End of Summer/Back to School

It's that bittersweet time again - summer is over and I'm headed back to work. This is a struggle. I love being a teacher. But I also love being a mom. And unfortunately, those two roles often battle it out for my time during the school year. This moment was just a few days before I went back:

Emmett was playing with his train. Susie had just woken up. He saw her and said "Hellooooo Susie! Welcome to the train station!" And she ran over, sat in the train bucket, and they played so nicely.

Was my whole summer like this? Definitely not. Everyone is right - the three's are worse than the two's. They both struggle to share. They wrestled. A lot. But this moment was sooooo perfect. It made me not want to work.

This is the day before I went back. I totally didn't mean to dress them alike. I swear. But look how sweet. 

Look at how she is looking at him in this one:

They crack each other up. All the time!

But for now, it's back to school. I'm so, so, SO blessed to have such a wonderful friend who watches my babies and loves them like her own. So this is the scene when I dropped them off Monday morning:

Emmett was so happy that Gigi had his milk ready. And Jackson had to love on Susie right away. No tears, no sad goodbyes. And I'm focused on getting this year off to a great start.

Moments

Cam teases me about taking pictures, but this is why I do it. This moment touched me when I saw it, and I'm so glad I captured it. Father and son, roasting hot dogs over a campfire and talking about life.

Family Camping Part 2

Dry Falls - Nantahala National Forest

"I want to go down there!"

The perfect Emmett nook

E covered his ears under the falls. Susie loved it.

The dogs loved going on a hike.

Bridal Veil Falls

Gem Mine!

Emmett entertained Susie while we loaded up the site. I love hearing their giggles.

Scary swinging bridge.

Beautiful foggy day

On the bridge

Family Camping part 1

Some obligations cleared up and we had a free weekend. Cam got Friday off and we took off for the KOA in Murphy, NC. Camping with two small kids and two dogs is a little chaotic. Especially when it pours the first night. We had to move the tent and rearrange our campsite, but the rain finally tapered off and we had a great weekend.

Hanging out under the cover until the rain stopped.

Soooo much water.

The kids had a blast playing in the cab of the truck while we moved the tent. Check out Curly Sue!

Once the rain stopped, E enjoyed some "fishing"

Playing in the mud is a must!

We made a great stew in the dutch oven

We had some visitors to our campsite. You can see how our campsite was right on the river.

Swimming fun! We didn't get to go swimming at all this summer, so I was proud that he actually floated by himself a bit.

This one LOVES the water.

E would fall asleep on the air mattress with a flashlight. And Special Blankie, of course.

Children's Museum

The Children's Museum in Greensboro was having family night where everyone gets in for $2. We picked up Cam after work and headed over there. I had never been, and it has lots of fun free-play stuff - all of which E is interested in... a real fire truck, ambulance, semi truck, police car, race car, and airplane cockpit. A doctor/dentist office. A construction site. A camping scene. A house with a kitchen. A grocery store. They had it all! He was so excited and never knew where to start. It was a little crazy because of the cheap admission, but the crowd wasn't too bad. Susie enjoyed herself too.

Dr. Emmett

Receptionist Susie

At the grocery store

Driver Emmett

In the "am-bee-wance"

Fireman Emmett

Susie loved the steps on the firetruck

At the art center

The little kid area. She loved it!

Pilot Emmett

Officer Emmett. I cracked up at his expression. And also the position of his hands. His daddy drives with a hand on the horn.