It's August?!

Yes, it's totally August and back to school is just around the corner for the Pauley kids.  How that happened?  I really have no idea.  The kids and I just got back from a weekend trip in Minnesota for my cousin's wedding and Will just had his first football practice.  August is off to a busy start!

Here are some highlights from our weekend in Minnesota.

Look who's wearing a tie!  A few weeks before the trip, Will told me he wanted to wear a suit to the wedding.  Not ready to purchase a suit for someone who has grown out of stuff I bought in April, I told him that he could get a nice dress shirt and new tie because there's a slight chance that will still fit this winter.  We went to the department store and while some of us were distracted by Under Armour sweatshirts, we did successfully find a shirt that he would agree to wear.  My aunt's fiancee had to help with the tie part while we were waiting for the wedding to start so I get no credit for that lovely Windsor knot.   

Mom's weird attempt to be artistic.  I was also trying to get her to smile.  

Will and the groom's sons killing time before the wedding starts.  Electronics have a way of bringing a couple of introverted kids together.  Will liked their suits.  

The bulldog ring bearer almost stole the show.  He was wearing a custom tux and a jaunty top hat that he'd already discarded by the time he turned the corner to head to the altar.  Every wedding needs a bulldog.  

Brother and sister dancing at the reception.  This literally lasted for less than 5 seconds and it only lasted that long because I said they'd get cake if they danced together.  Reina was more game, naturally but Will would have none of it. 

Reina and my cousin Katie.  Cute girls!  

Reina running down the battery in my phone.  

Once my phone was dead, Reina had the camera to keep her busy.  CHEESE!  

The day before the wedding, we had a bbq at my cousin's house.  My cousin has two girls who are in jr high and high school and they live in a tree-lined street in a gorgeous part of the city.  None of that is really relevant to my next story, except for the part about the girls growing up.  My cousin pulls me aside during the bbq and says that she'd like to give something to Reina but she wanted to check with me first.  Her girls have outgrown their vast American Girl doll collection and my cousin wanted to know if Reina would like to take them home.  We get the catalog at home and Reina's been mildly interested but had never asked for one herself.  I told my cousin to show Reina the stuff and we could see what she wanted to do.  Two overstuffed suitcases later (thanks to Grandma for bringing home an iron doll bed) and here you go.

Meet Emily and Cecilia.  They have outfits and shoes and a newly acquired pet pug and they are adjusting to life in Wyoming.  

My aunt's table on her patio. I love that little dog planter and the birds.  

Hydrangeas!  Show-offs!  My sole hydrangea at home is still growing and I finally have a few budding flowers.  Nothing like these gorgeous blooms.  Maybe someday!  

We had a really nice visit to Minnesota.  After the wedding festivities, we stayed another day to see family and shop at the outlet malls.  Reina hit the jackpot for school clothes and my suitcase weighed 46.5 pounds on the way home as a result.  Will found new shoes, a backpack and football cleats.  He still needs some school clothes and that's part of the plan for this weekend.  As the summer winds down, I think our trip was the perfect cap to the summer of 2016.  I'm so glad my monsters are such good travelers.  They understand how the airport works but they are still young enough to enjoy novelties like hotel elevators and little snack packs that you can buy for $8 on the airplane.