And that's a wrap...! On Summer 2023.

Although you wouldn't know it from the still-blazing temps, summer is officially in the books. It was a good run.

Volleyball camp was survived, the pool is closed for the season (having been farewelled heartily and with whipped cream races), 

and the first day of school came and went. We're now two whole weeks in to new teachers, new classes, new routines, and the same old last-minute search for shoes and water bottles every morning. 

First though, in ancient and sacred tradition, we threw a "back to school bash" week for the ages, complete with haircuts and shopping trips,

swimming holes and river tubing,

Baysox games for the superfan, and West Virginia with Aunt Jackie.

By way of (very) partial thanks for floating our summer, we took Grandma to Ocean City for parasailing

and showed off our crab-eating skills.

Somewhere in there we got to see the Dodgers beat the Nats, caught up with Gunnar & April at National Harbor,

sang karaoke at the library fundraiser (Finley's literal dream come true), and acquired a cello.

And after four days of school, we committed our first-of-the-schoolyear truancy violation, and headed off to Colorado for the long weekend. We were so excited to see the whole Walters crew.

It seems crazy to contemplate in a family as close as the Walters, but this was the first time that all six cousins had ever been together, since Lisa and I were (unbeknownst to us) pregnant with Luke and Ford when the Bustamantes left for Peru.

Colorful Colorado never disappoints, and Ben & Lisa had put together an action-packed itinerary that included gorgeous hikes, a polar plunge,

sunsets and s'mores,

our favorite zoo, and even a trip to Rudy's.

The Cousin time was magical, and we are grateful.

And now, if looking at the weekend sports schedule is any indication, fall chaos is well and truly upon us. 

We're all hoping fall weather isn't far behind.

Frappuccinos and Figure Eight Knots

I am incredibly fortunate to be spending the next year as an Army War College fellow at the U.S. Department of Justice, in DC. I started while the kids were enjoying the Peace Garden State, and began gradually getting used to a commute that involves a drive, a train, two metros, and a three block sprint because I am invariably late. 

I also began likely an entire year of never getting used to walking into this building.

While F+F were learning to drive all the things and hanging with second cousins in North Dakota,

I spent nearly a week in eastern Europe before I left Cybercom, and fell wildly in love with Bulgaria. (You should definitely put it on your travel bucket list.)

I made a quick trip to Kentucky to preside over a retirement ceremony and scope out the possible new neighborhood, as I am "pencilled in" (technical Army term that means "who knows, but hopefully") to take a job at Fort Campbell after War College.

And finally, still missing a ton of sleep and most of my luggage, I reunited with my people for the long drive home. Who immediately demonstrated their joy by napping across the entire state of Indiana and most of Ohio.

Once home, we celebrated the beginning of our final month of summer with the dentist and the Barbie movie, 

sleepovers and swimming pools,

searingly hot rugby festivals,

and a dizzying array of expensive summer camps. 

Some more popular than others. (Finley panicked and leapt out of this boat and into the bay, leaving Ford to fend for himself. According to their counselor, she yelled "good luck, Ford!" before she hit the water.)

I had to spend a week inprocessing at Carlisle, which was nothing to write home about outside of the museum's rather shocking characterization of the Indian School as voluntary vocational school, and a date night Seth and I snuck in.

I squeezed in a mini-reunion with college friends, and Finley capitalized on my "summer of independence" theme and bought her own Starbucks frappuccino for the first time. She was very, very proud of herself, and not nearly as overcome with sticker shock as I had hoped.

We are closing out the summer with one more camp (volleyball) and then, this is wild, we have to go "back to school" shopping. Summer has flown, and we'll miss the pool and the late bedtimes, but I for one am ready for sweatshirt weather!