We Are Back!

We are back! This was the longest break I have ever taken on the blog in 10 years! It was a much needed sabbatical; however, I did really miss writing in this little space, and it feels like now is the right time to return. And, I cannot believe it is already officially fall, our very favorite season! We have a lot of fun activities planned, this fall, including: celebrating Victory’s eleventh birthday; seeing the Van Gough Exhibit: Immersive Experience; going to the pumpkin patch; picking apples; celebrating fourteen years of marriage; visiting with friends; celebrating Halloween; and hosting Thanksgiving!

During my time away from the blog, I was able work on catching up on my photo editing, which I always seem to be playing catch up, and I am still currently playing catch up in this area, always! I was able to create family yearbooks from 2018 through 2021, along with creating a book containing Alex’s pre-school art! (Prior to this, I printed my favorite family photos, but I have so many, it was getting difficult to manage, so I decided it might be better to make archival, high quality photo books. I still print my favorite images to frame.) Alex loves creating art, and it was my way of capturing her art forever, and encouraging her to continue her creative projects, which she very much enjoys! She is still hard at work making her lovely cards and sending them out to friends and family! It was very gratifying to get these books finished and printed, and I plan to make a family yearbook for each subsequent year! And, I plan to continue to make books containing Alex’s artwork, a nice keepsake! It is my way of creating a legacy for our little family.

We spent a lot of time at the pool this summer; Alex is swimming, on her own, which is so great! She is a little fish in the water! She was very determined to swim on her own! She wants to continue swimming so we are joining an indoor pool. Alex also continues her horse riding lessons, and she enjoys the horse she is learning to ride named, “Storm,” which she affectionately refers to him as, “Stormy!” We have brought Victory with us a few times, and she loves the horses as well! Alex is trotting now, which is great progress!

We celebrated Alex’s birthday, and I cannot believe she is four, already! Since she turned one, it was the first time we were able to do a formal birthday party with family and friends due to the pandemic! It was great fun, which included face painting and a rainbow science show!

We went away to the beach for vacation, and it was really a nice time away, and we rented a different house this year, and it was perfect! Both of our girls love the beach so very much! We also took a trip to Michigan this summer as well, and we all survived the long drive! We had a lot of fun together! Alex is looking forward to flying on an airplane again later this year!

This fall, Alex started a new school, and she is transitioning well. It has been a big adjustment for everyone, attending an elementary school, but she continues to enjoy learning and she is so very curious, and I hope she never loses her curiosity and love of learning! Victory goes with us every morning for school drop off, it is so great, and we are so grateful for Victory’s good health, as she just had a wellness exam at the vet.

I hope that you had a great summer and that you are enjoying the cooler fall weather!

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall” —F. Scott Fitzgerald