summer highlights

We're approaching Labor Day, which to me introduces fall. The pool closes for the season on Sunday. School's starting up soon. It's a time of holding on, and looking back.

Here are my summer favorite memories so far:

- Lilly's birthday and birthday part
- day trip to Lake Pepin with dinner at Harbor View
- picnic at the beach at Lake Byllesby
- our mini vacation in Duluth
- a fun family day at the Walker art museum
- Leighton's birthday (including a yoga date for the two of us, lunch out as a family, an afternoon visit to Cannon Valley Winery, finished off with a dinner date out for Leighton and I, and then a drink on the patio outside of the restaurant before getting Lilly who was at a playdate at the house of some dear friends)
- the times we've been at the pool (including for three hours this afternoon, pushing nap time till 3)
- a day at the farm with my friend with our kids
-visiting a friend of mine at the hospital the first day after she gave birth to a precious baby girl
- following another friend of mine stay in hospital for a month till giving birth to twins end of July
- spending a weekend afternoon (that Lilly wouldn't nap) at the pub patio sharing a pitcher of beer with Leighton while we played with Lilly
- spending another weekend afternoon at the pub patio with a girlfriend for cocktails, NO kids
- a girls' night out at a restaurant in the cities (got to wear heals and got NOT to wear a nursing bra)
- more playdates with friends who were off work (and because I had more time too, what with being with Lilly all day everyday and less scheduled classes to attend), doing fun different things like river walks and ice cream making
- going to the farmer's market and the new weekend market along the river
- taking a summer music and movement class for Lilly at the YMCA
- spending an afternoon as a family at an outdoor barn fest concert in Red Wing
- summer time cooking, including harvesting from the garden (interspersed with weeding) and making my own pesto with basil from our bountiful basil garden
- BBQs in our backyard and at friends' houses
- some nice walks with friends, in the Arb on Sunday mornings or in the evening around the neighborhood
- leisurely strolls with Lilly

Lilly at the Barn Fest concert in Red Wing

Lilly in the garden over at some friends' house for a BBQ

Lilly in our backyard pool

 Lilly at the city pool

Lilly in our backyard at a family BBQ

Leighton at same said BBQ

Me, the chef of homemade pizzas with homemade pesto

Lilly and papa on a stroll around the house

Leighton on his birthday, having lunch out

Me hanging out in our porch