ben's boating bday bash

school starts tomorrow.

i can't believe it.  where has the summer gone?

it has felt like a collection of busy unscheduled days

as opposed to a collection of busy scheduled days.

i want my kids home to play with longer.

why must you take them away so soon.........

gabi and i went back to school shopping to kit her out with colorful notebooks, etc. etc.

actually, gabi is very anxious for the new school year to begin.

she is now starting middle school and is thrilled.

friday was middle school registration day and the kids were

given their locker numbers and lock combinations.

gabi brought all her things to decorate her locker and make it her own for the year.

catherine and margo

have had a wonderful weekend together........

just hanging out, riding scooters.....

gearing up for.........

huge mountain hikes.

they spent 6 hours tackling south boulder peak!

well done, girls - what a view

.......and doing other delightful "college girls on vacation" things.

it's been so fun to be with you again, catherine.

we wish you all the love in the world as you embark on your new life adventure......

18 months in brazil.

ben's boating birthday bash

ben organized a bunch of friends to meet us at

carter lake

for a birthday boating party.

the guys were there.....

and the girls.

all having fun wake boarding, tubing and enjoying the beautiful, sunny, warm afternoon.

ben and kendall took a spin on a friend's wave runner.

kendall leaves for school in indianapolis this week.

that will be so sad for both of them.

they have had a wonderful summer enjoying their time together.

gabi had fun too hanging out with all of ben and sab's friends

and climbing trees.

the girls spent the early evening playing card games 

while the boys were out flipping and flying on the wakeboards.

captain paul at the helm making sure everyone was having a good time.

look who else is turning out to be quite the wakeboarder.........

gabrielle!!

i also found time to just relax and 

enjoy this beautiful, summer evening

with my precious family and their wonderful friends.