perfect chaos*

 summer vacation has arrived and the super busy, fun packed schedule was right behind. lots to do, lots to see, lots to make and lots to read. the kids and i signed up for the summer reading program through the public library. as soon as harper found out prizes and free books were involved he has talked about little else.

 esmé made a wall pocket for her teacher for an end of the year thank you gift. she picked out the fabrics and put her artwork on the front pocket and i stitched it together.

they are just like the wall pockets we made here.

 and she got straight A's on her report card! YaY! we heard through the grapevine that krispy kreme gives kids a free doughnut for each A. esmé earned ten fresh, sugary doughnuts for her hard work and she was sweet enough to share with her whole family.

 riley went from this...

 ...to this!

amazing what a haircut and shave can do!

 he graduated from high school the next day and yesterday he turned 18. i am such a proud mama!!

 harper picked up a new summer hobby. when he isn't reading books to earn cool prizes he strums away on this little guitar.

 the girls in the happy rainbow coop are growing so big! we should have fresh eggs by the end of july, i estimate.

i have been relying heavily on sweetened iced coffee with milk to get me through these hectic summer days. i use this cold brew recipe. i made a simple syrup by pouring 2 cups of boiling water over 1 cup of sugar and stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. i pour the coffee over ice, add a little of the simple syrup and top it off with a splash of 2%. per-fec-tion.

transitions*

"Things do not change; we change." ~ Henry David Thoreau

i've been spending a lot of time lately planning for the high school graduation of my oldest child. the boy who was 5 years old and starting kindergarten just yesterday. he pretended to be a favorite cartoon character that day while we waited outside for his very first teacher to come collect her bunch of brand new students. he hopped all around and talked in a silly voice and then stood in line with his great big backpack strapped to his tiny body. and after a quick wave he followed his teacher into the school while i stood behind, teary eyed.

next week i will take harper to kindergarten registration. the boy who was a tiny, new baby in my arms just yesterday. some days he is excited and some days he is not. some days i am excited and some days i am not. we spend a lot of time talking about back packs and school supplies and making new friends and learning new things. 

one child finishing up and one just beginning. you simply cannot imagine the ups and downs and loop the loops of my mama heart.

esmé and i have appointments to get our hair cut this afternoon. in about one hour to be exact. bangs have been heavy on my mind this afternoon. yes to bangs, no to bangs? thick bangs, short bangs? 

i have a small urge to cut it all very, very short. it seems sort of appropriate.

*before haircut hair*

so, it is yes to bangs. i am sure of it. after photos tomorrow perhaps...

small style :: the striped romper

riley at a birthday party in the striped romper from the gap - summer 1995

harper just learning to walk in the striped romper - summer 2008

and luca running and playing in the striped romper - summer 2011

seriously, how sweet is that?!

i am linking up with mama loves papa (a day late, OOPS!) click over and visit her for more small style!

four

i am still a mama to four, though the bigger of the kids are rarely featured here on my blog these days. they are busy with friends, and squeezing the fun out of every last second of summer. they are teenagers through and through, and that seems to mean something different depending on the day. some days helpful, some days not so much. but despite the drama, attitudes, and occasional (okay, frequent) eye rolling, i am pretty darned proud of the young people they are shaping up to be.

and did i mention that i am really anxious for the first day of school? i think i might need my own paper chain...

pepperoni and pink hats

it was riley's day at our local pizzeria. on your day you get to wear a fantastically fun hat and make your own pizza, anyway you like it. i had to stay home with sick little ones so tony took the big kids for some pie making.


riley was really bummed that the other riley that was there making pizza grabbed up the hot dog hat. but i think the pink fuzzy hat suited him just fine.

they all had a blast- riley making pizza, niko taking a million photos of him making pizza, and tony drinking a local brew while the kids made pizza and photographed pizza making. and here is riley's very own, super custom pie... cheese and pepperoni. stick with what you know, i guess!