High Five for Friday (8.26.16)

1. On Friday we celebrated heading back to school with a pool party and lunchtime picnic with friends. We always celebrate the end of the school year, and it felt right to this summer also celebrate moving on to the next academic adventure.

2. On Saturday and in honor of a good friend's birthday, I stomped grapes for the first time at the Messina Hof Winery's Harvest Festival. Walking around in a basin full of food-turned-drink felt a little funny on the feet, but I had wanted to grape stomp for years and enjoyed the experience.

After stomping, we settled at the wine bar to share a bottle or two of wine and a few appetizers. Shortly after we sat down we were greeted by none other than Paul Bonarrigo, the founder of Messina Hof Winery!

3. We survived the kids' first week back to school - 4th and 2nd grades for Will and Hallie, respectively - with only a few bumps and bruises. The early mornings proved most difficult, but the kids and me getting up at 6:45am/6:30am for school is NOTHING compared to all of us getting up at...wait for it...5am for Will's soccer tournament tomorrow morning. Happy new school year!

4. These two bicker - and even fight - a lot, but deep down they really do love each other.

5. Happiness Highlights:

I DO love carbs! And Rebecca, whose birthday we were celebrating!

This little guy's having a rough week, what with all the changes going
down. Luckily he found comfort nestled in with Hallie's high tops.

The playroom is almost completely empty and ready for it's makeover!
I expect the process to take at least a month given our busy schedules,
but I hope to have "after" pics to share by the end of September!

On a related note, I think I FINALLY tracked down
the color of the walls in the playroom. (The previous
owners didn't leave the name or a can of the paint
behind.) It's taken me FIVE years! 

Happy Friday, Chasing Roots!

Linking up with High Five for Friday here: