Summer Highlights Part 3 - August & September

Another popcorn, smoothie and movie summer afternoon

Shaun surprised me with this beautiful bouquet and sushi platter on August 9th, our old dating anniversary. This year marks 14 years together! <3

August 10th was this girl's first day of first grade! Where does the time go?!

:)

A good luck hug from little bro before heading off to school

After school we headed to Davis for Quinn's 4th birthday party at the Davis Farmers Market

Showing off their face paint

That time my third born got his hand stuck in his pocket (and I lunged for my camera instead of helping him out)

Dancing with friends Jenny and Linda at Al Fresco on August 19

...and the following week at Al Fresco, with Quinn! This was our most anticipated Al Fresco date of the season, featuring one of our favorite bands, The J Band.

I watched this classic scene from afar... Eloise, arms crossed and spouting attitude...

...only to (I'm sure intentionally) upset her big sister, which instigated a fight and a big 'ol scene right in front of the crowd, in the middle of one of their favorite songs. ::sigh::

Avalon lost her first tooth the morning of Saturday, August 27th! There were still tears of joy in her eyes when I took this pic; losing her first tooth had been a lonnnnnnnng anticipated event. :)

A pic with the apple that did it!

Avalon left this adorable note -- "Deer tooth feree would I ples bee abl to keep my tuth?" -- on top of a shot glass full of water that she put her tooth in for the Tooth Fairy. Jesse and I did this when we were growing up instead of putting the tooth under our pillow, because that's what our Dad did when he was a kid. My Mom thought it was just as weird as Shaun now thinks it is, but I can't say I'm disappointed that Avalon chose to carry on this Schmidt tradition (I had given her a few different options as to where she could leave her tooth).  By the way, I'm happy to report that the "feree" obliged Avalon's request...and also left behind a 5 dollar bill folded into an origami heart. :)

I love this pic of a toothless Avalon photobombing her sister's "glamour shot"

Oh how I adore these two cutie pies! If only they were always as sweet as they appear in this pic... ;)

Eddie hanging out with Uncle Jesse when we all got together for Nana's birthday on August 31

Avalon and Uncle having a chat

Happy Birthday Nana!!

Kristina and Eddie at the final Friday Al Fresco on September 2. Steve, Cindy and Kristina came down for the concert, spent the night, and then took the kids back to Corning with them for the Labor Day weekend! (Which also gave Shaun and I a much appreciated staycation!)

Night one of Staycation... dinner at Scott's on the River

...followed by lunch at Chicago Fire on day two!  

Eloise's first "First Day of School" pic on Wednesday, September 7th! Despite being a little nervous at drop off, there were no tears and she did great on her first day of preschool!

Avalon came along to drop little sis off at school on her first day. Look how grown up they look! I'm still getting used to only having Eddie to keep me company from 8:30-12:30, Wednesday through Friday.

Like Father like Son! The boys rocking completely unplanned matching outfits. 

Goofing around outside on the last Saturday morning of the summer, September 17th

Avalon did a little roller skating in her PJs

Meanwhile, Eddie lined up sidewalk chalk inside the playhouse

And Ellie requested that I take this photo of her with a paper butterfly. So long, Summer 2016!

Summer Highlights Part 2 - July

Eloise and friend Bella hanging out at Bogle's first Friday Al Fresco of the summer on July 1.

Amber and Abby!

Sisters enjoying homemade fudge pops after Al Fresco

Our 4th of July weekend started off with finding this turtle in the yard that Avalon named "Shelly." Our memorable adventures with Shelly culminated in her laying an egg on the dock (after being dropped by Avalon) and jumping back into the slough.

Daddy and his girls <3

Speaking of our girls, this one is pushing 17 years old now! They grow up so fast! ;)

On a whim, just for fun, Shaun and I decided to dig out our tent and set it up. It had been 9 long years since our tent saw the light of day!

Eddie checking out the tent

A day that begins with finding a turtle and ends with an impromptu backyard camp out is a good day!

What's a "camp fire" without s'mores?

Ellie didn't quite make it through bedtime stories in the tent (Eddie stayed "home alone" in his room about 10 feet away)

Warming up by the "camp fire" on the 4th of July after a successful night of camping.

Family selfie while waiting for the Clarksburg 4th of July parade to start.

My loves watching the parade :)

Eddie hanging out with Papa on the 4th. The impromptu nature of our holiday weekend continued with my parents deciding to drive down to join us for dinner and fireworks!

Daddy with his little firecracker

Ready for dinner!

As soon as the sun went down it was time for sparklers and fireworks!

Nana showing the girls how it's done :)

One of many fireworks Shaun set off on the basketball court! So fun!

Future pyromaniac! (KIDDING!)

Teeter-tottering in the yard on a typical summer day 

I love this pic of Eloise <3

Swinging and swimming in the yard on other typical summer day :)

Avalon rode her bike A LOT this summer...

However, most of the time she was loaded down with cargo, as shown in this photo. She had a daily ritual where she would wake up, get dressed, grab her bags and pretend she was going to "work." 

I sneaked this photo through the window of Avalon walking to "work." Sometimes she walked, sometimes she biked, but she always had a lot of stuff with her. :)  

First day of swim lessons at the West Sac Aquatic Center! The girls were in the same class ("Minnows") this year.

Before class on another day. Avalon did GREAT in lessons this year and officially learned to swim! (Eloise, on the other hand, refused to participate most of the time...)

This handsome guy kept me company during the girls' lessons!... probably for the last year. I suppose we'll do the "Parent and Me" class together next summer. :)

The girls' first time on the water slide we bought them this summer! (We got a killer deal on Amazon!)

Having a blast!

Taking a snack break on the "beach towel" that Avalon drew with chalk on our front walkway. Big points for creativity, not so many for comfort. :-P

The girls eating green mac & cheese for dinner (their idea) in front of the TV on a night Daddy had to work late.

This is not a great pic, but it's only one I have so far of Avalon at her gymnastics lessons. She started in mid-July and is already close to "leveling up" to the Intermediate class; her coach Jimmy says she works hard! She LOVES gymnastics and seems to have quite a talent for it!

Another Friday, another Friday Al Fresco concert at Bogle. I snapped this pic of the girls posing in their "Caribbean Dresses" before we left.

The girls were all about posing on this night...

Another lovely evening in the vineyard

Papa, Eddie and cousin Kristina at a potluck party we hosted for family and friends on July 31

Fun with bubbles at the party

Eddie and Layla splashing around in the water table... seriously. ;)

Talking Libertarianism with Jesse and Matt ;)

The water slide was a hit with kids at the party

Avalon and friends playing on the teeter-totter

Papa and Eddie having fun with the play house

Avalon and Abigail

The sign Avalon made welcoming guests to our party. :) Fun with family and friends was a great way to end the month and begin the countdown to school starting again in August!