Happy Birthday, Daddyo! Geoff turns 29 today! All in all, we had a great day. We both had to work for a little while (Yes, two teachers working on a Saturday) but we went out with Geoff's whole family and had a great dinner together afterward. After Caelan went to bed we spent a nice quiet night in. Who could ask for more?

Today I am thankful for the day that Geoff was born.

Wow, time is running out and I don't know where it went. It is back-to-school crunch time and I am not quite ready for it. I am desperately clinging to these final days of August and trying to squeeze out every last moment of carefree "summerness" possible. We went to Green Lakes today and enjoyed the beach and warm water with friends. I have tucked away the sounds of the seagulls, the smell of the beach and the feeling of hugging a sand-covered Caelan for the long, cold months approaching. *sigh* It has been a particularly fantastic summer this year. Honestly, if this is as good as it gets then I am completely ok. I can't complain about a darn thing.

I do not have the energy to stay awake and write a lot at the moment. My bed beckons and Caelan is sure to rise with the sun, as usual. Today I am thankful for a generally perfect summer. We had ups and downs and moments of terror, but all in all I can't imagine it being any other way. Here's to the last few days of it.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

We have just returned home from our three week visit with Nana and Poppy Cropper... It was the best three weeks we could have possibly hoped for. We hiked, we biked, we swam, we breathed, we talked, we ate, we sang, we laughed and we cried at goodbye. The weather was great and the company was better. We saw bears, rattle snakes, turkey, deer, rabbits and lizards. The mountains were breathtaking and the ocean breezes were revitalizing. This trip was everything that we needed and more. We are going to make sure that a MINIMUM of three weeks spent there each summer will happen. We had an absolute blast.

I haven't had the opportunity to upload all of our pictures yet but they will be coming very soon. Today I am thankful for three weeks of wonderful memories with the family. It was the best.

I am writing a disclaimer post today. We are currently on vacation in Asheville, NC visiting with my parents. Next week, we will REALLY be on vacation in Hilton Head, SC and I am determined to go on this trip 100% free from technology. This means no blog entries next week. My bucket list requires at least one entry per week for at least one year but I am adding an addendum that says vacations are the exception. I promise memories and pictures to follow.

Today I am thankful for the beauty and majesty of Appalachia. It is so beautiful here.

I love everything about summer today. I love the sounds of lawn mowers, children screaming in pools and birds singing to each other. I love dogs barking in the distance and the smell of someone else's camp fire. Today, this is what I am thankful for.

Today I am thankful for Caelan's giant blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and smile which melts my heart at least a million times a day.

I am currently torn between trying to fence time and wishing it away. Caelan, you are cuter and funnier that I could ever attempt to put into words. For this reason, I desperately want time to stand still. I never want these days to end. Our mornings are full of adventure, our afternoons are sleepy and lazy and our evenings are full of laughter. It couldn't get any better.

At the same time I find myself DESPERATE for this week and next to end. This is, of course, because next Friday we leave for our highly anticipated trip to North Carolina/ Hilton Head. Ahhhh. I find myself swept away in fantasy about sitting on the beach, sipping frosty drinks and taking endless bike rides around the island.

In an effort to end this time battle, today I am thankful for right now.