37/52

"a portrait of each of my children, once each week, in 2018"

Jaden: Watching you read this unicorn book to your baby sister this past week was one of my favorite moments so far of watching you be a biggest brother. You are so genuinely good with her and you love her so much.

Brandon: You dove into your Star Wars origami book this past weekend and made a bunch of paper light sabers! We're halfway through your flag football season, and you continue to have fun with it. You have been driven to get better so you joined the Miles Club at school and spend your afternoon recess running laps around the track every single day. The recess teachers have been keeping track of your progress, and you've already earned your first runner's necklace for how many miles you've run. You want to be in shape for track this upcoming spring!

Kaitlyn: You are doing well at daycare - now in week three - but are starting to really show attachment to me when I come to pick you up. As soon as you see me there you give me the biggest grin, just like you give to Daddy when he first gets home from work. You're recognizing and loving your family more and more with each day - and watching you develop and grow is so fun!

Summer -- From the Phone

It's time for my seasonal post filled with pictures from my phone. My last post to reflect on one big and memorable summer. And as I type this, my desk candle is lit, my coffee mug is full, the windows are open just a crack, and the rain is falling outside. Fall is here, and it feels so good. But Summer... you were good, too...

|| June

A Sunday morning of fishing and doughnuts by the lake, the last days of school and a perfect attendance award from the principal, weekend trips to 4 Queens for ice cream, sweet school journal entries from Brandon describing how excited he is for his baby sister's arrival, making our way through the Magnolia Cookbook - a few favorites like Brownie Pie, Strawberry shortcakes with JoJo's homemade biscuits, and Havarti Sandwiches for lunch. The start of a new golf season, Outlaw summer basketball workouts, Tiger basketball camp and a special recognition, maturing landscape plants that have grown since last summer, work mornings from the backyard, front porch cuddles with iced coffee, a Waterloo Bucks party night with Wapsie Pines, a final pre-baby date night at Brown Bottle and Jurassic World, our first backyard movie night, summer camp awards and a talented artist, a completed baby quilt and a growing nursery book collection.

|| July

Backyard dinners, 4th of July fireworks, a new badminton net and hobby, a pre-hospital pedicure, a huge baby belly, soccer/swim camp, Fit-to-Hit camp, a growing essential oils collection, a fun dirt bike course, frequent deer visitors, a convertible ride for Brandon and a couple of beach nights, new backyard plantings, a new truck for Cody, a lot of time spent at home holding my family close. And best of all - a baby.

August

A full month on maternity leave, more basement bedroom decorating, a new-found love of chess and Statego, lots of stroller walks, final days of summer camp, a family of cats that frequented our yard for leftover table scraps as the sun went down, the start of all things football, a date night just Daddy, Kaitlyn and me, vintage shopping trips with my girl, a Minecraft obsession and one very talented architect, crib training and baby "spa nights" in the sink, a neighborhood party, the start of 5th and 3rd grade, first smiles, mama's first post-pregnancy bubble bath, a new work space and lots and lots of family time.

Summer '18 -- that's a wrap!