Summer wind down

Ah, summer...won't you stay for a little while longer?

This week has been our last full one before the return to school and end of all things summery, and we've really tried to make the most of it.  We spent two full days at SGP from noon til almost sunset, another one at a backyard bbq for Leonardo's actual birthday, and then partial park days playing with friends and celebrating the last of these summer kids. It's been an exceptionally beautiful week weatherwise with plenty of sunshine and mild temps and humidity, apart from tonight's drizzly finish. But even that gave way to sun before the night was over. It's really been the kind of summer that almost makes up for that brutal winter we endured. Almost. 

We saw our friend Samarra with her boys Kip and Ren visiting from Toronto this week which meant boozy lunches in the park while the kids played. Yes, beer and wine flow freely alongside the Thai food when I'm around. And why not? It's part of the allure of our park that we can congregate and stay all day if we like. The kids did great hanging out and making a mess of their clothing. Carolina in particular enjoyed her new friend Ren, even sharing ice creams with him when his tricolor bomb pop wouldn't do ("I want the bunny one!"), and sharing pants with him when she'd made a mess of hers with a soiled diaper. 

And speaking of, we have almost turned a corner with potty training this past week. Carolina pooped on the potty for the very first time--and with Carmen at the park of all places! I was ordering lunch when she announced she had to pee, and by the time they returned to the picnic grove, we had a bona fide pooper on our hands. It was cause for much celebration. And just like I remember with Elisa, as soon as I dare to think we're over our pull-ups, she makes a mess of one the following day and it's two steps forward, one step back. Oh well. There's still time. Preschool is coming fast and I'm sure that will help reinforce better habits. I sure hope so. 

Elisa has been all systems go with her new bike, even managing to get to the park and back after long days wearing herself down. Her stamina in that department has been impressive, although by 4 pm. most days, she's still curled up sucking her thumb.  All of which makes it hard to figure out how she's going to do with her first year of school with no rest period. We shall see. And so we are just beginning to say goodbye to another season and embrace the one to come.  Every good thing has to end, I suppose. And so it goes.