Fast Forward

I feel like everything has been in fast forward lately. Is it just me, or is everyone trying to milk the most out of these last really warm weeks of summer? Whew!

Here are a few things we've been up to. Or rather, a few things to which I've brought the camera.

Making friends with a Chinese lady at Tutu's apartment pool...


Sunday evening picnic at Duke gardens with the Olsens, the Towers' and some visiting friends...


Making popsicles from the heaps of leftover fruit and juices from all of the watermelons we've been taking around for potluck contributions...


Making new friends at Wednesday morning playgroup...


And visiting the Durham Life and Sciences Museum with the Hills, the Thaynes and the Nielsens. If you ever make it to the Triangle area, this museum is a must see. We've been twice in the past week, and have seen just a tiny fraction of all of the exhibits and activities!

Gigi's favorites are the station of many things to clang (the congo drums are her favorite)...


...the sandbox...


...the farmyard...


...the choo choo train...


...and the butterfly house.


This is the first year that I have had the chance to explore the world with a small child. I can see why people say that these years go quickly, because I am already thrilled to welcome in the autumn, and introduce Gigi to the activities and traditions that come with the season. And then winter and the traditions around Christmas and the new year will thrill me to share with her, and then spring and Easter, and the waking up of the earth, and then suddenly we're back to summer and she is at a completely different place in childhood and able to engage with the world in a completely different way than she was a year ago.

In this quickly moving phase of my life, I appreciate all of you who read this blog and provide an incentive for me to write, and post, and tack down these small moments of nurturing a child through the seasons.