Month in Review: August
August was filled with connection — with family, nature, and most importantly, ourselves.
The month kicked off with a purpose: we were headed to Helena, Montana, for Aaron’s cousins wedding. But rather than fly, we decided to turn it into a full on road trip. After such a busy June and July it was a chance to slow down, explore, and make memories along the way.
Our first stop took us from Reno to Craters of the Moon in Idaho. We arrived late and didn’t get to spend as much time as we’d have liked, but it became a great start to our journey, and a place we already want to return to. The clear, star-lit sky, a meteor shower that Ruth got to experience, and the feeling of being on another planet left us all in awe.
From there, we made a shorter journey to Seeley, Montana, where we camped for two nights. Although rain followed us for much of the trip, we still managed to enjoy the lake and catch up with family. We took in the quiet of the outdoors, and I was able to catch up on some reading, and of course Ruth found camp friends. A sweet reminder that just saying “hi” to your neighbors goes a long way.
After a few days of camping and connecting with nature, we finally made our way to Helena for the main event: Hunter and Jaime’s wedding. What a beautiful couple and ceremony. There was such a beautiful feeling of love and appreciation in the air — you could see the admiration they have for each other, and it felt contagious for us spectators of this big moment in their lives.
As summer comes to an end, what are you carrying with you from these past few months?
The Reading Rainbow (On the Nightstand)
And now for the other things that filled our August…
On My Shelf: The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease and East Asian–inspired reading Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. I’m also currently chewing on Learning All the Time by John Holt. It reminds me that learning is as natural as breathing, and challenges me to think: How do we cultivate and encourage that model in our home?
Deep Thoughts: The Read Aloud Handbook has had me deep in thought. The author points out that McDonald’s spends $5 million a year marketing to children (as of the 2013 edition), and increases that spending every year without a second thought. I’d imagine that number has only grown since then — maybe even tripled by now. It made me wonder: if we put even half that money, time, and energy into marketing reading to our kids, would we still be in a literacy crisis?
Ruth’s Favorites: The Wild Robot Protects was probably Ruth’s favorite book in August. She loved the robot’s journey to save her island from the poison tide.
What’s on your nightstand these days? We’re always looking for book recommendations!
Tales from the Kitchen: Homemade Lemonade
We really dialed in our lemonade stand game this August. Ruth hosted two lemonade stands in our neighborhood and discovered that making a simple sugar syrup is the secret to perfectly sweet lemonade. Here’s the recipe that’s been a game changer for us:
Simple Syrup Lemonade
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
- 3–4 cups cold water
Make the syrup: Heat sugar and 1 cup water until dissolved. Let cool. Combine with lemon juice and cold water. Serve over ice.
Let me know if you’ve tried it this way before!
Looking Forward
- Homeschooling: Updates on how our first month has gone
- EA Test: I’ll be honest — failing three times has stung. But I’m giving myself grace and building up the courage to get back to the books.
- Spanish: Hired a tutor and look forward to seeing my progress
- Travel: Starting to dream about 2027
