Summer Time...

Zeke turns 5!
July 4th sky in Duluth before the fireworks.
The boys being cute at Enger Tower in Duluth.

Newest Howard- Michael Barnabas!
Zeke, Jun Ha and Abdulla testing the waters of Lake Superior.

Our summer has gone much more quickly than we expected. I did a quick count of the past three months and they have been full of wonderfully happy, perfectly lazy days and the celebration of the lives of two amazing women.

So far this summer we have hosted three international students from Abu Dabi, South Korea and China. We have loved to be apart of Abdulla's, Jun Ha's and Shaui's journey to America and help them grow in their English language skills. The kids and I spent many, many days at my friend Cristin's house with Cristin and I relaxing poolside while the kids jumped in, splashed and swam. Zeke has seen the inside of St. Paul Children's Hospital more often than we would have liked with the stomach flu and Mono. Asa became more independent and spent five nights at camp SuperKids, an asthma camp put on by the American Lung Association and had the time of his life, thus far. Grace perfected her underwater summersaults in Cristin's pool and I enjoyed a summer with no classes!

This summer marked a point of change for my family and me. Both of my Grandmothers passed away in just over two months of each other. Although their passing wasn't unexpected there is still a sadness that accompanies the loss of those women in my life. It is a strange sensation to live in a world that they no longer occupy.

With the sadness that came with the loss of life this summer also came the joy of new life! My brother-in-law Jed and his wife Molly welcomed Michael Barnabas into the world! An adorable little guy with a great middle name!

This summers more dramatic events, Zeke's hospitalization and my Grandmother's passing caused us to have to postpone out trip to New York this summer and move it to next summer. So watch out NY the Santodonato-Howard's will see you next summer!

This fall I am looking forward to Nursing Clinicals, getting my own stethoscope and finally the ever coveted royal blue scrubs! Grace is going into fourth grade, Asa will be in second and the biggest change will be Zeke going to kindergarten! For the past two years Zeke has been my "going to school buddy" he would talk, sing and eat his breakfast while I drove us to Bethel. Alas, I will be going to school all by myself this year, sigh. Barnabas is training for another go at the Urbanathelon in October. This fall will be busy but wonderful. Goodbye lazy summer days, till next time!