Today marked the boys’ last day of summer vacation. Ethan said it went by too fast. That’s certainly an understatement. Ethan and Max enjoyed so much time without a schedule or routine the past 10+ weeks. Days at the beach interspersed with family outings, gatherings with friends, sleepovers, a trip to Missouri and a few days of baseball, beach and Rainbow Camp thrown in the mix. This was Max’s first summer “off” school since turning two, and we all needed a break from routine. That said, I think we all secretly yearn to be back on task.

We took advantage of every minute while visiting family in Missouri. The boys filled their days with fireworks, swinging on deck swings and rope swings, walks with aunt Lizzy, PS4 with uncle Nandon, JEEP rides in PJs, fishing with Papa David, blowing bubbles with Nana, watching agility dogs and Lantern Festival with Grammie, celebrating August and September birthdays, slot car racing and frisbee with Papa Starek, baseball with Mawmaw Danker, flying with Papa Corky, bowling, arcade games, Old Maid and Uno, visiting the STL Riot office, cuddles with Papa Tom and Mema, farm dogs, city dogs and kitty-cats, helping plant flowers, arm-wrestling, visiting our old church and favorite parks and enjoying Oberweis and Gas-a-Mat ice cream. Whew! No wonder our trip was a blur!