Summer Captured

We had some really nice weather this summer... Nice enough that the boys could pitch a tent in the backyard and camp out a few times. Nice enough we could sleep with the windows open to hear them...

When I say the boys camped out, I have to include the boys next door...the 4 of them were quite the group all summer! It makes me glad that they have neighbors to play with.  When I was young, that's what you did... Now a days it's a hard thing to find.

The last day they camped out was August 12... It only made it in the 70's, but more importantly, it was the night of the Perseid meteor shower (I probably spelled that wrong, sorry). It would be much easier to watch it if you were already camped outside... 

I happened to get up with Autumn sometime after midnight, and after putting her back down, I headed outside to check on the boys.  They were just heading out of the tent, putting blankets on the ground so they could just lie and watch the sky.  We watched for awhile, and after a bit of time I saw one...and then a couple of us caught a flash....  I have seen meteor showers before, but it's always thrilling to see  a shooting star... 

I headed back to bed, tired, but glad that the boys got to see some.  I lay in bed with the window open, listening to silence, frogs, crickets, and then "WOOAAAHH!!!" "COOl!!!" Did you see that? "WOOAAAHH!!!!"

Sometimes my favorite memories have no pictures.

Andrew, Austin and Autumn with Takashi and Tai Chi

So I cheat and make s'mores in the oven...

Thirteen years

My heart is aching this morning as I pour over pictures of my beautiful baby boy.  

He was born in the wee hours of the morning, on a beautiful fall day in Minnesota.  

I remember sitting in the backseat with him as Randy drove us home, tears in my eyes, thinking that our lives will never be the same...

How true.

I can not imagine what life would be like without Andrew.  

He's always been full of a love of life... We joke that Drew doesn't know how to stop smiling... To which he smiles as says "I just can't help it!" 

He's an amazing big brother and loyal friend,

What a blessing to have someone like that in your life...

I'm sitting here in the wee hours, looking at these photos and part of me is so sad because I miss this cute, fun loving little boy... But part of me is also happy, because he has grown into a sweet, considerate, fun, and still full of a love of life, (gulp) teenager.  I'm so excited to see where he is going...

He has been such a blessing in our lives

it has never been the same...

We love you Andrew!