proof of summer

It always feels like it takes so long for summer to actually arrive here and then it goes away far too soon and we sometimes forget by next spring that we ever had a summer. Here's the proof. We saw it top off on some thermometers at 92.

working on my summer bucket list

I lost my summer bucket list that I made at the beginning of summer but I think I have done about half the things I wanted to do. I know one of the main things I wanted to do we are failing at. I wanted to get all 3 kids riding their bikes without training wheels. This would have required actually getting out and trying which we have not done. Here is what we have done so far off my list...

* went camping

* went swimming( kind of cheating putting this on the list since my parents live on a lake..but we have gone above and beyond I think. :) swimming almost every day above 75 degrees.

* redid the girls closet. Laila used to have all of her clothes in the closet with Lydia's in an armoire. I decided to put both girls clothes in one closet and use the armoire for their american girl stuff/ other doll stuff. This meant that we had to raise the bar and add another one. They each have a side of the closet with their shirts, sweater, jackets on top and their pants, skirts on bottom.

* today I made raspberry jam and have raspberry fruit leather in the oven right now.

I am leaving for San Diego on Wednesday to meet my nephew Finn. This will be the longest I have ever been away from my children. I am worried but know it will go all too fast anyway. Soon after I get back I will be getting ready for back to school. My parents are both teachers and will be headed back to their classrooms to get ready. I cannot believe I am sending my boy to kindergarten and my baby to preschool this year. I need to start planning what I want to get done with the last bit of summer when I get home.

Here fishy fishy

This summer, any day over over 75 degrees we have spent at my parents house on Spencer lake. My kids have always showed interest in fishing but this year was the first time they have sat for longer than 20 minutes and actually are using real bate. The last 2 days they have been catching little fish left and right. They have been catching sun fish, perch and small bass. Between Laila and Landon they caught about 30 today. Unfortunately, none of these fish are keepers. This actually works out quite perfectly for them. They are able to pull them in themselves and Laila is starting to unhook them and throw them back in herself. They get so excited each time they get one. I have had so much fun watching them fish and see their excitement over and over. Below are some pictures of our day.

Tomorrow morning Brad and I are going to wake them up bright and early(I am thinking 6 am...we'll see if I can get Brad out of bed) to go fish for bigger fish that we could keep. My dad says he has seen some really big bass under their dock but they are out in the early morning. I hope we get a big one!

Finnleif Audun Silveira White

Finnleif Audun Silveira White was born July 28th at 10:30 am in San Diego, CA. He weighed 6 lbs 11 oz.  and was 19 inches long. He is beautiful and perfect in every way. I adore him already and can't wait to hold him and spoil him for the rest of his life. He was very long awaited and it is almost surreal that he is finally here, not to mention that he came about 10 days early. 

                                              Ben and Marianne holding their little bundle.

 Marianne definitely earned her warrior title pushing for over 3 hours with this guy. Notice the bruising on his head, he was born face up rather than face down.

 I think he looks just like Lydia did in the hospital in this picture...I should find one to compare

                                                           At home resting with dad