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Hey readers.  I changed the settings on the comments, so it should be easier to share your thoughts if you have any thoughts you care to share.  Ha, tongue-twister.

Thanks for visiting and keeping tabs on us Vaclavs!

The last hoo-rah!

I convinced my trampoline-owning, stellar-mama friend Shayla to host an End-of-summer-messy-as-can-be Party!  Got the idea from Meg at Whatever.  It was worth it.  I think.  Dear Shayla is so gracious and so hardcore that even if she regretted it, I'd never know.

How many kids can you fit in a wading pool?  However many kids you've got.

Hannahs!

Trampolines are summer-essential.

This lady is stop-at-nothing awesome.  She sat in the 100 degree summer sun blowing her precious air into this elephant slide for about 20 mins.  Talk about sacrificial love!

Left the foam begin!

"See Jesse!  It's okay to smear white heavily perfumed stuff all over yourself.  Mommy does it!"  This is what I mean. Sacrificial Mama love.

Emersnow

My favorite doo of the day.

Elia went bonkers and was charmingly hilarious about it.

He reminds me of someone out of Dr. Seuss, someone whimsical and happy.

Cream station.  I still have six cans unopened.  Let me know if you'd like to host your own shaving-cream party or if you're running low on Barbasol.

The kids got quite a kick out of it...

...until it got in their mouths or eyes.

Austin was adamant about not participating--for about 30 seconds.

The wash-down.  

Thank you for hosting Shayla.  You're the bomb.

What a summer it has been.  June was pleasant.  July was AWESOME.  August was, erm, challenging.

But all summer was full of adventure, and that's what I was truly hoping for.   As a result, we have a clearer sense of our identity as a family.  We know each other a little better.  We are stronger and more adaptable than I supposed.  I am full of hope that our big 'ol family is going to bless this world in ways that no one else's can.

 Go V-Force!!!

Surviving Summer

Visits from grandparents are definitely a summer essential for our family.  They help us get motivated to do things we don't normally do.  For instance, visit the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.  It's a drive-thru safari featuring mostly African animals.  It was more peaceful and more entertaining than I expected.

Buffalo.  HUGE.

Some horned-cow from Africa

Lots of horned creatures

The Wildest One of All

The zebras were amazing.  It is breath-taking to see them so close.  This fellow did a full-on photo shoot for me.

The signs say not to pet them because they bite, but my kids didn't care.  Danger?! Bah!!!

"Wazzzzup!"

He would have hopped in the car if we had let him.

Nana drove admirably through the safari with a pack of monkeys on her lap.

Ostriches are weird.

That's a llama lying there (aka baby goat pedestal).

Crazy soft fur!

That sheep was grumpy.  Can't blame her though; she's surrounded by grabby kids all day long.  Or wait, is that me?  

Little bugger tried to eat my skirt. 

Whose scat is that?

Austin was so proud to have captured a baby goat.

Baby ostrich.  Weird.

She's a champ.

I know.  So gross right? Nestled down in a bed of red sand, food pellets and not food pellets.

But I didn't stop her; I think she was identifying with the goats.

That boy melts my heart.

Oh and grandma's are really good at reading books.  Thanks Nana!  You're the best.

sweat-inducing-brain-sucking heat

It's hard to lower my productivity standards according to the weather, but it must be done.  If I am to survive the next few weeks with any sense of contentment and lightheartedness, I must lower my expectations of myself and my family.  It is simply too hot to be super productive.

But recently there was one miraculous evening that was NOT hot.  It was a pleasant August night.  I didn't even know that was possible at this time of year.  We stole Mama Storms idea and went to the symphony.

The symphony does a free performance on Sunday evenings.  

We convinced the Willards to come with two of their four kids.  Here you see Mrs. Dani, Miss Kelsey, Lauren and Mr. Michael as we like to call them.

Have you ever seen a finer Austinite?

Emerson got to play with Miss Kelsey who, as it turns out, has as much sparkling enthusiasm as she does.

TWIRL!

Straight own'n the dance flo.

The is one of Elia's besties.  What a blessing she is!

We suspect he is related to Superman.

See, it's genetic.

And here's Mrs. Superman.

The dance floor lights up, heck yeah! 

Everything about this picture is so him.

I don't know what it is about this photo, but I love it.

These girls are growing up with Austin, TX as their home town.  It still trips me out, especially when I compare it to my own childhood.

Good times, good times.