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 We're squeezing the last few drops out of summer. Today we headed to the State Fair to enjoy some good ol' fashioned fun. You loved all the different animals and really wasn't intimidated by any of them, except when the pig tried to eat your stroller.

The fair prices must have made an impression on you. I found this box in your room while your cousins and you were playing tonight.

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Some good friends came to visit for the weekend and boy did we have fun! Logan wanted to wear his knight costume from a few Halloweens back and that made Cora want to wear her "princess dress"(Easter dress from last year) and 4 cones called for a balancing the hat race. Good friends = Good times.

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 Your brother and daddy were watching E.T. and it got too scary for you, so we let you watch some of  your favorite, Caillou. I like that I have another very similar picture of your brother from earlier this year.

I'm having a good friend of mine do a few tuturing lessons with you, mostly to see how you're keeping up with English since you're in a spanish-emersion class. It is so fun to watch your lil wheels turning as she explains things to you and so fun to see her be so impressed with you as you pick up everything so quickly.

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On our way back to civilization, we stopped for some ice cream in Sisters, Oregon. The end to a really fantastic family camping trip.

To see more of our camping trip photos, click here.

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 Enjoying popcorn under the lanter and the stars with just us. Today was awesome.

Mr. Expert Lizard Catcher Extraordinaire! This was one of the many little guys you snuck up on and claimed as your lil pets on this camping trip. I believe this one you named "Strike".

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 You ventured deeper into the water each time. My brave girl. I love adventuring with you.

Since we were up with the sun, we set out early to hike up to the ridge and you lead the way. Once we reached the top, it was heating up and there wasn't much shade so we headed back down, but Man, I was so proud of you. And even though your parents were a bit nervous on some of those steep areas, you were a pro hiker and asked if we could hike again the next morning. We'll have to work hiking into our regular programming.

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 Today we headed out on our first camping trip all summer. It's been a busy summer for us being wedding season for me and just all sorts of other things going on. Luckily Daddy decided we needed to get away and took a few days off so we could enjoy a last horrah before school starts up again. We headed east, to a new area we'd never been before and it was great. And you loved it. You loved sleeping in the tent, hiking, swimming, kayaking. The only thing you didn't love was the smoke from the camp fire. Other than that, you were a very happy camper.

About three minutes after we'd arrived at our campsite, you'd ditched your shirt and shoes. And a momma deer and two babies came to welcome us to Lake Billy.

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You found a hat and gloves and then had to "go look in mirrr."

Logan spent the night at friends and I shot a wedding so I didn't see him today. :(

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I love that you see these bike racks and think they're playgrounds. 

 Legos, legos and more legos. And sorting legos in a lil silver briefcase with your cousin. I think this is your version of heaven. 

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 A fun carnival day at the Library's End of Summer Blast for my two readers. I think my favorite part of this picture might just be your brother pickin' his toosh.

Snow Cones!

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 You, finding happyness and joy in the reflection of a trashcan lid. I wanna be like you when I grow up.

I said "Go start at that tree and run to me without stepping on any cracks or lines." and off you went with a look of determination and excitement that I just love and hope you never loose.

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I love this part of the shopping trip, where we've survived the majority of it and we're checking out and you are just adorable and want to look at all the things on the bottom shelf and want to help load the belt and want to push the buttons and you don't throw a fit when I say no to some extra snack you want. These are simple things but they are giant victories in a mom's day. And I'm gonna celebrate them. 

Finding bugs in the back yard. Does it get any more "boy" than that?

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 I found you with your dog rolled up and in your lap being rocked and sang to.

If this project has done anything it's taught you how to work the camera. My goodness. Be still my heart.

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Your aunty Carley is so fun. and man, you've got a lot of hair! 

 You were helping your Tutu fold up and put away the pool and got such a kick out of telling her which spots she missed with the leaf blowers and then watching the ants go flying.

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 You had placed two marbles in your cheeks and were so pleased with yourself. After taking a picture and letting you look at your silly self in the mirror, I made sure to remove the choking hazard from your mouth.

One of the dining room tables many uses is a perfect location for a race track.

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Curled up on the couch watching a movie together on a Saturday night.

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 We slept in a hotel last night. You got a whole bed all to yourself. Don't get used to it, chica.

While stopped at a rest stop on our way home today, we hiked around looking for a geo-cache. You were the operator of the gps and navigated us right to it. Well done, buddy!

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 We headed up to Washington to visit family and Me and the girls went for a walk. You just love your big cousin Ella. She was showing us all the best places to find flowers and how to put them in our hair.

We worked on our catching skills today. Lesson number one: keep your eyes open.

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"I playin' ith this." you said with a focused concentration.

While loading up on more library books, you befriended some other boys and imagined some fun adventures with the puppets. I love how friendly you are.

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But first, let's take a selfie! 

Just hanging out listening to the thunder during this mornings lightning storm.

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You love your lil twin babies. And when we say "Are they twins?" you respond "No! They're babies!"

On a hot day, if you don't have water balloons, you use what you've got. And you were more than happy to create giant water hands and then bite the finger tips off and spray each other.

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 "Beauty begins when you decide to be yourself" - Coco Chanel   You my dear, have never been anything but your beautiful self. And I hope that never stops.

You discovered that you could carry your sister on your back. You were both so proud and excited to show me.

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Whenever your daddy takes you to Costco (where he works), you are his lil show and tell. He loves impressing his co-workers with all the funny things you say, and how freakin' adorable you are. It's so fun to see him beaming with pride. You are Daddy's girl.

Dirty feet, no shirt and your best buddy to goof off with. A wonderful combination for a summer day. You've been at Kroc Camp all week and playing hard everyday in the sun and in the water and with your cousin.

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You wanted to watch Daddy mow the lawn, but you didn't want to hear it.


I didn't get a shot of Logan today, another wedding day. This week has been my busiest all summer, so unfortunately I missed a few days. I'll just be skipping them in my count, and continuing on. I'm giving myself grace. Things should calm down a bit next week and I should be able to keep up.

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Again with the simplest of entertainment. The washing machine filling with sudsy water is fascinating.

There are times with I take you and your sister to the playground and you both play happily. And then there are times when you're both insistent on having me right next to you and playing with you. Today was one of those times, I couldn't leave either of you for longer than a few minutes before being called back to the other one. These are the times when I wish I could somehow duplicate the amount of attention I'm able to give at once. To be able to give you both my complete attention, to make you each feel completely seen and completely attended to and completely special and loved. Despite my frustration I have to believe that there is some value it teaching you each to share me. And I just hope that just me, just one mother for two children can somehow be enough for you both.

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Oh my sweet thing. You only need a short hallway to run up and down over and over and you're happy. 

A bee sting on your foot. Ah the adventures of summer.