First week of August but end of summer for Aaron

How can it already be time for Aaron to return to Monterey?! Seems like summer just got goin' and Aaron has to leave. His school starts next Monday. He's learned alot this summer, including how to care for an infant. He's a good uncle to Baby Ben.



We've all spent alot of time in the papasan this summer, reading, napping, feeding Ben and watching the birds in our back yard. Aaron and I have had an especially cozy time this last couple weeks, curling up together and reading for long stretches of time, particularly when it's hot in the afternoon. Typically the breezes pick up in the evening and by the time we have dinner on the deck it's usually quite pleasant. That's when we appreciate aloud summer in the Great Pacific Northwest.



Every morning recently Courtney goes out early to pick blackberries. There are hundreds ripe everyday both on the bushes that line our property and along the street. Aaron has been harvesting yellow squash and zucchini as well as green beans. Cherry tomatoes are starting to ripen and tomatillos are falling from the vines.



But all is not quiet and peaceful in our little Eden. Just next door at the Benton County Fairgrounds is the County Fair, with the screams of ferris wheel riders and the amplified voices of rodeo announcers and country singers. Aaron was lucky enough to have Maya and Courtney to take him to the Fair. I haven't the constitution for the heat and dust and crowds. From our back deck, during dinner, we listen to the evening's concert (for free, we always mention) and on our walks and bike rides we see the flashing lights and whirling of carnival rides. Tomorrow it's over and they'll clean it up and be gone til next year. Hoorah!



Meanwhile Courtney and Aaron have become super athletes, biking around town for hours at a time. The two of them are unflappable about long distances in the heat. They get out their map, plot their course and off they go. Maya and I, on the other hand, prefer long walks. (Maya does go bike riding with Courtney and Aaron when she can, but most often we load Ben in the Baby Bjorn front pack and take him along on a walk.)


There's much to be grateful for. I won't even attempt to list all our blessings. And at the same time, as we've said before, we miss our friends. And now there's an added pang of sadness as we prepare for Aaron to leave and not return til October. It will be the longest time he and I have ever been apart. Another rich texture (and mixture) of life, missing Aaron and yet appreciating that he is in a great school and with his dad and his friends.


Thanks as always for reading our blog,

Valori