Around here, we have been..

ENJOYING the last bits of summer vacation.  Our volunteer fire department has a unique benefit of providing each of the firefighters and their families a 2 week stay in one of four cabins privately owned by the fire department relief association.  It is a wonderful benefit that our family looks forward to each year as the final summer celebration. Camp fires and canoe rides are daily occurrences and our relaxed eating schedule means that there is plenty of yummy ice cream.

PREPARING for school to start.  The kids all helped pick out supplies and their new school tennis shoes.  {D} has already started football practice and was very excited to get all the cool gear necessary. {K} had an orientation with her kindergarten teacher and was happy to learn that she has black hair, just like her.  The boys aren’t quite as enthusiastic to be back hitting the books already, but are excited to see their friends and meet their teachers.  And {M}, who is starting preschool, has no idea what to think.  We feel blessed that all of the kids will be in the same school building and will be able to see each other throughout the day.  That connection is sure to be a comfort to the girls in particular, as they are learning what school is all about.

PRACTICING patience.  Craig’s knee surgery was just over a week ago and the healing process has been much slower than we had anticipated.  It is tough for him to lay around and rely on other people for help with basic tasks.  We are trying to remember that it was a major surgery.  For those of you who don’t know, the doctors removed a piece of his hamstring to recreate a new ACL, which Craig had completely torn.  They also repaired two meniscus tears.  Looking ahead, we realize that physical therapy, icing and leg elevation, plus the fancy new leg brace he was given, are now just part of our everyday lives for the next 6-8 weeks.

As always, our weekly review ‘mini vlogs’ are available on our family YouTube channel ARROW HILL FAMILY.  Lots of bonus photos and videos you may want to check out!