Father's Day and more:

I missed noticing the summer solstice!  Bummer.  This is always the point in the summer when I start to feel a bit of panic, because it is going by way too fast (despite us having very slow days, in general), and we have been looking forward to it for so long!  But I really can't complain about the reality at all...it's been wonderful so far, and I expect more of the same in the next 2 months.

Jonas has been getting a LOT done around the house, lately.  It's been awesome.  This past Saturday he rented a stump grinder and got rid of the tree stump in our front lawn (Finn said "Awwww!  I like that stump!" Haha), and then he ran down the block and also did the front lawn tree stumps of two neighbors.  They each paid him, so the rental only ended up costing us $10, haha.  Yesssssss!  Win, win, win!  Everyone was happy!

Here is Kellan, really enjoying the stump-grinding process:

I tried to get him to sit still on my lap to take a photo with him.  NOPE.
This was the best I got, as he wriggled out under my arms. 

 Raking up the tree stump remainder...

Father's Day:

Father's Day around here was a low-key affair, per usual.  Finn gave Jonas a sweet card at breakfast...

 ...and then Jonas took the younger 3 down to the beach while I stayed home with Layla, who wasn't feeling great.

For dinner on Father's Day we got take-out from a famous local old-school Italian restaurant, mostly because we had a gift card, and I think I speak for ALL of us when I say the pizzas Jonas makes in the woodfire oven are FAR superior to old-school Italian pizzas!Way to have a useful and edible hobby, Jonas!  :)

One note about Jonas:  One of the things I am hugely thankful for, when it comes to him as a farther, is how entirely present he is to his children and me.  There is nothing that takes priority in how he spends his time, especially money, and I'll forever be grateful for that.  His children don't know how blessed they are to have so much of his time and energy and attention as they are in their very young, formative developmental years...but I know, and someday they will know what a priceless gift this is.  Way to go, Jonas!  Your family loves your priorities!!  

Kellan and I took a early morning walk by ourselves the other day.  He was looking for treasure very earnestly.

When Kellan swings "like superman" he lifts his legs SO HIGH in the back that I am always worried about him eating dust and falling headfirst.  

Jonas has been spending special 1-on-1 times with the kids lately.  First they all got to watch a special movie along with Papa (Cora did Frozen 2, Layla did Wonder Woman, and Finn did Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.). Now we are on to picnics!  Jonas and Cora picked up Burger King and drove to our lake and ate a picnic together.  She was in heaven.  So easy!

And last but VERY not least...I would like to introduce you to our new family member:

She makes me giddy with happiness every time I see her!

She replaced this old beast, who was 29 years old and looking EVERY DAY of his age:

Let the summer heat waves commence!

Slow summer days:

 Kellan usually wakes up around 6:30 most mornings.  He will often agree to snuggle for a bit, but he is usually SUPER CHATTY at that time of day too (which is rather hard for me, haha).  Jonas will usually take him for a short walk before starting work in the mornings, but sometimes I do as well...especially if it will be too hot for me to want to walk with the kids later on.  On this particular morning we saw that neighbors 1 block away are commemorating their trees that will be cut down soon due to emerald ash borer (well, actually, I don't think these particular trees will be cut down...but the block is losing 95% of its trees.  It's awful.  The history and the shade of that block will be gone in a week!!). 

We stop at every fire hydrant so Kellan can talk about it and where the hoses go.

Sometimes we try to buy time in the morning (without going for a walk) by enticing Kellan with the sand box.  80% of the time that works.  Jonas went and got 13 more bags of sand today so Kellan could dig even deeper...

Kellan knows that when Papa gets in the pool, he can get in the pool too.  He lives for those times. :) Lots of jumping and swimming for the little guy these days!

This morning only Kellan and Finn were up when we left for the walk.  Even though the day ended up being over 90 degrees, I'm so thankful for the breezy cool mornings!  Sanity!  Here the boys are playing in the extra dirt for the rec center baseball diamonds.  We also watched a crew of tree cutters take down some trees along the parkway.  BIG hit. 

 I have no idea what this chart means, but clearly Jonas and I are WAY behind Finn and Cora in something, haha.  Finn won't tell me about it, either!  Maybe Layla will, as she only has "1"... 😂

On Sunday night we made potstickers with Dan and his girlfriend Kathleen, then ate a wonderful meal outside.  Gosh a shaded patio is such a luxury!

And last but not least, I give you Cora, 3 years ago today.  We were at a little A-frame cabin up north, and she was just a little over 3 years old.  😍