catch-up: summer & fall of 2017

I am determined to post the last batch of photos from the summer and fall of 2017, so we can move here to fresher topics.
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Friends: both our kids are friendly to everyone but do not make "bosom friends" easily. They cultivate friendships with the care and attention that most adults could only aspire to.
The very favorite neighbors, growing under Raya's care:

 Our hiking and camping buddies:

 The former neighbors, whom we are never letting go too far from our lives:

 Especially these two soulmates:

 Joined by love of reading, too:

 All who love to swim with us:

 These two soul- and schoolmates:

 Those who share funny videos with us:

 Those who joined us for Raya's first sleepover birthday for her Big Eight:

And who managed to stay entertained despite the absence of any screens (except those used to listen to music):

 The school friends who drive all the way from Los Altos to play with us:

 Raya and Phoebe again, in what must be one of the more iconic photos of the two of them:

 Those who live on or near estates:

Those very old friends whom we have known since infancy and who, despite the time and distance, we still love to see and play with:

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Reading: they both love to read, but because Raya is more recent to the experience (and slightly more obsessed with it), I find myself looking at a whole bunch of photos of her reading in all venues and at all times of day.
While waiting for her brother's saxophone lesson:

 In restaurants:

 At the table at home:

 In the car to and from school, dance, etc.:

 In random bookstores:

she insisted on buying this book

 In the library:

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Last but not least, school.
Someone dressed as a witch/queen? combo for Halloween:

That same someone played a TV reporter in her second-grade play in the fall; the role was fitting for her in more than one obvious way:

So there, except for one other batch, we are practically caught up on Summer and Fall of 2017.