this will take a while....

This post, I mean.  Our internet speed recently slowed to a snail's pace and I'm not really able to post much.  We do tend to get faster service in the mornings, but it's a rare morning that I'm able to get any time in front of a computer!

This morning Matt took the kids on a short walk to our local market to buy breakfast so I grabbed a few moments to start uploading photos.  And now I'm back later to add some text.

We are still loving our summer - heat and all!  These are great days for us, and while the routine of a school year will bring different blessing, I will miss these summer days.

One afternoon last week we walked a few blocks to these little stores where my kiddos love to use up their spending money :)  Stores filled with all sorts of little trinkets ... Several kids bought little gifts for John Paul and his upcoming celebration (August 6 marks two years HOME for John Paul!)

Not to spoil the surprise, but he's getting a deck of cards and a new blue pencil :)  Told you they were little gifts!

He will LOVE LOVE LOVE it - the day all about him and the little gifts and everything else.  [Do you see him in the photo below? He tends to blend in a crowd like this, at least blends a lot more than my blond headed ones!]

Lots of contemplation for Isaac - he's a relative newbie to allowance and tends to spend it quickly!  

And then Saturday Matt got in a great morning bike ride with a  friend (in the mountains east of town) while the kiddos and I tried to keep cool in the pool.  

Today we all joined Matt on bikes for a great family ride - we also abandoned any hopes of staying cool!  Sweltering heat but so worth it!  I managed to get a few pictures that I hope to post.  But it might take about a zillion years to upload them, so don't hold your breath!
In the meantime, we're off to enjoy these last weeks of summer....