Summer Daze

We have been busy this summer, but not any busier than life usually is. In fact, from week to week, we do pretty much the same things over and over.

Jaired leaves for work between 7 and 7:30 a.m. and returns home between 6 and 6:30 p.m.

During the day the boys and I play and take care of the house. Edmund is getting to be a really big help. He helps me empty the dishwasher, put away laundry, and tidy up the house. He is also responsible for dressing himself and making his bed.

Both boys continue to learn new things every day. Nathaniel is a professional crawler and is picking up speed with his cruising. He will eat whatever we feed him; I don't think he has spit out anything yet. At meal times, he eats almost as much food as Edmund eats, and with a lot more enthusiasm. Nathaniel is not a very good napper, sleeping only for short periods of time two or three times a day, which usually means he is pretty fussy in the late afternoon and evening because of being tired. But we love the little stinker, and he will grow out of this stage before we know it!

Edmund on the other hand, still takes his two hour afternoon naps. He is as active as ever and loves to talk. He can often be heard letting out a delighted chuckle and a "wow!" He has been experimenting with adjectives and prepositions. He loves reading and would be happy to have his entire library read to him every day. Some of his favorite things to do are spending time with his papa, visiting his grandparents, aunts, and uncle who live through the woods, and going to our monthly English Country dances.

Some of the highlights of our summer are:

Pool parties at Grandma's house.

Edmund has had fun digging in this shady spot under our porch for the last year...

...until he got attacked, and stung four times, by a bumblebee or hornet.
This particular sting right under his eye really swelled up the most.

It was a very traumatic experience for both of us. Imagine how I felt to hear him screaming in terror for my help! Edmund spent the whole afternoon sleeping and felt rather sick. Fortunately, he did not have any very serious reaction.

One day we spent in Houston, where Jaired's office is. We did some shopping and had a doctor's visit, but we were also able to hang out at the office and after work help clean the office and yard.

We had dinner at the park across the street that evening and spent time playing in the playground.

Between our dances, visits to the zoo and extended relatives, hikes, and afternoons at the river we have not had many weekends at home. But it has been a good summer. It is hard to believe that we are already almost halfway through August!

I hope you have had as good of a summer as we have!