End of Summer

A few last shots to wind down the month of August.  At the splash park,

epic hopscotch in the driveway,

at a train museum where they were all enthralled with a train conductor simulation game,

and at a fun new local gymnastics open play time we discovered.

School

We started our first day of school for Carlton on the 10th of August.  We are mostly homeschooling kindergarten, plus one day a week he's attending a supplemental program where he has art, music, drama and history classes.  It's been a lot of fun so far!

 Clara started her two-day four-year-old preschool a couple of weeks later, and Ezra is attending a mother's morning out class one of the two mornings each week alongside Clara.  So the two littles were excited for their first day.  Ezra's backpack - with lunch, diapers and extra clothes - is weighing the poor guy down, I'm afraid :)

Carlton was as excited for them on their first morning as they were, so managed to photo bomb the preschool pic.

 When I dropped Ezra off that first morning, he looked a little shell-shocked, similar to his new little friends beside him.

 But I got reports and photo evidence from his teacher later on that he did just fine on day one, indeed.  Building away with a new little buddy :)

Party time

On Saturday following Clara's birthday we had a small party with our best friends the Wests and Grosses.  She adores these sweet friends, and she requested a 'puppy' party this year.  So we got everyone over for a laidback cookout, with some fun puppy touches.  Clara was glowing all evening :)  (in a new birthday outfit sewed by Meme!)

 

Getting ready for the guests.

'Feed the dog' toss.

Waiting for her friends to come adopt puppies.

Goofing off by the food table.

And the friends!

Cake excitement.

Many good times.

My baby girl is growing up!

Birthday girl

Our Clara bean is four years old!  Sweet girl is growing up.  She's entered a fun new level of maturity -  expressing herself more clearly and in funny ways, more tenderness and snuggly-ness, more creativity and just sheer fun to be around.  She loves baby animals, especially puppies, and is such a loving big sister to Ezra (too loving at times :)  She still adores Carlton and has such a special relationship with him.... so fun to see them growing as playmates and friends.  She's still pretty fearless when it comes to attempting athletic feats.  At the same time she is starting to embrace some more classically feminine things like painting nails and wearing nightgowns.  We love watching her grow and couldn't love her any more!

Her birthday morning began with a birthday banner and pastries from our special bakery.  Then a gift that Carlton had picked out for her (some of his very own Legos :),

and a little gift from us, some polished gemstones we'd gotten her from the Natural History museum in DC.

The day continued with normal, sweet family activities and a few more gifts from family far and near.  She delighted in her special day for sure!

Just because

Funny and/or cute moments recently.

 

Who knows?

 

Kids just look so sweet when they sleep!