Apple picking!

It's time for apples already! We had a great (spontaneous) time picking apples with dear friends. Labor Day weekend is the "opening weekend" and the apples - Jonny Macs - are delicious.

This is where 6 lbs of apples went - to cranberry applesauce! Yummy! 

One of our three bags! Full!

Will has resumed eating apples just in time! 

Samantha was a big helper this year! 

And Anna Kate - a diligent worker

The trees are dwarf trees in this area of the orchard. They were brimming with apples. 

Lucy working hard -- pulling our friends Mary and Timothy.

Boom, Boom

Sorry about the direction of the video. I used my phone since we were outside, and I've never done that before! :) I didn't know it would be sideways. oops!

Now, that's out of the way. Samantha is a daredevil on her bike and most things. This afternoon she decided that riding like this was fun:




which is actually pretty tame, considering some of her other non-videoed stunts. Can you hear her saying, "Boom, Boom" while she moves her bottom on and off the seat?

Everybody is like Somebody

We started school last week. Anna Kate in second grade and Lucy in kindergarten. I had forgotten that last school year, Will was not walking, or climbing, or running . . . . he didn't really start walking until the middle of April. This year is quite a bit different, since very little is out of our little guy's reach. We like to do most of our school day at the table - all together. And Will wants to be with us, or, rather, in it all. We're figuring it out and settling in to a nice routine, little by little. The weather is still so nice here that we are outside as much as possible! Here are a couple of snapshots. Every little body in our house wants to be like somebody. The girls play with their dolls most of the day, in one way or another, and they have really started playing with the Disney Princesses. What little (wonderful) mothers I have! Anna Kate and Lucy tried a number of different ways to swing with their dolls today (Anna Kate even tried to put Jasmine in Will's swing, but he was not for sharing. He immediately insisted on swinging!), but this is what they decided was best:

Oh my goodness! So sweet! And they thought it was "genius." In fact, one of my favorite quotes today was this. At first, Lucy tried to tie herself and baby Sarah on to the swing by wrapping a jump rope around her abdomen and tying it. I assured her I did not like the plan. :) Anna Kate told Lucy, "Genius!" It didn't work, though, and my fears were relieved. Then, I suggested their baby carriers. To which Anna Kate said, "Mom's always a genius, Lucy." Lucy responded, "But I was a genius first!"

Here's Will, being like somebody.

Yes, around here, we're always thinking about winter. In the spring, it's that winter has passed or is passing ("Thank God!"). In the summer, "Winter is coming." So, Dave's chopping wood, to give it time to season before we use it in our fabulous stove, which heats most of our home most of the winter. Apparently, Will has been watching Daddy not only chop wood, but throw it into the pile.

So, I realize we've been a little bit m.i.a. What's a month and a few thousand miles?

After a week home in early July, we headed west.

This is a Staff Conference summer, so we spent 10 days in Fort Collins. What a treat! The conference was excellent. Here are a couple of pictures of the kids from our opening night Carnival. The big girls braved the swings, attentively listening to the ride operators' directions.
And Daddy bravely put all four children on the car ride. I obviously was over reacting when I showed some nervousness regarding letting our little less-than-17-months-old son ride a ride alone. He and Samantha rode this ride many times.
We met a "new" cousin (he's about one month older than Will). Here he is enjoying the stream at the Denver Botanical Gardens.
And the newest cousin. . .. .
We spent a couple days with Auntie Hannah and Uncle Cory and Daniel in Omaha on our way to Colorado. Uncle Cory loves popsicles. The girls love that Uncle Cory loves popsicles because he shares!
There are so many memories. After Colorado - a short Sheehan family reunion and staff conference - we headed to El Paso for a visit with my family and a couple of partner churches. It was a great visit, really relaxing and refreshing.

a treat of a boat ride

Joan and her husband Ray hosted us (and the other project directors) on their boat again this year. It was a real treat! They are delightful to be with. Here's Joan with her lap full of girls. That's Ashley with Samantha and Lucy, inside the cabin.
Will promptly went to sleep on the boat. But he woke up when I moved one too many times to see the dolphins. (Yes, dolphins, up close and personal! I have a video down a few posts!)
The girls and I on the front of the boat! The girls l-o-v-e the boat. They are comfortable, at home and at ease on the water. And always looking to spot something!
Anna Kate also went up front with her Daddy. I don't think I have pictures, but both she and Lucy helped Ray drive the boat!
Even Will got a turn on the bow.

This is the view of one of the piers in Wildwood, one of the more "famous" skylines here.
We are in the final week of WWSP 2011. We leave on Saturday, and the students will remain for another 5 weeks on their own. It has been a great summer but very different from last summer. Last summer, I spent almost every evening in the quiet of our apartment reading, thinking, journalling, really introspective and thoughtful. But this summer - maybe because we don't have a newborn, maybe because the girls are just a little older and can stay up a little later, maybe because some of our dearest friends ever are here - for whatever reason, this summer is not like that. And why would it be? That was last year. This year is great for all its own reasons. Like the incredible gift of day-in and day-out with Steph. Or seeing Dave lead really well, make some important adjustments and help our students point "treasuring Jesus" on the map for the rest of their lives not just this summer.

the beach in the evening

Friday is Dave's day off. It's the one day and night we can count on having him around. And we make the most of it! This Friday, though, came after a full week of a crazy bug going around the house, a bug that basically kept us inside for most of 4 days! So, we opted for the pool in the morning, and after dinner, the beach. It was so fun!
Titus and Samantha negotiating something . . . .
Lucy and Titus busy. . . .
Ruby - she was a little cold, so she's borrowing her brother Titus' shirt! I love this picture of her!
Will always has a rash guard on (which explains that incredibly noticeable tan line on his arms), but not at night! Look how cute he is! (I am not biased!) He grabs sand, and while yelling, throws it down. Boy!
We are so incredibly thankful, beyond thankful really, to have JW and Steph and their family with us in Wildwood. Apart from being dear friends with whom we love to "do life," they are great and gifted leaders and fixed on Jesus.