It was a quiet and lazy summer for us. After a busy school year, it was nice to do nothing for a while. Big Kid summers sure do look different from Little Kid summers! Both have their appeal, of course. However, the picture opportunities (and willingness of young children!) are more fun when they're younger. Now I have one who hides in his room every chance he can get, and another one who only takes pictures when she feels like it (and if she can pick out her own outfits). You learn to take what you can get as they get older. And while it's nice to have the pictures to remember the moments, it's the moments that I don't have pictures of that are the sweetest. Evening games with the family, MarioKart races, both kids laughing together over a ridiculous TV show, roasting marshmallows for s'mores, and talking about all of the things.
And, now another school year has officially begun. 7th Grade for my daughter, and Senior Year for my son. Let the wild ride begin!

Show of hands...who remembers going shopping with their best friend when you were young? I sure do! The mall was our hangout spot. We would walk around for *hours* on a Saturday (hey, I grew up in the 90's, and there wasn't any technology...plus, that's where the boys were!), looking at clothes and the newest Hello Kitty merch (again, 90's). We would sit in the food court with our pretzels or pizza laughing over the stupidest things. Those were some of the best times as a young teenager! Truly, nothing beats hanging out with your best friend.

Reagan and Ella...thank you for reminding me of all the fun I used to have when I was your age. And thanks for letting this old lady follow you around Target, it was a blast!