Our Summer in Review...

there it is...our Summer 2011. I feel that the pictures tell a better story than i can. What a joy it has been to watch the girls grow this summer. Our spunky toddler has disappeared into this long, lean and tan child that uses words like 'complicated' and 'frustrated' in their proper context and is happiest and most compliant only when situations are explained to her in the fullest extent. Our newborn has disappeared into this chunky (90%th percentile!), smiling, blue-eyed baby girl that loves to cuddle and watch her sister. I think this summer will always be remembered by me as the summer Caroline's love affair with the water began. She is a natural in the water--fearless and determined! the diving board and deep ends are no challenge for her and I have to steel myself whenever it's time to pull this fish out of her beloved water, as it always requires some major mom skills to avert a massive tantrum.

we hit the beach in June (Hammock Beach Resort) with the Bishops and visited the mountain house (Estes Park, CO) with the Nickels in August. we also did the obligatory Disney World/Busch Gardens trip, where Caroline was overjoyed at the opportunity to meet Micky, Minnie, and all the princesses. At Busch Gardens, she got to meet Elmo and Big Bird. jetsetting all over the country with a 2yo and and a 2 month old or, as i like to call it--"character building" was a real treat but i suppose we'd better perfect the art of it, as i can see alot of it in our futures together..

perhaps the best part of the summer has been watching this beautiful sister relationship blossom. i know there's supposed to be jealousy..but there isn't. i know there's supposed to be rivalry..but there isn't. i guess one day they will fight but for now, there's just kindness. "Stop crying, Sophie!" Caroline told her recently. I explained to her that Sophie was just a baby, she doesn't know any better and we have to be patient with her. "OK, fine Sophie, CRY!" she responded.

as the summer comes to a close, i have occasional twinges of sadness--i can't shake the feeling that my girls are going to grow up so fast and one day very soon, i'm going to be sitting in the house i raised them in thinking 'where did they go? what happened?' time really does fly when you're having fun, i suppose...

love,

the nickels