What we've been up to

It's been awhile, huh? I sort of feel like I'm meeting up with an old friend. Hi, how's it going? What's new? Pull up a seat and sip your vanilla latte Really? That's my favorite, too! while we chat.

So what's new with us? Tons! In the 9 months since my last blog post, Evelyn has become a sassy toddler, Liam turned four (and is still as inquisitive as ever), and my husband graduated from college. And I...well, I've just been trying to stay sane! Having a spirited preschooler and demanding toddler are no joke. Here are a few things we've been busy with this summer.

1) Speech therapy - Evelyn started weekly speech therapy sessions in May and has made amazing progress. We have been so impressed at her growing vocabulary and have nothing but praise for Ms. Kelly. Evelyn loves playing with her and I really feel like she is finally starting to come out of her shell a bit.

2) Preparing for preschool - Liam will be starting preschool in the fall! He will be going three mornings a week and staying for lunch. We are confident he's going to flourish in school, learning social skills and gaining independence.

3) Soccer lessons - These have been...interesting, to say the least. There's nothing cuter than watching eight 3-5 year olds run around with soccer balls...even when your stubborn child refuses to participate by crouching down in the middle of the gym floor. Next up, basketball!

4) Keeping plants alive - Liam and I are developing our green thumbs. Our two lucky plants are a daisy plant (sans the actual daisies; they have been MIA so far, perhaps because it's too hot?) and parsley. Liam enjoys watering them with our big red watering can, making sure they're getting adequate sunlight, and discussing how "very, very, very tall, tall like up to...to...here!" they will grow, as he stretches his arm up as high as he can reach. 

5) Minimizing -  A couple months ago I found a minimizing forum on the mom site I frequent, and through them I found The Minimalists. I have really enjoyed reading their essays and I even have some on my Kindle for when I have a few minutes to veg on the couch at the end of the day. 

Right now I'm focusing on purging any and all items we simply don't use or need. On a "good week" I will easily donate or toss (but mostly donate) a regular sized trash bag of stuff. And by stuff I mean just that, stuff. Outgrown clothes, books I have owned for years but never even read, excess socks (because really, I don't need 25 pairs of socks!), old craft supplies, toys the kids don't play with, you get the idea. I still have a long way to go, and who knows if I will ever be an "extreme" minimalist, but I am determined to live a more simple and minimal existence. 

So what have you been up to this summer?