Last days of summer...

It's seems quite appropriate that I'm finally getting around to blogging about a few of our last summer adventures when tomorrow is the first official day of fall.

At least I'm getting it in before the seasonal deadline, right?

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We headed over the mountains on Labor Day weekend to soak up some eastern Washington heat one last time before summer concluded. And because Charlotte's school was closed we were able to take some extra time and make it a super-extended weekend.

There was sidewalk chalk, impromptu sprinker runs and baby's first Coug game...

 

Along with the discovery of a new favorite toy.

 

Charlotte had her first bang trim...

 

And loved picking 'matos' with papa!

 

The Walla Walla Fair is always Labor Day weekend and was a childhood staple of mine. It was such fun to experience it all through our little one's eyes...it is everything a small town fair should be!

Don't let that face fool you...by the end of the ride we were pulling her off that carousel.

 

The slower pace, good food, naps and time with mom/grammie was just what we needed.

 

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Our September weather has been amazing. I mean, AH-mazing! I sort of don't want people outside of Seattle to know how amazing it is for fear that they would all move here and add to our traffic...because these are the kind of days that make you say a thankful little prayer for living in such a gorgeous area.

Lucky for us, we had a chance to check off one last summer goal of boating with our friends...the girls had a BLAST!

They discovered the boat horn and thought it was the hands down funniest thing they had every experienced.

The squeels, jumps and giggles coming out of these girls was the purest, most happy sound you ever heard. It feeds my soul.

 

And so as we welcome a new season tomorrow and I dig out my Fall decorations, we bid a thankful farewell to Summer. You were so very good to us this year. We needed you (and by the way, we'll need you again next year).

I am acutely aware these days of how quickly time is passing...and I plan to bottle up the memories of the last 3 months and hold them close.

 

Bye Bye Summer...hello Fall!

The shift.

I can feel the change coming.

The shift.

The changing of seasons is upon us.

 

When we eat dinner outside, our yard that was normally sunny until late in the evening is now shaded by 6:00. When my alarm goes off in the morning, it feels just that much harder to get out of bed because it is a little darker than the day before. And with all the talk and advertisements about "back to school", my mind starts to do a mental shift to fall.

 

And don't get me wrong...I love fall too.

College football, crispy leaves, cold mornings followed by sunny afternoons (crossing my fingers this is what our Seattle fall will look like)...but not quite yet.

 

It is still August. And we will continue stretching our flip-flop wearing days out as long as possible. Afterall, our summer list isn't quite complete yet!

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A couple of weekends ago we headed over the mountains to a little slice of heaven known as Suncadia. A weekend filled with family dinners, kiddos, best girlfriends, the Olympics, swimming, and just quality time with each other. I am really hoping this becomes an annual tradition (hint, hint Teresa!)

I roll laughing at all their faces in this picture.

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On what may have been our last super hot day of the summer, Charlotte and I headed down to the Greenlake wading pool on Friday afternoon to cool off. Two year old in a two piece? Why not!

 

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And while Nick was gone on his annual "Man Hike", we escaped for a night to our favorite local get-away, lovingly referred to as just "the island".

 

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And no summer is complete without a little showering. We celebrated our bride-to-be Crystal this past weekend with an intimate shower at bridesmaid Katie's AMAZING house in Ridgefield. The weather and backdrop made for a picturesque afternoon!

 

We are off mid-week for Walla Walla and I can't wait to soak up some Eastern Washington heat one last time before fall.

Here's to wearing white, running through sprinklers, and eating popsicles for a liiiiiitle bit longer!

Beach baby.

I was reminded again this weekend why we live where we do.

For all the times it is less than ideal here, summer in Seattle might be a little slice of perfection.This weekend brought with it our highest temperatures yet for the season, and with that we happily engaged in some serious beach time.

I think of summer here like that long lost best friend.

Maybe you don't keep in touch as often as you'd like, you certainly don't get to see each other nearly enough...but then when you reunite, it is like no time has passed and you think to yourself, "Yep...this is pretty much the best".

That's me and summer here.

And for the record Seattle, right now I think you are the best.

Shockingly enough, neither Nick nor I have ever been to Alki Beach so I was making sure it got put on our list of summer to-do's this year.

Alki's version of lady liberty.

Charlotte was pretty much in heaven with the millions of rocks at her disposal. She definitely did her part to try and get them all back into the ocean.

We later BBQ'd it up at our place...

And topped off the weekend with an afternoon with friends at the Laurelhurst Beach Club thanks to the JOAT hookup!

I don't think I'm ever getting all the sand out of that little swimsuit tooshie.

But I'm okay with that...sunshine and sand is never a bad thing.

Family weekends.

If there is a better way to spend summer weekends than surrounding yourself with family and friends, I'm not sure what it is.

These past couple of weekends have taken us out of the city and into the things that will help us write the pages of our summer book. Nick's entire family gathered in Leavenworth for a weekend of pool time, Western theme, picnics, and even a talent show.

These two won the talent by a landslide (imagine a dance routine, magic show, recorder performance and juggling!)

And last weekend we hopped in the car for another night away at the island and to celebrate mom's and papa's birthdays.

We spent time in the afternoon at the cutest little U-Pick farm where I'm pretty sure Charlotte ate her weight in blueberries as she helped us fill our carton.

I find myself, after weekends like these, lying in bed on Sunday evening with such a feelings of fullness and thankfulness for the families that we have.

But lately, along with these feelings, there is also the excitment of anticipation.

I realized the other night that we are now in the 3rd trimester!! Say WHAAAAT?! When did that happen?? In three months, give or take, my little family of three will be a family of four.

  And while I could write you a long list of things we need to get done, projects to complete, rooms to change, and money to save for us to get ready for the arrival of this little one...

the truth is, we are ready.

We cannot wait to meet this new little squish and to see how once again, our hearts will be stretched to places we didn't know exist.