To celebrate the first day of fall, I thought I’d wrap up summer. I, at times, get terribly behind—or too anxious to move on—and writing gets put off until I’m stuck with posting about Fourth of July on the first day of fall (which is exactly what I’m going to do now).
We met up with the Beets’ family and walked, in spitting rain, to Ft. Thomas’s 4th of July parade. I remember last year (oh how the boys have grown!) thinking that this year Sophie might be old enough to grab candy on the street. Might. It’s all she talked about for weeks after. She now thinks the definition of a parade is candy falling from the sky. That and her best friend Zoey, well, her day couldn’t have been better.
We also went to a great picnic at our friends’ Jessi and Link’s house—Jessi is a former colleague, former softball teammate, and she and her husband are good friends.
While there we hung out with Lauren and her beautiful family. Quick story: Harold (also known as the Mayor of Grant Street) told me all about Lauren and her triplets when he found out I was pregnant with twins. Apparently Lauren lived right down the street from me, when I lived on Grant. Even though I had never met her, while listening to Harold talk (and talk and talk and talk) I decided I would make her family dinner. I remembered how crazy things were when Sophie was a newborn—I couldn’t imagine three. Of course, like so many of my good thoughts, I never got around to it. A couple months later I saw her walking past my house, and I ran out to talk to her. She was so kind. We ran into each other several times while out walking and then, when I had my boys, she showed up at my house—with diapers, wipes and a delicious homemade chicken salad, made with organic, free-range chicken. I was in complete awe. I was barely holding it together, with Sophie and the newborn twins, and here she was, in my house, a mother of triplets, arms filled with gifts and homemade food. She really is amazing. And, turns out, Jessi’s cousin! Small world.
During summer’s hotter days, we spent a lot of time inside, camping in the teepee. And eating Life cereal from a plastic bowl while sitting on the living room carpet. And then knocking down the teepee on each other’s heads, resulting in screaming and laughing but mostly screaming.
I barely remember last summer, when the boys were newborns. I was so sleep-deprived that when I think back, everything’s just a haze. So in many ways, I felt like I missed that summer. This summer was wonderful although I was very sick. Early spring I took an antibiotic for a cough and ended up with c-diff. It’s awful. I hope you never get it. I’m still on antibiotics for the c-diff, but am finally beginning to feel better. (The exhaustion I felt was akin to when I was newly pregnant with the boys, but this time I was chasing the boys—and Sophie.)
My parents were a huge help to me these past summer months. My mom would help me with almost every single one of Owen’s physical therapy appointments (and my dad would take off work to help me, when my mom could not). My mom would come during the day and play with the kids and clean and insist I nap. And when Andy was out of town, my parents insisted I come to their house. Their house—the home I once lived in—is heavenly. Everything is clean and organized and homemade and delicious and while I was there my parents insisted I sleep or simply sit on the porch swing, and I would actually get yelled at—yelled at—if I tried to clean anything up.
The kids loved the sprinkler (which my uncle Skip made). I don’t even remember exactly what we had for lunch except that it was delicious. Still, I think about that day. I was feeling pretty bad and low then, and for the first time in a long time I felt good. And I really needed that. I hope I can recognize that in my own children when they’re older, like my parents somehow are still able to do with me. (Thanks, Mom and Dad.)
We also had visits from Grandma and Paw Paw. In addition to playing with toys, Grandma loves to play “Kings Island,” a game Sophie made up, which requires sitting on a quilt in the entry and pretending you’re on a roller coaster. There is a lot of arm waving and screaming involved. (You can generally count on screaming at our house, no matter the activity.)
There was a lot of ice cream eating, too.
We had a visit from my cousin Emilie (Sophie still has the picture you drew for her on her dresser, Emilie).
I love this picture. This is how I usually am, holding the boys. It’s just never captured on camera.
Great Grandma came for the visit, too (and Sophie got a story, walk and flower out of the deal, which she loved). Also, I should note that Sophie spent much of the summer in the above gorgeous dress, which her Great Aunt Susie made (I plan to post a video of Sophie twirling in this dress soon).
The boys laughed at our attempt to gate the stairs at my parents’ house …
climbing up them despite our efforts.
Steve visited and the kids loved when he pulled out his trumpet. Andy pulled out his trumpet, too, and there was much song and dance—a wonderful evening.
The boys spent a lot of time this summer standing on the back of the couch, waiting (patiently and impatiently) for Andy to come home from work.
They also spent a lot of time emptying the changing table’s shelves.
And I spent a lot of my time on the living room floor, a human jungle gym for my children.
Sophie spent a lot of time playing dress-up with the boys. (I’m sorry, Owen.)
We, along with all our friends, helped our good friend Marty surprise Angel for her birthday.
And, finally, my favorite part of summer—after-dinner wagon rides with the family.
Goodbye, long, warm days. And thank you.
Here’s to a happy, healthy fall.
“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.” —Celia Thaxter