Summer has come to an end...

Yesterday was the day.  The day we knew would come too soon.  The last day of summer.  I think we all had mixed feelings about it.  We had a great summer.  Lots of fun travels, playdates, activities, beach time, visitors.  It was packed full of one year old fun.  Now it's done and we're off to another school year and Anna's official second year at Sandra's house.  She was excited and ready to be there today.  She loved seeing the kids and was so worn out, she was in bed by 7:40.  Routine.  It's back! 

Well, in honor of the last day of summer, we packed in one more fun activity with some of our great friends.  In the morning we headed to Watertown and Anna spent about an hour at Oliver's house while I went to school for a quick meeting.  Then Laura, Oliver, Anna and I headed to Wayzata for a trolley ride.  It's free, it's fun, and we'll definitely do it again sometime.  I didn't get an actual picture of the trolley...there's something tricky about doing that with two little ones to keep track of and only two mommies there to keep track of them.  So pictures were limited, but I did manage to get a couple of Anna enjoying the breeze in her hair during the ride. 

The trolley ride was about 25 minutes and after that we went to Wayzata Beach to play on the playground.  Anna loved it of course and went down the slide more times than I could count.  I did manage to snap a few pictures of her and her best buddy Ollie on the swings. 

This was the longest Anna has ever stayed happily in a swing.  I think she would have stayed there all day if she hadn't wanted lunch.  It's so fun to see her interest change each time we go to the park.  She develops so much each time that she can try out new things or enjoy new activities she couldn't "last time." 

After the park we all headed home and we were supposed to have a nice afternoon at home...and we did...eventually.  Anna got her fingers pinched in the door of her room...on the hinge side.  Yes, sadly, I closed the door on her little fingers.  She cried, I cried, she cried some more, I cried some more.  I wasn't sure if it could have possibly been broken, she wouldn't let me see them.  The nurses I called recommended taking her in, just to be sure.  By the time we got to the clinic, she was happy as a clam; playing with the toys there, emptying out my wallet...the usual.  The doctor checked her out, recommended x-rays just to be sure, but assured us that baby fingers still have lots of cartilage, making them pliable and very unlikely to have broken in this case.  Sure enough, they were fine, and by the way she was crunching up her fists to refuse the x-ray, we knew they probably weren't broken.  It was one of the worst feelings I've ever had, thinking I broke her little fingers.  Of course, I still feel terrible, but she doesn't seem to care or even notice.  They still have little marks, that probably only I can see.  The doctor said it's just going to feel like a bruise to her and she hasn't seemed bothered at all by it today.  It's probably just one of the many little injuries she may sustain....I just hope to never be the one to cause it ever again! 

After her appointment, I thought about taking her out for ice cream...but then I realized it didn't matter to her if we had ice cream, I was the one needing the ice cream therapy!  So we came home and she took a really long nap and I cleaned the house.  What a way to end the summer.  It will be a summer we never forget. 

Today was a good first day back for everyone.  Anna got a good report at daycare...except for the diaper blowout that she had and the too small clothes she had to wear home because she hasn't had a blowout for a LONG time and I hadn't sent clothes since she moved up a size.  But other than that, a great day!   I had a good day back to school...except for the part where I got up before the sun was up. 

We are going to wait to take first day of school pictures until the actual first day of school.  Then we'll wear our first day of school outfits and take the normal picture by the front door...cheesy, but we have to do it! 

So to end, we say good bye to summer, hello fall!  Three months of mother-daughter super bonding was wonderful.  I can't wait until next summer--many new adventures to be had.  Anna will be 2 years old, talking more, interested more, and excited more.  It will be a whole new experience!