Summer: Tues., 8/17

The weeks following our return from NH have been a whirlwind. We had only a few days here at home before leaving once again; we went to the pool one of the days, went shopping for sneakers with Mom and Dad, and finished buying school supplies. Then we were off again for our final trip of the summer, staying at a beach house in Rehoboth with our friends. Four adults, five kids. House with a pool. It was a fabulous week of beach, pool, and dinners out (at outside tables). We started eating out as a large unwieldy group way back in NorCal in 2007, and the kid contingent has grown since then from two baby twins to two high schoolers, two middle schoolers, and one fourth grader. 

We got back on Friday, and this is the week where I scheduled everything--orthodontist consultation, speech therapy, haircuts for the girls and me, tutoring, Andrew's wisdom tooth surgery, eye doctor. Also lots of work being done on the Long Room. It's been a lot of running around. We also had a fun overnight visit on Saturday from two Maplewood neighbors, in town for college visits. 

Also there was a book sale. The first one we've found here in Pittsburgh. It was a good one, and we brought home three grocery bags of books.

Today I taught the kids how to make spiral staircase friendship bracelets. We played Chinese checkers, read some picture books, did math review, read Harry Potter 7, took Farrah for a walk. Last night we watched Harry Potter 6. This morning they watched two full hours of Victorious while I was with Andrew at the oral surgeon (I was grateful for the ability to text them to check in). I ordererd them a giant package of vinyl stickers and they've been obsessed with those, decorating their school folders, binders, and notebooks and playing an elaborate game of sticker-trading. They're using their own money to buy more so they can "make deals." 

I'm feeling the usual end-of-summer mood swings of not wanting summer to end and being ready for schedules and structure.