Busy evenings, matching dresses, and a sister visit!

I wrote a draft last week about a particularly busy Tuesday, when Andrew had to be on campus so I had to do all the driving children hither and thither by myself. And it was chaotic. Today was no better. 

It's a Thursday and Andrew had his first day of teaching today—how rich for him! I've already started working on my third week of content. 

My sister Kelline flew in for a visit as well and, as luck would have it, her flight landed at 6:50 and Andrew's class let out at 7:00! Campus is only a few minutes from the airport, so he went to pick her up after he go out of class (she offered to ride MARTA out to us, but...it was just as easy to pick her up). 

Benjamin had swim practice at 6:00, so we quickly ate dinner and then everyone hopped in the car to take Benjamin to the Y. And then we drove to the library to pick up a hold for Miriam. Then we drove to the park to drop off the glass recycling we amassed over the summer and I had promised the little kids they could play at the playground for a little while, but...the parking lot by the glass recycling was all full because of baseball practice, so we had to go park in the next lot—by the outdoor hockey arena (iceless)—and then walk to the glass recycling.

We were laughing because the baseball parking lot was completely full—people were parked on the grass and just...all over the place—yet the hockey parking lot was nearly empty and it's honestly just as close of a walk from the hockey lot to the baseball fields as it is from the baseball lot. 

Parking lot -- baseball fields -- parking lot -- hockey arena.

It was not the same distance for us to carry our glass to the recycling receptacle, however. We had to carry our glass through the parking lot, the baseball fields, and another parking lot to get there. But that's okay. 

Alexander, Zoë, and I each took a box (I took two, actually). Miriam carried a big plate of glass from our fridge (from a shelf that mysteriously broke...no one knows how) and helped steer Phoebe in the right direction. The kids had fun throwing the jars into the bin. 

And by that time, unfortunately, it was about time to turn around and pick Benjamin up. Phoebe had so been looking forward to playing at the park, however, so (after clearing it with Miriam) I gave the kids a couple of options. They could either all pile in the van and we could pick up Benjamin together, or I could go pick up Benjamin alone and leave them at the park to play (under Miriam's supervision). 

Surprise, surprise—they chose to stay at the park. Miriam took a few pictures for me while they were playing (because we unearthed the 4T panda dress that matches whatever size Zoë's in now...that Zoë and Miriam used to wear simultaneously, though I can't find a picture of that right now):

Zoë and Phoebe, August 2025

Hold up! I found them! They were on Facebook, not the blog (or perhaps and the blog), from May 2020

Miriam and Zoë, May 2020

Zoë had said, "We look just like twins! People can't tell us apart!" 

Miriam and Zoë, May 2020

And now the tables have turned and Zoë is somehow the big kid in the picture instead of the tiny one!

Phoebe was so happy to get to play at the park! It's been too hot for much of the summer to even consider a trip to the park, but I suppose such outings are once again on the table.

Auntie K brought each of the kids a sand dollar from the beach

Here she is showing them a few pictures of her trip—I thought Alexander and Phoebe were so cute in their matching bear jammies (that Benjamin and Alexander used to wear, although I can't find a picture of that right now, either—but obviously we went through the 4T bin of clothes recently and are revisiting some fan favourites). Anyway, Phoebe was feeling pretty sleepy by this point and I just love how she was leaning on Alexander's shoulder the whole time—so sweet!

Here's Benjamin with a strange bone Kelli found (and so lovingly brought out to him):

The kids didn't really want to go to bed, but Auntie K reminded them that she was going to be around for the whole visit—she wasn't disappearing that evening! She even invited them to wake her up in the morning (brave).