To be honest, I thought my glorious summers would end once Max started med school and I became a mom... but I can add that to the list of the things I was definitely wrong about. Whether it's baseball games, drive-in movies, quick weekend trips, hiking (not my favorite - nor will it ever be), and lots of swimming in our free time, it has surprisingly all been sweeter with our Charlie and the time I do get to spend with Max. Yes, he's busy. And yes, leaving the house requires way more effort than I thought it would with a baby in tow. But now that summer is slowing down, I realized I am sure going to love the memories of our first summer as a family of three.

Below are a few of the random pictures I still had saved on my phone. If I get around to finding my hard drive I will add more soon. Better to post late than never!

Lots of JW trips

FINALLY MADE A WATERMELON SHARK FOR SHARK WEEK

The aforementioned hike in the arctic tundra... misery.

Diet Coke is my love language and Max put my birthday fridge collage to shame.

Seeing Ed Sheeran was hands down one of the best concerts of all time. He's incredible live.

So long softball games, so long summer. See you next year!

Charlie's first haircut

Who would have thought a haircut could make me emotional?

(actually, just kidding. i've had several bad haircuts that have definitely made me cry. 

this one was happy tears)

what i've been reading lately

I don't have any good quotes to pull from this book, but it still deserves a shoutout. Erik Larson is incredible at bringing history to life. Every time I read his books I think, How have I not heard about this before!? I'm going to read In the Garden of Beasts next, but if you are new to Larson, put Devil in the White City and Isaac's Storm on the top of your reading list too.


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“But you can’t have yes without no. Another way to say it: if you’re not careful with your yeses, you start to say no to some very important things without even realizing it. In my rampant yes-yes-yes-ing, I said no, without intending to, to rest, to peace, to groundedness, to listening, to deep and slow connection, built over years instead of moments."

“And so one of the tiny little things I'm learning to do is play. To purposely waste time, to strategically avoid strategy, for five minutes at a time. Intentionally not be intentional about every second. Have no purpose on purpose.”  -Present Over Perfect, Shauna Niequist
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“If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”  -The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah