A Summer Recap

Well, Wade starts kindergarten today.  So as not to focus on the fact that my heart is currently in my throat, I thought I would share some of my favorite moments captured from our adventures this summer.  There are tons more (I am a bit snap-happy with my camera), but I'm not sure you have the stamina to read through the forty or so I whittled it down to as it is, so here goes…

Back in June, the kids and I worked on a painting for Mary Graham's nursery.  I LOVED it!  This was in the beginning stages…

We spent most of our summer back in sweet Virginia, where we visited family and friends and just soaked up the general awesomeness that is the Commonwealth.

So much fun to get to spend some time with grandparents and cousins in northern VA!  Just look at the faces on those precious children.

Fourth of July fun!

Mary Graham loved cuddling up to her Uncle Taylor during our time at the beach.  Had the best time hearing his crazy stories about being a landlord.  I need to laugh like that on a more regular basis.  We so wish he didn't live so far away :(

MG was also quite smitten with her Mimi.

I don't think this picture needs any words, but it was too funny for me to leave out. (that's a king-size bed, btw.)

Kiawah, South Carolina

Enjoying some quiet on the beach with my dad.  There is no one quite like him.  I love that he encourages me for major acts of bravery (like my cross-country flight with all three kids by myself, for example) by urging me to consider the life of Louie Zamperini (of Unbroken fame) and how, really, my troubles pale in comparison.  (And it's true, I have to admit.)

Who is this grown man I was like a little mama to all those years growing up?  He was never more than five years old in my mind.  Love him.

My two guys out on the water.  We had a great time, just the three of us.  I think having older kids is really fun. (I realize five is hardly "old," but you know what I mean)

babies + bonnets + beach = heaven

Mary Graham and my dad developed quite the bond.

My sweet Holland.  Every age of hers is my favorite.

Just a typical kind of day.  Philip carrying Graham like a sack of potatoes into the ocean.

Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that here I am, married and with three children.

Just look at these three munchkins.  I am blessed to call them mine.

One of Holland's strengths as a big sister is reading to MG.  She is quite remarkable at it actually.  I need to post a video.

I celebrated my 32nd birthday while we were in Virginia.  It was wonderful to spend the afternoon at the Ploughcroft Tea Room with almost all the women in our family (we missed you Megan!).

all the granddaughters!

Holland was SO excited to make my birthday cake.  She has no idea that her precious excitement over it was by far the best part of my birthday.

Sure missed being with Philip, but I made sure to get some birthday kisses from these goobers.

I am so thankful for these two women, my beloved grandmothers.  They are so dear to me and don't think I took for granted one moment that my children got to sit on their laps and get their cheeks kissed by them.

I had my first painting lesson!

Wrestling with Papa!  This instantly took me back to the day when my brothers and I were in their place.  And yes, Taylor and Andrew, I told Wade and Holland the secret to getting out of a vice! (breathe on dad, of course)

We had a picnic at the Peaks of Otter and walked around the lake.  It was a gorgeous night.

There is just something special about a grandmother with her grandchildren.

Papa and Mary Graham were early morning buddies.  Is there anything better than being able to pass your baby off to your dad so you can sneak back up to bed and sleep?  Fellow mamas, am I right?

Wade and his cousin, Nolan playing with trucks together.  Classic.

All my babies in the tub together!

Witnessing my children run through the yard at my parent's house on a beautiful summer night?  I wanted to hit the pause button.

We love you Mimi!

Holland has always been the crafty one, but Wade recently developed a love for coloring pictures.  It is really endearing.  (He will explain that he prefers to color when there is already a picture drawn, just so we're clear :)

And if Holland doesn't have it made, then I don't know anything.  I mean, look at this girl living the dream while her big brother pulls her along for the ride!

And with that, we bid farewell to summer.  Our journey continues at kindergarten…I hope to return soon with more to report :)

Sofas: How do you like your seat?

I'd like to take a little poll, partly for curiosity's sake and partly because I've got a little something brewing…So humor me if you will and tell me your thoughts:

Do you prefer a sofa with three seat cushions, two seat cushions, or one long bench seat cushion?

I feel like the each have their own advantages and disadvantages…

For the sake of keeping other things constant, let's compare different style seat cushions with the same style sofa--in this case, the English Roll Arm style, which happens to be my very favorite :)

Three seat cushions feel the most traditional to me. (Also: I know I just recently posted this room.  It is just so good.)

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I feel like the look comes across really balanced since the three seat cushions mimic the divisions on the back of the sofa.

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I wonder if three cushions is the easiest style for maintaining nicely fluffed cushions?  Seems possible since the sections are smaller…

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I also feel like three cushions could be easier for spot treating--just remove the cushion cover that needs to be cleaned, leaving the rest in tact.

At the same time, I am not a fan of sitting on seams or being stuck in the space between cushions.  Some people say that even on a sofa with three cushions, three people rarely sit there at the same time, so the two people inevitably end up sitting on top of a seam.  Not so good if you ask me.

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Two cushions present less of a problem if you have that same scenario.  Each person get their own cushion with no problems.

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It's a nice clean look, and I think it works best when the sofa has that one division down the back to match the split in the two seat cushions…

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Lastly, we have the single bench seat cushion.

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I really love that long bolster pillow paired with the lone seat cushion!

I'm seeing one single cushion done more and more these days.  It strikes me as as a more streamlined, modern look.

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I think it's nice not to have to worry about any seams in the cushions…nobody gets stuck in a gap!  And frankly, having spent time on a bench seat sofa, it kinda feels like a big bed.

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It's a little hard to tell, but the sofa in the photo above has one long cushion.

So, what do you think?  One, two, or three seat cushions?  Maybe you think it's absurd to spend so much time thinking about the number of seat cushions on your sofa.  That's ok.  I can handle that kind of feedback too :)  I would love to know your opinion on this very important topic.