What's Bloomin'! and First Day of School

I have officially made it through the summer. Oh, yes. The last month of each summer feels like torture - not only to me, but to the kids. We've done a lot of fun things. We are just repeating ideas now, and the kids are bored of those ideas. Swimming? Done it. Bounce house? Been there. Parks? Oh, not again, mom!

Even travelling has become passe this summer, since we have gone so many places (21 states) and seen so many people (Another aunt? Yawn). So it was with a happy heart that I wished my kids goodbye this morning, and they went off smiling from ear to ear. Well, maybe not Bonnie, but she is a teenager now. Do they even smile when parents are around?

Okay, a very small grin. She's in 7th grade (middle school)!

Malena's off to 6th

Collin's off to 3rd

It took me awhile to get Collin to stop making silly faces, but we eventually got there.

Once they were off, I got around to looking at flowers. We spent the weekend at my sister's, and she told me what one of those beautiful wildflowers is, so I have a name for you: cornflower, also known as bachelor's buttons. It's the pretty little blue flower on the left in the next picture...

I have no idea what the droopy thing is, though. It's kind of pretty - I'm going to hope it comes back next year. My aster has also started blooming - by the time fall officially hits, it will just be covered in those little white blooms.

 My pink gladiolas are also blooming. I saw a hummingbird eating from this one this morning - see what I have time to observe now that the kids are at school?

And the stonecrop is also looking quite lovely.

My task this fall is going to be putting plants where they belong for the long haul. I've been just shoving them in the ground wherever because there wasn't a plan in my head...and that has to change. There are a lot of plants to arrange, so I certainly should be able to put them in some sort of order. Right? Hehe, we'll see!

Hope you all have a good week!