We really had a wonderful summer. I'm back at work now, but we managed to end the summer fun with a bang with an awesome weekend of fun! Looking back at my photos, it's really pretty amazing how much we did in the last 6 weeks.
We had a visit with Avo, explored new beaches, and went to Manhattan, Hoboken and Kentucky. We've been hiking, to museums, and festivals. So much neat stuff.
The girls were a little sad about me going back to work, but they are enjoying Mathilde and we still get to spend plenty of time together.
Eleanor is getting so big - she will be four months old on Tuesday! She is getting quite strong and has rolled over completely once, but she can roll from side to side quite well. She has also started laughing recently, which is adorable, and continues to be quite vocal. Thankfully she has also continued to be quite a good sleeper. And even more importantly, she finally took to the bottle on my second day at work.
Lillian continues to be wild and funny and sweet. Eleanor loves to interact with her when she's not being totally overwhelmed by Lillian's exuberance. We are frequently impressed by how smart and vocal Lillian is. She definitely looks up to Audrey and it often seems like we have a funny little echo in our house.
Our big girl Audrey has made a smooth transition into kindergarten and seems to be enjoying everything. She and Lillian also have a great time playing with all the kids from the neighborhood in our back lane. On Labor Day it seemed like half the neighborhood showed up in our yard to play on the Slip and Slide, which was fun!
Lillian impressed the staff (and me!) with her excellent behavior at her first real dentist appointment. Audrey actually had a little bit of a harder time, prompting the hygenist to caution her not to bite her fingers. Audrey was quite amused by that and laughingly told her, "Of course I won't bite you!"
Audrey & Lillian enjoying the view in Central Park.
The girls with our neighbor/best friend Maya. Helping me make salad.
Avo and Lillian having fun in the sand. Lillian was still a little nervous about the ocean, but had much more fun this time playing in the water.
Silly girls in the sand. This was at Long Beach Island in NJ, which we really liked.
Audrey having fun photographing herself:
Eleanor slept almost the whole time at the beach, but got up for a bit.
On the way home from the beach we discovered a chain called Friendly's which was all about the ice cream!
Eleanor enjoying the outdoors.
Fun face paint at our block party:
Dinner in Hoboken with Uncle Dave:
Our messy girls:
On our way to Kentucky. This photo makes me laugh because of the way Lillian is looking at Eleanor. I took a series of photos where Lillian quickly ended up...
Right next to Eleanor!
Eleanor taking a break from the car. She and all the girls did quite well on the trip.
Waffle House!
Audrey and Lillian loved their new goggles at Papa's house and swam as much as they could. Audrey got really comfortable in the water and was really starting to swim.
Visiting with her oldest friend, Kennick in Glasgow.
We even went to the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. Lillian enjoyed the dancing. Audrey fell asleep in the stroller and didn't even wake up as we ran to the car through an absolute downpour.
At the White House on our way home from Kentucky.
Visiting with Ingrid at her new house:
Audrey's first day of school!
This was Audrey's first full day of school. She wasn't actually nervous, although she looks it here.
Eleanor! She is so interactive and fun now :)
Audrey in the pack of a police wagon, at one of the cooler events we went to this summer. A truck "zoo" where children could climb in and on all sorts of trucks, including a garbage truck, ambulance and school bus. It was a big hit.
Audrey's amazing balloon tiara:
Elmo!
Eleanor trying facing out in the bjorn:
Lillian and Ingrid in the fire truck.
On a hike at the Haverford Reserve, near our house.
Eleanor wanted to drive.
At Brazil Day for the last day of summer:
This was a really cool art installation at the Fringe Arts festival, it was a self-contained house boat with gardens, chickens, and even bees.
Checking out the sleeping quarters in the houseboat.
We saw a really neat circus type act and the girls got to try the tightrope, spinning plates and were even in the show!
Michael tried spinning plates as well.
The girls had fun taking an art lesson:
My silly goose:
And here are some videos of our summer fun:
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video 4
Audrey & Michael enjoying the music at Brazil Day:
After such a great summer, we are looking forward to the fun we will have this fall!
