The End of Summer

While I sit here at the computer, I've got the windows open and can feel a cool breeze. I need jeans and socks to keep warm. It is August 30th... and it already feels like fall. But did we really even have summer this year? Such strange weather lately although I have to admit, I sort of like it. Fall is my favorite season and I much prefer partly sunny and mid 60s over sunny and 90 (and 100% humidity!). So as the weather cools and I start to see more and more school buses every morning on my way to work, I realize that summer is definitely coming to an end. Time to think about putting the baby pool away and packing up a closet full of very cute baby girl clothes meant for hot and sticky summer days that were hardly worn. I've spent the last few days sorting through baby clothes, packing away what's already outgrown or will soon be out of season. Now as much as I hate doing laundry, it has been kind of fun to get out new outfits for fall and see all the cute tops and pants that have been in stored away the last several months. Of course a year ago we were in the middle of a heat wave and drought and maybe that's why I felt the need to have SO many sun dresses in the 6-9 month size. Regardless, most of that is now being packed up and sent to the basement (although I am keeping out a few of my favorites just in case we get a little heat in September or October). FYI - I have already bought several sale/clearance items for next summer so we can always hope for hotter days in 2010. :)

OK, enough about the clothing. You are probably wondering what we've been up to lately... Work and more work - unfortunately. Have you noticed a pattern where I find time to post at the very end of the month and/or the first week or two of the new month? And then nothing at all for that 3rd week? You can thank my job for that. Every 3rd week of the month is our "crunch week". I absolutely loathe ****** (insert name of large banking institution here) and the upper management for letting the pattern continue for so many years. My dept is bored silly the first week to 10 days of every month, trying to find ways to stay busy for 8 hours a day. Then bam - we all get slammed in the 3rd week. And overtime is REQUIRED. So last Saturday I worked for a few hours and then put in my overtime Monday thru Wednesday. I am typically pretty cranky by the end of "crunch week" and feeling way behind and overwhelmed in my chores at home. I've tried to take this past weekend to get caught up on a few things around the house (like laundry) and also reengerize so I'm ready to face next week.

We did squeeze in one fun family outing last weekend - the first trip to the zoo! Paul and I had a good time and decided to get a 1 year membership. Hopefully by next spring Amelia and Penelope will enjoy it just as much as we do. They seemed pretty unimpressed with it this first time around - and slept through about half of it. We took a few pictures, but I'm not sure they are all that great and since they have yet to be moved from the memory card to the computer, they may or may not make their way to the blog. :D

Speaking of cameras, our great little Nikon point and shoot is currently in the "shop" for repairs. We hope to have it back soon but in the mean time, all we have for picture taking is Paul's professional - and expensive - camera. I feel uncomfortable and awkward using it so I'm afraid we won't have too many pictures for the month of August. But considering just how busy and active the girls are, we are probably better off sticking with video right now. Oh, but we did have their 9 month pictures taken a few weeks ago and should have those prints any day now. Both girls did great and loved all the props we gave them - chairs, ladder, books, rocking horse....like I said, they are busy and active 9 month old girls!

In other big news, Penelope is finally cutting her first tooth! You can't really see it yet but you can definitely feel it. And Amelia is getting #4 and #5. And hers you can certainly see as she likes to show them off (just wait until you see the 9 month pictures!). We have been pretty fortunate so far with the teething. Neither seem to be too bothered by them and have yet to give us trouble during the night because of pain. Let's hope that continues as they get more and more teeth!

Hmmmm... I'm starting to hear some noises coming from the nursery so I guess that means nap time is about over. Time to sign off.

~April