Trickle down days

We are in the trickle down days of summer. School starts in three days which kind of thrusts me into " fall" thinking, even with me dragging my mental feet. So the back pack is stuffed, lunch box materials are at the ready, new shoes laces are ready to go in shoes that somehow still fit from last year. Eye doctor and dentist appointments have been made. The pool is down for the summer, my mind has switched to " next year in my garden" mode and I'm looking forward to putting the lawn mower away for the season.

My mind was pretty turbulent all summer long whenever my thoughts drifted to school and the impending decision about where to place Mackenzie this school year. I figured that surely something would assure me of a decision, one way or the other but it never did. My heart felt unsettled with every choice so my head kicked in, telling me that sometimes the best choice is no choice and so we have decided just to stay at Twombly until we have a definitive reason to look else where. Meeting Mackenzie's teacher, Ms. Martinez, and seeing that her classroom will be filled with sweet , familiar faces of several girls Mack has gotten along with before has helped to calm my fears. Ready or not, first grade is upon us. 

My friend Kristi wanted to find out where the sunflower
fields were . I couldn't resit more photos. You know, while I was there.

Mason ...Oh my goodness. I wish everyone person could experience his intoxicating ways of making people laugh. Despite his very " two" nature some days, he is really coming into his own person. His sense of humor blooms under the laughter he brings. One small giggle he causes only makes him try harder again to make someone laugh. Mason has been using the potty at his own will for a few months now. Some days he uses it a lot and others not at all . He has also learned to undress himself and these two components ( undressing and the peeing) have made for more interrupted naps that I care to have had. Finding a naked toddler in his crib , soaking wet, when I was thinking he was peacefully snoozing was not my idea of fun though the smile on his face and twinkle in his eye ( before his first naked time out) was hard to resist. Once things settle into a nice school time routine, we will tip toe towards potty training to see how he does. His most recent trip to the dentist office for a check up makes me glad that we get a six month break before the next once. Thank goodness for great office staff and a very helpful sister . We all narrowly survived.

Mike is really enjoying being on a day time routine. The change in his demeanor and energy levels are just amazing. We all enjoy his set schedule even though this means that he will miss every Michigan football game this season. He's been working to get his paramedic license back, too, as  way to bring in a little extra cash on weeks that he only works three days. He has decided to start small batch brewing , producing just a gallon of beer at a time. His first attempt wasn't a smooth one but with needing to buy less ingredients, hopefully he will be able to improve and brew more frequently.

I am busy as ever. My house is messier than it ever has been but the trade off is that I get to pursue my love of photography and rediscover " Missy" and not just " Babe " Mom" . I love being a wife and a mother but it's also nice to have a bit of time to do things that are just for me. I have steady business and new friendships thanks to my photography business and the good friends who support me by booking shoots. The extra income has been nice, too, though most of it goes right into savings . Of course, as it goes, things come up and large chunks are gobbled up before we can do anything fun . This is life and I'm happy to make things a little less tight all while doing what I enjoy and still being home with my kids.

This picture makes me grin because it captures Mason's energetic run . He has a definite "skip in his step" and his arms are always going. Maybe that's why he's so fast!

Still, we are counting down to an exciting visit from Grammy in just a few weeks and a surprise visit from Nikki just before that !  The next few weeks will likely crawl by, heavy with anticipation!

A photo shoot last week took me past this wonderful barn. I'd actually been eying it for a long time but I could never make it over to take the photos during the evening hours . This barn and the land it's on is for sale . My long time friend and fellow landscape photography enthusiast and I thought it would make a great photo studio/entertainment hall.