To say that our summer went by in a flash is a tremendous understatement. I had exactly seven days off of work this summer, and it was not enough. Steve and I had originally talked about getting to Galveston or venturing out somewhere for at least a long weekend, and it just didn't happen. We did make our road trip to MN, and went off the beaten path for a while in Iowa to show the girls around. We spent a fun day in Winterset, enjoying the lively town square where we ate lunch out of baskets at the pharmacy counter, visited John Wayne's birthplace, admired a covered bridge at a park with a hedge maze, and got ice cream treat from Frosty's, which shares a parking lot with the long-standing Brittain Standard Parts. We all enjoyed our day in a small but thriving town!
On our way north we had to stop in Ames. There was a freshman orientation going on while we were there, so the campus was lively, which was fun! Still one of our favorite places ever.
Then we spent a fun week in MN - boating, grilling, plenty of stops at Boathouse Brothers, and a parents night out while the grandkids stayed with G & G. Always lots of laughs with this crew.
When we got back to TX, Sara spent a weekend (ten hours) taking a babysitting safety course. She has since picked up a job watching our one-year-old neighbor for an evening, and spent several days leading up to the start of school babysitting for a family we knew from Primrose several years ago. She packed her bag with her first aid kit, safety manual, crafts and games, and rode her bike to her job! I'm proud of how responsible she is.
And then, low and behold, before we were ready, school started. The girls went to 3rd and 7th grades on August 11th. We are so thankful that they are back in person with their friends and teachers; even though everything is not totally normal, it's really close and that's a win!
Sara rode her bike, while Steve got in yet another walk to Daffron. Only a couple of those left!
We've spent the past couple of weekends at soccer tournaments, and the season (along with softball) begins soon for Emma. Sara is busy with cheer, reading, and spending lots of time picking out her daily outfits. She and a friend went thrift store shopping yesterday and she was thrilled with her cheap finds! Soon, Emma's birthday will be here, and I know that one fall week will quickly turn into another. Hoping to do plenty of breathing and stopping to enjoy it all along the way...
