Lately: Back to School and Labor Day Weekend

School has been back in session for two weeks, so our days are jam-packed. I think we're all missing the slower pace of summer break!

Here's a peek into some of what we've been up to lately:

Ice cream with my big boy after his well-visit check-up

Jess gave us monarch chrysalises again.

College Colors Day at school

Look who's home from training (aka manners camp)

Ruby is so much better behaved now!

It's only early September and it still feels like summer here, but the retailers are convinced fall is coming. We could barely drag the boys out of the Halloween candy display at Randall's.

We spent Saturday in Galveston, playing at the beach and hanging out with some of our favorite friends, Jonathan and Julie.

We love our visits with them at the beach. Gene and Jonathan grill and swim and Julie and I talk books, while the boys run and play. We are so thankful for these friends!

We were out and about on Sunday and took a quick photo at the Lawndale Art Center in front of Russell Etchen's About ____ Rocks mural.

Henry has to present a science project to his class in the next few weeks, so we tried out a few at home. This "Bubble Inside a Bubble" experiment was a hit -- sugar in the bubble solution makes the bubbles sturdier!

We spent Labor Day at home and it was so nice not to have to be anywhere. Gene smoked a brisket all day; Ruby was his trusty sidekick.

 It was SO good and tender! Mmmmm.

Brisket, homemade pretzel rolls, roasted squash and raw carrots, and the Hefeweizen Gene brewed with his friend Jim back in June -- the perfect Labor Day feast! 

I hope your long weekend was spent enjoying good food with family and friends too!