My garden leaned toward overgrown and shaggy this year. I was hoping for the perfect amount of blooms and didn’t cull as thoroughly as I should, with the resulting flowers ending up covered in mildew because they were too crowded. Next year, I solemnly swear I shall Chelsea Chop thoroughly.

A rare photo with me actually in it. V and I were waiting around for the guys to finish getting tubes ready and decided cute mother/daughter photos were required asap. R was working very hard on having a presentable smile.

I always consider myself on top of the game when I have a pre-loaded charcuterie box waiting in the fridge for the moment kids come through the door yelling that they’re STARVING.

V’s idea of the perfect, end-of-summer getaway.

“Look, you match the bouquet!”

Finley: still wildly energetic, only slightly less prone to biting. E continues to be in his face at all times and completely oblivious to any nips or jumps, R remains steadfastly terrified of him.

Family weekend and a cousin I haven’t seen since my wedding (TEN YEARS! Insane).

Hands clasped securely as they go off in search of dinosaurs to slay.

I’m always surprised by how much more insistent my girls are than my boys to be endlessly “play schooling.”

I snagged an L-shaped sofa with two armchairs and a coffee table off the Buy Nothing this summer and it’s now The Place to Be. I had to spend solid money buying new cushions and canvas repair tape, but it was still wayyy less than a brand new couch would have been. Also: the set…