It’s been too long since I posted so I thought I would check in here and give a little review of our summer:  June highlights- the harrowing move out of Duval St. Adri, Elli and their pals riding with the van doors open with our mattresses jutting out, Shessy nursing baby Lucia on our floor in front of the ac because we had no furniture, the MARGE home group outserving eachother by helping us move on consecutive nights, 2 Nursery School Dads talking jazz and walking our dining table down the street at 11pm.  A phenomenal weekend of yummy food, amazing Lego construction, and sharing the baggage and joy of family life  at Stone Harbor with the Zapf’s whose generosity is always humbling. Manny will never forget being at the helm! Closing on Duval St.-- Chris Plant’s real-estate mojo was savvy and lucky and smart and helped us sell our house AND scored us the house of our dreams and a sweet rennovation loan.   July highights- Not that this is totally appropriate for the list but it’s in the interest of catching up and reviewing what our summer was like, we said goodbye to Geoff’s Grandpa Beatty on July 25th.   He was so sick and the way he passed was peaceful.  It’s painful how much we miss him but this is the small price for keeping his memory with us.  Manny’s United Nations Party at BSC-  the bindi-wearing children in their swimsuits batting a blueberry pinata was surreal and perfect!  8 amazing days back in Boston visiting the folks it hurt to leave 3 yrs ago.  Swimming in Walden Pond, disgracing ourselves on fish and chips at James’ Gate, drawing with Marly Mae, getting shoulder rides through Central Square, our super Freestar rental car, driving down the J-way toward Mass Pike laughing at the financial bondage that we left behind, and feeling more stable and more convinced that we should be in Philly.  August-  Ultrasound for our baby #4!  We saw our littlest one on August 7th and will actually meet him/her in Feburary.  We are overwhelmed and excited at this new life rounding out our crew.  Clara Margot’s first steps!  Our intrepid, tiny girl is really walking now!  She ‘s topping out at 9 steps.  She wears a look of determination and slight mischief.  Manny Day’s literacy-explosion.  The first word he read was “HOME” in the bathroom at the Cloisters in NYC.  Words he’s writing: “FRJ” for fridge “FRNR” for furniture.  And being part of the team to design a hard-wearing kitchen and watching it come together- guys interrupting our story times asking if we want double molding around the windows. 
    Wow, what a long up and down summer it has been!  I know I could have done a post about each specific thing in the list but the intensity of moving, the grief of losing Grandpa, and crossing into the second trimester of pregnancy s have me dizzy and flustered.  I apologize if you are hearing about some of these things for the first time through this blog.  My social correspondence for this past summer would merit a C minus.  Also, if this, in some way seems braggy or rambling, I write to count our blessings not to alienate.  We are souls-in-progress,  recipients of God’s goodness living on the thread of his mercy.