ONE HUNDRED?! Wow. I feel like I should have something exciting to offer for sticking with me all the way to 100! But all I’ve got is the usual programming of photos, and links, and miscellany.
We had a tea party for our “first day of school” last Monday. Honestly, school days don’t look much different from summer days. We write letters and mail them for handwriting/spelling practice. We read books. We make art. We drink tea.
And it’s clothing optional.
And Benjamin’s creepy cicada exoskeleton friends join in.
Then we try to splash in the water because August. In Florida. Holy 100+ degree heat. What’s the broom for, you ask? It’s for swatting mosquitos. Perhaps not the most effective method, but it was Lucy’s idea and in her defense, they are ginormous so…
Look at that mosquito bite on Lucy’s arm! This is when we gave up and went inside. Also, photobombs are Benjamin’s new favorite thing in the universe. Love him.
Links:
Fixing the Pamphlet About Kids in Mass: Daniel Bearman
An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins: J.D. Flynn for First Things
The Culture of Blechh: Simcha Fisher for NCRegister
Fears of the Irrational Sort: Expectations vs. Reality of Motherhood: To the Heights
Learning that Love is the Way: Mama Knows, Honeychild
Sex Breasts and Babies: Calah Alexander (Seriously so good! Check out this quote:) “Listen to what you are saying. You are saying that a mother, upon realizing her baby needs sustenance and responding accordingly, is being selfish by not considering the sensibilities of total strangers. You are actually saying that your “need” to not encounter a baby attached to a pair of breasts is more important than the health and well-being of an infant. Do you see the problem, there? You are making yourself the center of something that has absolutely nothing to do with you.“
Great Expectations: Wedding Dress Inspiration for the Unconventional Bride: Janet Sahm for Verily (And now I want to get married all over again because gorgeousness!)
And yikes: “The Pill” Shrinks Ovaries, Cuts Egg Numbers: BioScienceTechnology.com
Party?
My sweet sister-in-law is a merchandiser for chloe + isabel jewelry (remember that bracelet she gave me?) and came up with the idea to do a FB party to benefit a charity of my choice. She’ll be sending the profits to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association for relief in Iraq. The online party starts August 26 and goes through August 30. Raffle prizes, fun, and an important cause. What’s not to love? If you wanna join us, just head over to the FB event and click “join.”
In other news, I’m avoiding Pinterest right now because I just can’t handle looking at pumpkin flavored autumnal things while we’re drowning in humidity and blistering heat! I’m just reminding myself that in March while it’s still snowing up north, it will be lovely sandal weather here and to follow my mantra of “don’t decide to move north during the month of August.”
Happy weekend!
Be sure to give some love to my other friends and sponsors! They keep the lights on around here 
Lots of love,
Haley
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Our weather has been unusually cool, but I still hear you about the not ready for Autumn thing. Autumn means Winter and I just cannot think about another Winter. No, seriously. Cannot do it.
LOVE all these photos! Do you know that, while I love what you write always, these weekly wrap ups are one of my favorite things in this space? Happy 100! 🙂
You should obviously just all come live at my house from December-February because….Florida 😉
And thank you so much, friend! That means a lot. I’m always wondering if people are like, “blah blah blah about your kids, Haley, give us some content, woman!”
The weather has been pretty miserable here too…and it’s the north lol. Humidity is awful. And we’re moving right now…so that’s fun with the heat lol
Moving is the worst. Except for moving in miserable heat. That is the winner. Hope it goes well, Rachel!
Well, *I* can think about fall! But maybe that’s because I have a pumpkin patch and things there are getting ready to be sold. Oh the gourds!!!
That sounds lovely, Melissa!
Poor Lucy with that mosquito bite! Our little gal has that kind of reaction to them, too, and people are always shocked and concerned when they see her, because, well, we’re in FL too and the area outside our front door must be like the Las Vegas hotel strip for mosquitoes or something, because the little blood-suckers are all over the place around here and apparently our little gal is the tastiest of our household.
We are planning to plant some plants like lemongrass and citronella to help, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Have you tried any of those types of plants to help with mosquitoes before?
Yes! She gets huge welts from them 🙁
We’ve never experimented with insect repelling plants, but maybe we should look into it. Our backyard is basically un-usable from June-October.
Catnip has mosquito-repelling properties; I can vouch for it myself. I don’t know if it’ll grow in Florida, but it’s practically a weed here in the Shenandoah Valley of VA. It makes a good tea, too; it’s supposed to be good for colicky babies, and I know it used to make my husband feel calmer. I’ve only ever used it as a mosquito repellent and made tea out of the fresh stuff, so I don’t recommend catnip that you buy at a pet store.
I love your bathing suit! Where did you get it?
Target! It has ruched sides and a little skirt because….motherhood, ya know? 😉
Awww, that belly! Love the rolls and bellies on littles.
Yes! I die 🙂
Firstly, your kids are the sweetest little things I have ever seen (aside from my own)!
Second- While we may have you beat in August, you surely have us beat each and every other month of the year. Especially the December-March months. Tough it out! 😉
I’ve been pondering the ice bucket challenge and how ALS is linked with embryonic stem cell research. What if… you and some other awesome Catholic bloggers started a new challenge for something more timely–like your fave: Catholic Near East Welfare Association!
That is SUCH a good idea!
Holy muggy here in Iowa. Seriously. Everything I own fogs up whenever I walk outside. Not cool. (Literally.)
My sister gets huge welts with bug bites too- and she’s really sensitive to anesthesia, too. And also terrified by humans in full body, mascot-like costumes. Probably no link, there.
You are much too rad! 100 is perfectly awesome!