Fall Is On Its Way!

Soccer practice starts next week, which means fall is just around the corner :`(

Elle, of course, grew out of last year's cleats and shin guards so we had to go shopping!

She also grew out of her soccer ball so she picked out Kevin the Grasshopper 

She loves it when I have her pose for pictures, obviously.

Oh YA!  Elle's going in for the kill

You can also tell fall is coming because it's time to walk the plants:

Elle was reading in a book that said plants enjoy a good walk and a chance to see other surroundings.  Apparently, it helps them feel connected to the rest of the world since they are usually stuck in the house or on the porch with no varying view.

It's a good thing we still have our grocery cart from Los Angeles!  

Elle was the one with the brilliant transport solution.  I was so proud of her, I let her push it around.

Just kidding!  Chris's aunt gave us some raspberry plants (the same plants that were viciously stripped of their leaves by naughty deer).  They miraculously grew more leaves and look healthy.  We decided it would be best to take it to the safety of the fenced-in community garden.  We didn't know how to get it there since we couldn't really put it in the car, we don't have a wagon, and it's way too heavy to carry it that far.

Elle really did think of this solution and I really did let her push it all the way. (I pushed it back home).  We wondered what people would think when they saw us walking down the sidewalk with a giant potted plant.  The above was one of our stories.

Hopefully the raspberries will continue to grow back its leaves and give us yummy fruit next year!

Wonderful!

Last weekend I was helping with an emergency dejunking of a neighbor's house.  

I was taking load after load of trash out to the dumpster behind the house.  It was kind of hot and I was kind of tired and the bags were getting heavy.

But the junk kept on coming and so I kept on taking it out. 

Then, as I was taking a particularly large and lumpy bag out, I heard:

You're wonderful! 

 It took half a second before I realized it was coming from the bag.  But that didn't diminish the good feeling I had inside knowing that at least the toys in the bag thought I was a good person.  Then came

Will you be my friend?

That wasn't quite as flattering.

I continued on my path to the dumpster and the bag kept validating me and asking to be my friend

I felt kind of guilty leaving the thing there, but I did it anyway.

The bag is still there being cheerful and lonely forever*

*until trash day, of course

Proof that we are nice parents

Here are some more pictures of the fun summer we're having

Our friends invited us to play at the lake

Then, we had a BIG surprise!

Elle fainted because she was so floored (haha, get it?)

Here's the scoop:

Elle's bike was too small, but we've had a great time riding together almost every morning.

One day, Elle and I happened upon a sport consignment store.  Although we knew it was futile to look for a bike because we wouldn't dare buy anything without Chris's opinion (and weeks of research and careful planning), we looked anyway.

Nothin'

But then we went back with Chris another day.  We saw a bike just the right size for Elle and the guy at the store told her she could ride it around.  So while Elle rode around the parking lot, Chris drooled over a couple of bikes he'd liked--a road bike and another mountain bike.

Then we left.

But before we even got into the car Chris was all "Did Elle want that bike?"

Um.  YES!

Then Chris did something totally unexpected and out of character:

he went back into the store and BOUGHT it!

Cha!

Now you know why Elle hit the floor.

While we were filling out paperwork, I wisely asked if they refurbished bikes since Chris's bike (that he got for $50 at a garage sale last year) needs some work.  I also asked if they could sell Elle's old bike for us (which we got for free from the neighbors)

Yes and Yes

We drove home, brought two bikes to the store and came back with one:

TA DA!

You can even see the miracle rays

Now, more proof that we are such great parents:

I took Elle and her friend roller skating--which is something she's been wanting to do all summer

And we finally decided on a couch for our bonus room!

Here's Elle looking all teenager-ish 

*staged scene, not actually watching TV.

I tell you, I'm sure glad I don't have to deliver furniture for a living!

Those poor guys had quite a time getting that beast up and around the stairs.

And here's a random picture that Elle staged 

What a good mom am I