favorite part of our daily routine. 

Slowing Down

This summer has been jam-packed with swim lessons almost every other day for Emmy. We did two five session sets for her and wow, has she blossomed (more on that later.) on Sunday she expressed just wanting to go to a park and play and do arts and crafts (her two loves). I realized then that it had been a long time since I indulged her in what she wanted, so yesterday we did just that.