The Final Moments of Summer 2020

 With assurances of a school year and football practices ahead, we let our loads feel a little lighter and our spirits feel a little higher through the month of August. We satisfied some bucket list items, adventured down some water slides and through some small towns, and counted down the days to our new rhythm and routine. Junior high was coming. A first tackle season for our 5th grader was coming. And work days with the house to myself again -- were finally on the horizon. 

We did it.

A few favorite memories from the end of summer...

|| A day at the waterpark with just my boys. Many excursions through the water coaster... and many trips down the drop slide for Brandon.

What it's like trying to get a picture of Jaden these days... ;) Hello, teenage years!

|| While Cody and Jaden spent an entire weekend in Des Moines for basketball, Brandon Kaitlyn and I did some exploring of our own. 

Kaitlyn's first trip to the arboretum on a Saturday morning. And some of my favorite pictures of her. Thank goodness for Brandon and how well he loves her, too.

|| We followed up our morning outing with an evening outing in small town Waverly. We re-visited our favorite wooden park, picked up sandwiches with my mom and dad, and went to our favorite riverside park for a picnic and play. It was a picture perfect night, and I'm thankful we've discovered this cute little spot just 20 minutes from home.

This little boy at the park was sad, and Kaitlyn sensed it. Her first instinct was to provide comfort to another little one she'd never met before. Not exactly social distancing here, but sometimes compassion trumps all. :)

|| And the final Sunday afternoon prior to the first day of school. We explored a creek nearby - a little hidden gem the boys and I had found a few years ago, and had ourselves the perfect little day.

Look at how cute she is. I adore her.

By the end of our outing, we were less concerned with her staying dry - and more concerned with her being happy.

Exhale. Bring on school.