Brother and Sister

June comes along with the virtual reality of another year gone by. 

We celebrated with an after school pick-up and a trip to the Clayburn Village Candy Store.

Natalie got into the car with a" thank you in advance picture" she had drawn.

Her anticipation always makes me smile.

Since it was Landon's first end-of-school to celebrate, it was especially fun see his smiles at this authentic graduation date . . .  although I had taken him there on a random day once at which time he kept saying how often Natalie had been while he'd been there zero times.

This tea house/candy store is over 100 years old and reminiscent of times past in the way it is kept and run. Shoppers get a paper bag and fill it with candy of their choice. It gets weighed and priced accordingly.  I'm not quite sure why Landon's candy necklace was already around his neck. It did end up in the bag later.

Together they prepared on extra bag for their brother,

whom they had carefully kept out of the loop in regard to these plans.

When I asked if they wanted to stay for a drink or go to the park,

this is what they chose.

I'm often surprised how much they love the playground.

It is fun to see how they try to include each other in their play by creating an obstacle course or 

finding a new way to do the slide.

Taking turns climbing up 

and landing in a pile of giggles at the bottom.

Looking at these photos reminds me of how fleeting these years are

and yet how the foundation of a sibling relationship is built.

When I dropped them off at home, watching from the car,

I could see how they have grown in this year gone by . . . 

and now I see how they are holding their candy bags behind their back for the reveal!

Some things just never change.