Boo hoo! Summer is over. Ella starts 2nd grade tomorrow. My students returned last week and I am already grading. Hard to say good-bye to our summer, but it is obviously time!

We haven’t put up pictures in a long time… and there are a lot this time… so we didn’t label them in the interest of saving some time.

JULY
4th of July: celebrated in downtown Apex, decorated bike parade, dancing to the band, fireworks at Regency Park. Kids loved the fireworks and even enjoyed walking back to the car along the greenway path at night. Love having Ken, Val, and Olivia stay with us and visit with Christian, Gerrit, and Laura. Ella had her first friend sleep-over (although I don’t know why it is called SLEEP-over!). We did only a little kayaking on Lake Jordan but we look forward to some more paddling times when the weather cools down (at least that is one thing to look forward to in the fall). We took Farley with us one time and he was very worried about us being on separate boats. He swam between the kayaks and wanted us all to be together. Jonah and Ella went to gymnastics camp. Jonah LOVED it and so did Ella. They had a great time playing on the equipment. Sarah took Ella and Jonah on a road trip—Norfolk to see Sarah’s grandmother and played in the Chesapeake Bay and visited Azalea Gardens… Then to Easton, MD to see Leah and Justin…. Next to Alexandria to visit with Nana and Papa. While in Alexandria, we had a tea party with Linden Street ladies, played with Katie Rivers and Emily, played with Katie Egan and Eddie, and went into the mall to the museums. Visited Fort Ward park, went to City Hall to see Papa’s art that won an award, and swam in the Bradley’s pool, Sarah got to visit with Andrew Young and Josh Levy. It was a great trip, but we missed Andrew a lot!

AUGUST
Took kids to the Moorehead Planetarium and the show inspired Jonah’s new fascination with black holes. Ella went to music camp for two weeks and participated in two recitals—piano, guitar, and violin. We were amazed at what she was able to do in such a short time. Jonah was jealous—but he can’t go until he has started kindergarten! In the meantime, he is taking gymnastic classes and having a blast. Went to Wilmington to visit Grandpa Warren and Grandma Connie. Went kayaking on Howe Creek and spent two amazing days at the beach. Ella is now much more comfortable in the water and loved jumping the waves. Jonah prefers to stand at the edge and let his feet sink into the sand. He kept asking, “Am I moving, or is it the water?” Andrew and Ella are going to do the Y Princess program again this year. In fact, Andrew is now CHIEF of the Tumbling Squirrels tribe of Y Princesses! The outgoing chief organized a scavenger hunt at the Kids Together park and Andrew and Ella won. We picked peaches at the Millstone Creek orchard and loved having fresh peaches on everything!

Phew… it has been a great summer. Hope you are all well!

Sarah, Andrew, Ella, and Jonah