Singing and pirates

I guess my only excuse for sporadic posting lately is the fact that I am almost 9 months pregnant. I am definitely wearing out earlier at night (my usual time to update the blog). We were away this weekend and settling back at home now. We made a last trip to the pool today. It is open another week, but school starts for Austin next Tuesday and while it is pretty fun, it is a lot of work to get everyone to the pool. Austin learned a lot this summer though- he can do a back float, kick with his arms in front of him on his front side, loves going under water and will jump off the side of the pool with no floating device (well, where he can still stand but it is somewhat deep for him). He made vast improvement and has lost a lot (but not all) fear of the water.

Here are some random pictures and videos. Austin has decided lately he wanted to dress up like a pirate and was very creative in assembling his outfit. We are thinking maybe he will have a pirate party when he turns 5...but we will see. Lots will happen between now and then!

You can see his eye patch (he first made an eye patch from a piece of an egg carton, but then we found one of those eye covers they give you on planes and used it instead. The exercise mat wrapped around his leg is his wooden leg. All his own idea.

We used to sing with Austin before bed and when he was 2 + he refused to sing and for some reason didn't want to. And for some reason we got in a bed time routine that excluded singing for about 2 years. Recently we decided we needed to resurrect that habit and it has been so fun. Bennett LOVES it and I feel bad that Austin's 2 year old whim robbed him of this tradition but he gets really into it. Austin likes it again and Chris plays guitar. You can see a highlight of Bennett's eager singing.


The weather was hot today, but has showed signs of cooling off recently. I am ready for cooler weather. It continues to be a rainy, muggy, cloudy summer here. We are thinking lots about my sis Charlotte and brother-in-law John today- they are in the air somewhere on their way to Nairobi, Kenya for 4 months. We are excited for them. OK, good night from here.