This August we mostly stayed home.  Matt spent hours studying for his advancement test, the weather was brutally hot, and I felt lethargic and sleepy from the heat.  We spent time at the pool here on base (which I didn’t remember to photograph), took a couple of family trips to our new favorite picnic spot (see the next blog post), hung out with friends, went on a slime-making binge, watched Matt be a rock star, found American breakfast at an Italian restaurant (just for fun), went shopping at local stores and the mall (first time ever to buy kids clothes NEW… I miss thrift stores), enjoyed daily thunderstorms and downpours, and watched fireworks from our window (Italians here light fireworks ALL THE TIME).  We also got Ashton ready for school: she is taking an art class at the military school here on base, and she joined the Cross Country team as well.  Cedar, also, is photographed above on HIS first day of school!  We are looking forward to getting back outdoors as the weather cools for the lovely fall months ahead.