The End of August

It seems like every year the end of summer becomes a little more hectic.  Maybe it's the feeling that summer is fleeting and we have to squeeze every last ounce of sunshine and swimming into a few short weeks.  Usually that is when we have company.  For the past two years there is the knowledge that school (even though it is just preschool) is just around the corner.

As we try to see our friends, enjoy the "carefree" days and lack of schedule, fit in just a few more trips to the pool and the beach, and host our guests, as much as I love summer and crave it as May rolls around each year, by the end of August I am ready for schedule and routine. 

After Meamaw and Grandpa left we spent the day modeling MiniM.E.'s and BittyBaby's new outfits:

And had a playdate with friends:

Gram came that evening because we were borrowing their van and they needed it back because Auntie Jen is moving to Virginia next week.  Gram brought us some nice maple trees that we planted Tuesday evening:

And Wednesday, because we wanted to do something fun, we went BACK to Animal Land. Definitely our favorite destination this summer.

MiniM.E. ALMOST fed the monkey

the capybaras were a LITTLE hungry this time

more kangaroo cuddles

and petting

 

Of course the highlight of the visit were the deer.  What a great 4th birthday present that would be!?!? Her very own deer!!

The biggest change this time around was the giraffe-love.  MiniM.E. fed the giraffe the last couple times but this time she really got into it.  We probably bought out the snack bar's daily supply of giraffe crackers.  Lucky for us, it appears that giraffes have endless capacity for crackers.

Even LittleL.G. enjoyed the giraffe and every time he bent down to munch on close to sixty crackers she reached out to pet his nose.  It was ADORABLE!

Animal Land closes next weekend so this was probably our last visit for the summer, but we can't wait to go back again next year!


Wednesday evening we watched a friend:

 And the rest of the week we played.