Breathe Deep! (Fall is on the way)

Dear Ruby,
   We just got through a trying weekend.  Hurricane Irene ripped through the East Coast and as a result, we lost power for 24 hours.  It does not seem like that long, but even with trying to keep you entertained with the pool and puzzles and games, it was so hard and stressfull not to know when things would get back to normal.  We were one of the lucky ones, only losing our power for a short time.  Many in Virginia, NC, NY and Connecticut are still without power.

We had your friend Haley and her mom over for dinner last night so they could get some showers and do some laundry, since they are still without power, and tomorrow night we are hosting your cousins, Ellie, Maddie and Nate because they don't have power either.

I am so happy that the days are becoming cooler (it was a hot summer with lots of 100 degree+ days) and the nights are getting longer, extending into the evening making bedtime come easier.  You seem to be struggling with behavior, sometimes just getting so mad or frustrated that you are simply unable to bring yourself back to where you can even hear what we are saying to you.  It helps to just put you in a room, with the light off until you calm down.  You are such a good girl, and are learning how to control your emotions.

You are getting excited about preschool starting again (not as excited as I am! :)  ) and I look forward to giving Charlotte and Henry some extra one on one time while you are at school.  Charlotte will be going 2 days a week which is perfect.

You are really into dress up right now and I got a great deal on some Halloween costumes, and I can't wait to see them on you girls.  I'm going to give them to Charlotte for her birthday, which is just around the corner on Sept 12.  Her party is on the 18th, and it sounds like most of the people we invited are planning to come, so it *should* be great fun!

Your brother has started sleeping through the night, which really just makes EVERYTHING better.  I have more patience with all of you, since I am getting a good night's sleep too.

Blueberry season is over, we got one more trip out of them but those last berries were no where near as big and juicy as our first batch, and there were far fewer, and harder to harvest.  It was a good lesson to you about the availability of fruit, and how some good things don't always last forever.  To everything, a season.

Love you, Momma