Summer Catch-up, or Ketchup, or Catsup

There is an old movie in which one of the characters says there are two kinds of people: those who spend their time writing about what they want to do, and those who don't have time to write because they are out doing them! I won't say that we have been doing everything that we dreamed of this summer, but we have been doing a lot! This has been a full summer with, as life goes, both fun and hard times. So, to catch you up: Walton is a busy almost 2.5 year old! He loves cars and tractors and trains, looking at books, music, and "helping" Mommy and Daddy in whatever household chore they are doing. He loves his little brother and is quick to mention that he wants Harison along in whatever he does. His biggest thing right now is asking for "baby cars?" (Harison to play cars with him). This is very entertaining, b/c Walton will drive his cars along this road mat that we have while making appropriate car sounds, while Harry sprawls himself in the middle of a road like a baby Kong and tries to put every car that Walton drives into his mouth! They also enjoy wrestling together, which is hysterical! Harry is going to be a real little bruiser, I think. As for Harison, he is sitting by himself, and yes folks - crawling. He easily goes wherever he wants to and can follow anybody now, which makes things like vaccuuming difficult for me. He idolizes his big brother, and no one can make Harison laugh like Walton. Just last week Harry cut his first tooth, and that has not been a fun time. Interesting how children in the same family can be different. Teething for Walton happened almost w/o notice - no fussing, etc. One day there wasn't a tooth and the next there was. Sadly, it has not been the case with Harry, and sleep and schedule has suffered for all this last week. Hopefully we are near the end of that, b/c we are exhausted! Still, he is a very fun baby and good natured. Bill taught a retreat at the beginning of this summer at a conference center, and that was fun as we all attended. We stayed in our own cottage right on the lake, and it was lovely - like our own little vacation home. Even though Bill was teaching, it was a relaxing time for all of us. Bill also put a new patio in our backyard, and we have so enjoyed having that addition. We had a nice visit with my parents later in the summer, and Grandad and Mimi watched the boys for a night so that Bill and I could celebrate our 7 year anniversary! We still like being married :) On a harder note, Bill had to go to MI about a month ago to help deal with a serious family issue, and though better, it will still take a while to resolve. He has also been dealing with a very difficult on-going situation at work, and continues to try to find a solution for that. It's been stressful for both of us. As for me, I am having fun being home with the boys, and trying to keep up with the eternity of laundry! I took a drawing class this summer, which was great fun and a wonderful creative outlet. With the beginning of Fall, my ladies' small group resumes, the boys started their Kindermusik class last week (lots of fun!), and the three of us are doing a community-wide Bible study. Harison is in the class with me (a class for mommies with babies, which is fun), and Walton is actually doing his own Bible study for toddlers. I almost cried when I dropped him off at his classroom and he walked right in w/o a backward glance. He brought home a craft, a lesson sheet, and a Bible-verse. So cute. So that's about it for the Bambach family right now. Gotta go put some clothes in the dryer! :)