July Recap

 I say it every single summer, and yet every single summer it surprises me: After the Fourth of July, the summer just flies by. 

How is it the last week of July?!

I've done a pretty good job avoiding the "Back to School" advertisements and aisles, but I think it's getting to be time to face the music. 😂 

We have had a really, really good summer. It's been different, balancing an active 5 year old, and a 1 year old who is still very reliant on getting his daytime naps in. When I think back to last summer, I remember lots of slow days at home, lots of naps on the couch, and lots of backyard play. This summer has involved a lot of shuffling Sammy around to camps, trips to the pool, and lots of food trialing for Jack. Jack finally began sleeping through the night (YAY!) and so this summer has been restful as well. 

I love a good routine, so I know I will welcome the return of one when school starts, but I'm just not quite ready to have one in place yet. 😉

Here are some highlights from our July: 

One of our Christmas gifts from my parents was a projector so we can watch movies outside. It is SO MUCH FUN! We love to have a fire, enjoy a s'more (or two!) and watch a movie together. 

This month we've been able to add lots of new foods to Jack's safe food list. He can have tomatoes, sweet potato, white potato, green beans, black beans, white nectarines and yellow peppers. Very exciting times over here. 😉

We did an organizational overhaul of the basement which was desperately needed. After donating or selling lots of old toys we got some new shelves installed and rearranged some things. This project took a few days and it's so nice to have it crossed off the "to-do" list. 

Sammy and another little friend went to a camp at Living History Farms in Des Moines and he loved it! We stayed in town and ran errands on the days we transported until it was time to pick them up. One morning we took Jack to the zoo and it was fun to enjoy a little 1:1 time with him. 

Another night another movie in the driveway. This time it was "Ratatouille." 

The end of July brings a lot of birthdays in my family. On this day, we celebrated my dad's birthday! 

& one last picture. Sammy and Dustin got to go fishing one afternoon/evening and had great luck catching catfish! I love this picture Dustin took. Sammy is looking older and older every day. It's so hard to believe that he'll be going to Kindergarten in just a few weeks. 

Thanks for playing catch-up with me! I'll be back tomorrow. XX