The final days of summer
This is Elijah’s final day of summer vacation. He told me yesterday that he was very excited to go back to school. He is especially excited about not having a rest time during the day like he has when he is at home. I will miss him, but it is definitely necessary for him to have some structure. He has gotten so bored lately and I have run out of ideas! The other day Elijah asked me, ” Did you go to school to learn how to be a mom?” No, I answered. And he said, ” Well, you sure are really good at being a mom.” That filled my heart with an unspeakable amount of joy. It also encouraged me that what I am doing here really is worth it. 
This is a picture of Elijah climbing at the Magic House in St.Louis. This place is so much cooler than when I went there as a kid. We went with Grandma Nell and Tracy and even Ryan was able to come.
This is the best picture of Josiah I could get. He was not able to stand still for more than 30 seconds at a time. One of the boys favorite places within the Magic House was the room that looked like a real pizza place. There were tables and pizza trays and a cash register with money. Ryan and I sat down and they brought us our pretend pizza, it was great!
Lily enjoyed the play- in -the -water area and the kitchen area the best. I think she spent a good 10-15 minutes in each area. Which, for an almost 2 year old, that’s great.
My next posts will probably have something to do with school and new schedules and a semi-quiet house. Yaaaah!
missing Ryan
Ryan is on his annual men’s camping trip at the Current River. I cried when he left. He is my partner and my best friend. He will be greatly missed, but we will try to have fun without him. The boys can’t contain their excitement about going to the fair. To be honest, I think that I am as excited as they are. We are going with Grandma Tracy and are going to see Aunt Katherine dance at the ethnic village. Yeah corn dogs and lemon shake ups. It’s amazing how many things you can come up with to do in order to stay busy. Our yard has never looked better. Tomorrow night a couple of the girls are coming over to watch a movie. I have no idea what to get. I am kind of a movie nerd and I don’t know if anyone would like the movies that I normally pick out. Last night I watched an hour long biography on C.S. Lewis. It was actually his story done by him. I love those. I know they have a name, but I forget what they are called. Sunday, we have church and then Ryan gets home in the afternoon. Yippee! I have become so dependent on him, but I guess that is supposed to happen over time. It’s better than being so independent that you don’t need anyone. I’ve been that person too.
Here is a picture of the kids trying to be like daddy. It was so funny, I went up there to the hole in the wall future bathroom, and i found the kids in their white t-shirts, jeans, and “work” boots. I had to take a picture.
