Louisa

One week is all we have left of summer. It's always so bitter sweet. We look forward to some routine and normalcy but appreciate the lazy fun long days. With my bakery schedule, the summer has passed even more quickly than those in the past. We still manage to spend long hours at the pool. This week, the kids have had Olympic games at the pool in which everyone won at least one medal (I think the games were rigged but Lola told me she received 2 bronze medals and a gold).

Last weekend we went to Denver to meet my newest niece, Louisa. I think it's safe to say that we are all in love with her.

She will have lots of cousins to keep her safe. There are 10 first cousins all under the age of 10.

It's a party ALL the time and these three get a lot of things their older siblings didn't get at this age...like ice cream even if they didn't really eat dinner.

We were lucky to have dinner with the Freese family...cousins on the Dodds' side and as always, Stephanie brought the fun stuff. The girls were entertained with making beaded bracelets and necklaces.

And eating ring pops. Guess what time Lola went to bed?

Per usual, we ran out of time to do all the fun things we wanted to do in Denver...if we could just eliminate New Mexico from the map, our drive wouldn't be near so long and we could spend lots more time in Denver. The kids did go swimming at a county pool that required Lola to pass a swim test in order for her to use the diving board and slide. She apparently stopped in the middle to cry and almost gave up but thanks to an encouraging Aunt and cousins, she kept swimming and passed. We drove home and had sleepy, sleepy kids.

At home, Millie was up to her usual antics....like drinking Nutella out of the jar. If my house survives childhood without every surface needing to be replaced or cleaned, it will amaze me.

This week also included the last High Noon on the square of the summer. I will miss our weekly picnics listening to live bands. (I will not miss the sticky popsicles coating Millie's arms).