Baking and gardening and birthdays!

I wouldn't say Fall is here, but the days have been really tolerable and we had a cool front last week and another one is forecast for this weekend, so I think we're on the outskirts of summer!
Molly turned 4! She had two of her sweet little friends' birthday parties on Saturday, and then we had a family pool party at Lolly and Pop's on Sunday, her birthday. Lolly made a delicious meal and beautiful cake that I didn't get a photo of! Sad! The pool was chilly as there had been rain the night before and some cooler mornings, but once we got in it felt great! The sun was shining and the kids had a blast. It really is so awesome to be able to see and play with cousins so often!
Ballet and tap class have begun, and Cubbies has started up again for the year, so Molly seems quite the social butterfly! We've been staying home when we can, just playing and gardening and baking. John put in some edging for me around a garden up against the house that I can't WAIT to fill with plants and fall annuals. We are going to get the compost from the plant nursery in town which will be perfect as the soil around the house is so poor. I hope I have a green thumb this year!!

 

 

 

Finally... September!

September is here, September is here! Which means the beginning of Fall is riiiiight around the corner :)

It's almost 11 and I'm the only one up. Usually John and I go to bed at the same time. That's always kind of been our thing. But I got a nice little nap in this afternoon while John was at home for a few hours after lunch and so I'm a little too awake to go to bed yet. And I was really wanting a piece of lemon meringue pie in peace, so yeah :)

This last weekend we had a little family get-together for Hank's 2nd birthday party. I'm not the best at throwing parties for the kids.... when Molly turned 2 Hank was only 2 weeks old, so we had a cake just the 4 of us and Nanny at home. Then last year on her 3rd birthday she had a broken leg in a cast, so no fun party with friends. And this year I'm trending to just do another family party at John's parents' and take advantage of the pool. She has about 5 or  sweet little friends that I know she would love to have celebrate her birthday, so next year for sure I'm having the girliest, funnest birthday party for her! But honestly, with all the cousins on the Simmons side, a "family party" is really fun and so Hank's party was a big success. Easy bbq brisket sandwiches, potato salad and slaw, chips, and of course cake and soda and lemonade. He got about 6 GREAT presents that he loves. I'm so glad our relatives know that with us, less is more (kids stuff ends up eeeeeverywhere in our little house) and a few solid wood or quality toys instead of a bunch of battery-operated, noise-making plastic toys, go a long way.

I'm feeling quite antsy to move the big kids into a bedroom together to make space for the new baby, but we just haven't found an afternoon yet where John and I both can knock it out. And whereas non-pregnant me would move everything by myself, pregnant me knows better. I am still decluttering and deciding what will go in which room. So exciting to think we'll be adding another little babe to this house in December!! An early Christmas present... how wonderful! Molly tells me that "Hank is not your baby anymore... the baby in your tummy is your baby, and you are my baby Mama!" She's mostly right, haha. I just can't give up Hank as my baby yet, whether he's 2 or not! He's sleeping in his big boy twin bed, and when I lie in there with him and snuggle and he looks deep into my eyes and throws his arm around my neck and says "wuv you mama" I just literally couldn't be any happier.

Well, now I  AM ready for bed, so here I go. Goodnight!