and another summer comes to an end...

Today is our last official day of summer break (we're calling it that since we'll spend the majority of tomorrow in the car). Our original plan was to pack up and leave our beach house this afternoon, but we just couldn't do it. The boys have been having the greatest time ever; it's just amazing to watch them all explore and play together.

Our Tucker loves to receive gifts (I mean, honestly, who doesn't, right?), and regardless of its monetary value, Tucker will shower the giver with hugs and thanks for several days afterwards. Case in point: Russ gave Tuck a freebie calendar he'd gotten from the Virginia Tech business school; it's one of those little pocket ones that has a page for each week. Tucker has slept with "his special book" in his bed and has had us write down "'pecial things I see" in it. So far, he's had us write "I pet a frog", "I touched a fiddler crab", "I saw a rainbow", and "I love my Purple." His 'pecial book is going to be priceless one day.

Theo has absolutely perfected his walking ability while we've been here. When we arrived on last Saturday, he could walk about 10 feet or so before sitting down and resorting to the much more efficient crawl. Now, he is doing laps around the kitchen and living room, arms raised in the air and cackling the whole time.

Our J has turned into a fish this summer. For a child who would not jump off the diving board last year, he has made remarkable progress this summer. Check out his fancy dive above--it's more like a kicking belly flop, but I guess when you only weigh 38 pounds, belly flops don't hurt that much.

watching the calendar...

Pretty strong showing on the blog front, huh? J & T start back to school on August 24th (that's in 11 days, but who's counting?). I think we are all ready for some structure. Bring on the Montessori method!

I should not complain about child-rearing stress seeing as I just returned from a 4-night stint in Napa. My friends Natalie and Jill and I stayed in the most amazing house at the Carneros Inn and visited 6 wineries, plus the Vintners' Collective. We ate insanely good food (The French Laundry!) and drank unbelievably good wine. To say the re-entry into family life from such spa-like digs was rough is an understatement...

Sweet Theo turned 1 on July 30th and is now trying his best to master the art of walking. There's nothing more glorious than going into his room in the morning to his chantings of "Mama! Mama!" That third son is something else, I tell you...

Jack and Tucker have grown up so much this summer, too. I can't wait to see how they change during the school year. They are "best brothers" and while they do have times where they pummel each other and have licking-wars (are you kidding me?), they are each incredibly loving and caring towards the other and it warms our hearts.