The cabin

The last few weeks we spent with some friends who have been absent from our lives for four long years, as they took advantage of a fantastic opportunity to live and work in Europe. When they departed they had one young child; this visit has been dominated by the demands of our new lives with four children between us. They have two beautiful girls to complement our two boys. While we enjoyed the everyday activities of playdates in the woods, at the pool, and in the backyard ,we also relished the return to "the cabin". We spent many days and night here in our earlier days as friends, and were happy to return to this little spot in the woods. The zipline and deck are new, but otherwise it's the same as always. 

Fresh air medicine

This littlest boy was not perfectly healthy this weekend. I'm hoping our walks in the woods and fresh air help purge him of his bug.

His squeals did not invite the cattle, in their summer open range grazing home, to stay close to our path.

Passing time

And then he got it

For Bejos Boy's birthday he received a pedal bike, an upgrade to the balance bike that he has mastered and just about outgrown over the course of the last two years.

We tried bike riding lessons in the grassy area of our yard, and he just couldn't get the pedal thing. We moved on to a dead end street and again the pedal thing stumped him. Not enough momentum, a tendency to back pedal, and a general lack of trust in the entire process as a whole.

And then this weekend, he got it. I chased him up and down a cul-de-sac a few times, mostly there for the push off and to yell reminders of braking when heading for a parked car and other like obstacles.

Hard to believe that was just 4 short days ago.

Settling into summer

We are just getting our summer legs about ourselves, but the memories of summer past are slowly coming back to us. 

Art walk, breakfast on the porch, festivals, the outdoors, and frozen treats. 

He's a mystery to me

Me: Why are you covering your eyes while eating your yogurt? 

Bejos boy: I don't want to see if there is a chocolate chip in my bite.

Last day of school, and other random notes

Today is the LAST day of school. Can I get an amen??

It has been a heck of a school year, especially considering that last year I didn't work a full year because of the whole having-a-baby thing. In many ways it was easier but also SO much more challenging. Now I can (almost) kick back and enjoy summer with the boys. We are heading to NY next month but until then it will be trips to the gym and pool, painting the house (still, yes I know), and maybe visiting with a few neglected friends. Who knows, you may even see a few more posts here from day to day.

In other news the Slide Fire, which scared the heck out of us as seen here and here, is now 92% contained. We have unpacked our car from the threat of a possible evacuation, and are happily going about our business. Best of all the skies have cleared and we can, literally, breathe easier without the choking smoke and ash that filled the air. We have yet to see the damage firsthand but I can only imagine how horrible the scorched land will look.

And now for a few random pics.