Mom’s sunflowers grew impressively tall this year. I had a brief moment of jealousy, until I remembered how much less I had to care for and water my back garden this year.

Finley looking innocent after a full swipe of the tongue across R’s face.

A random whim of my sister’s + a beekeeping neighbor’s generosity = large cylinders of wax in various states of purity sitting around my pantry all of summer. I SWORE we’d make candles before the summer was over and we finally managed to do so…the very last week of August.

Collaborate drawings are big around here.

Caught mid-front porch swing snuggle.

Flashback to Teta Z at P.H. and her pups (who are also distantly related to Finley!).

If you haven’t figured this out from my photographs yet, my children’s idea of the perfect summer involves endlessly lounging about in pajamas and eating.

How they’d pose for every photo if given the chance.

This was my summer of allowing unfinished/in-progress kid projects to sit in the dining room all. summer. long. I had to talk myself out of tossing things and cleaning up weekly. My goal: to get kids to play with previously untouched toys, make art messes, and build/create more than is possible during the school year.…

Throwback to midsummer wanderings with E in town.