…your parks are cooler than ours.

Luckily, we’re not afraid to cross state lines to explore a recommended playground.

Since “the trees are about to show us the beauty of letting go of things,” it’s only right that I pay my respects to summer…

Fishing with Dad and Grandpa

Fish to fry!

Or maybe we’ll just head to Culver’s…

…and enjoy their fish dinner!

Genesee test-driving Ashlee’s first car

Uh-oh! I’d like to report a stolen vehicle.

Plant shopping

I lost my first tooth!

Fireside meal

Fireside chat

Fireside toes

I love my sister!

Seat swap!

Shady ladies (and Dad)

The Giggle Squad

‘Sup Dog

Gazing off into the distance. And eating a pretzel.

Enjoying the ride

Sprinkler shenanigans

When Dad dresses my sister

Washing cars all day…

…and all night.

Checking out my new school’s playground

Chalking it up

G reading to Ooh-Ooh-Ah-Ah

G loves Garrett!

Visiting Garrett & Morgan’s chickens

Pacified.

Family 4-wheelin’

Cortney helping Genesee eat her meal. (The irony)

My friends begging mom to let me sleepover

Powdered donuts for breakfast

If I seem traumatized by tornado warnings, this is the day that caused it.

Yikes!

Climbing the trails with Dad

Visiting Aunty Bethy

Enjoying stories in Beth’s garden

Meeting the Cooks

Summer walks with Dad

G learned how to eat full pieces of pizza

Practicing without training wheels

G screams for ice cream. Literally.

Climbing walls

More relaxin’

We love a good shopping cart

G loves when I read to her!

G never leaves Dad’s side

The proper way to eat garlic bread

McDonald’s is getting fancy

I love my Ash

G’s potty training sticker chart

Shh… we’re hiding

Cruisin with Cory

My sister is a goof!

Teeter-tottering

Double baths!

Always wear protection…

…at the shooting range.

Making sure Charlie drinks his milk

Parade of Homes…

…Just like a camper show, only funner!

Potty training Ooh-Ooh-Ah-Ah

Diaper change #307

And just when the caterpillar thought the world was over…

…it turned into a butterfly!

I love our patio nights!

The biker gang

I’ve got the hang of it!

Taking my sis on a spin!

Hang on, little one!

G’s first haircut!!

Frisbee at sunset

Sand hill

Summer splashing

Slip ‘n slide!

Watching me go Wee!!

She adores me. Can you blame her?

Silly face

Here G goes ’round the Merry-Go-Round

Cuties!

G hiking with Dad

Enjoying the fresh air

River rides

G loves wearing safety glasses

Checking out the steam engine (Big Boy) that came to town!

Riverside with Grandpa

I ran into my friends at McDonald’s!

A walking stick!!

Meet my new friend.

He likes to hang out on my hand…

…and shoulder… and sometimes my parents’ bed. (oops!)

Ribbit.

Future engineer

Ashlee’s surgery

Free rides from Cortney!

My new school! Time for pictures.

Playing at the pond

Puzzling puzzles

Cooking with Laura and Andrew

Yum! That’s a new twist on chorizo and eggs.

Best night ever!

We love going to Grandma & Grandpas!

Posing for the magazine cover of Better Homes & Gardens

It was the summer of catching fish and frogs and fascinating sunsets.

It was the summer full of sidewalk chalk, slip ‘n slides, sprinklers, sparklers, and sibling 4-wheeler rides.

It was the summer of parading homes, losing teeth, discovering walking sticks, and raising Monarch butterflies.

It was the summer of getting home-schooled by Grandma, achieving my goal of learning how to ride a bike, potty training Ooh-Ooh-Ah-Ah (G’s monkey), ending Genesee’s pacifier addiction, and starting my kindergarten career.

It was the summer of 2019.

Perhaps the best way to celebrate a successful first week of kindergarten while also distracting ourselves from missing dad while he’s away for a 2-week hunting trip?

Chuck E. Cheese, of course. Where a kid can be a kid.

Look at those smiles; the Cheese knows how to please!

Today marked my send-off to Kindergarten and I did pretty well, considering my track record for transitions and drop-offs! In fact, I was mostly full of excitement, nerves, and curiosity until my eyes started to well up with sadness. Luckily, my meltdown was averted when a new little friend named Isaiah comforted me and helped my face remember how to smile.

Stay tuned for my kindergarten chronicles… I’m going to make new friends, get my learn on, discover more of who I am, and have so much fun along the way! I’m especially looking forward to library visits, art class, music sessions, the pet therapy dogs, and lunch. It’s going to be a great year!!

Since our friendship would soon get split up as a result of living in different zip codes, we decided the best way to spend Kindergarten Eve was to make Ferguson memories with a couple of my favorite friends, Colin & Amaya.

So there we were, joy-riding through the pumpkin patch on wagon wheels, painting our faces with twin tattoos, and giggling between every bite of the obligatory caramel apple.

Because nothing prepares you for going separate ways better than a challenging corn maze. And nothing shows how we’ll still keep up with each other better than a cooperative pedal tractor race. And since nothing can teach our friendship how to blossom better than an apple orchard, we never said goodbye that day. It was simply “See ya later,” sealed with a hug. And another hug, just for good measure.