The biggest activity of the summer for the kids was riding bikes. We have a rather large driveway and a lot of lights, so the kids were able to keep riding into the late afternoon. Here is Hannah taking one more loop around the yard after sunset.

If you look closely here, you can see that the kids are having a horseback ride on daddy. This is a routine thing we go through around here, though they are all getting heavy enough to make it almost impossible for me to give a ride for very long. I’ll probably miss it when I can’t do it any more.

Today, Sarah asked to play with “engines.” So we brought down all the Thomas the Tank Engine tracks and trains for a little afternoon fun. She seemed to enjoy herself very much and refrained from eating the tracks…most of the time.

Stephen and I love to kick the ball around. If we can’t do it outside, we have a couple of balls and a goal we can kick around inside the house. He is a very enthusiastic soccer player, with pretty good skill for a three year old.

Sarah is now in the habit of putting her hand to her ear and saying “hi, hi, hi!” If we mention we were talking to Grandma or ask her if she wants to talk to Grandma, she immediately puts that hand to her ear. The real phone is a different story. If Grandma is on the other end she won’t say a word. Looking at the phone and smiling is the most we have seen so far.

Everyone in the house enjoys being around Sarah. She is happy, even when we are struggling. It is not too much to say she brightens every day with this, typical smile.

Before we departed for Watertown, the kids became very attached to a big-wheel that belonged to the neighbors. They had been nice enough to share, and as you can see, Elisabeth loved it. This picture reminds me to keep an eye out at the local yard sales.