I'm Thankful For...

How cute is this print by Laura George?

When I ran across this print the other day it actually reminded me of Summer and Forrest's sweet prayers they say before bed. They literally ramble off everything they can possibly think of each night that they are thankful for. The things they whisper are usually the simple things that I take for granted each day. I am thankful for my little ones who remind me daily to be thankful (especially for the little things).

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving

We had a fun Thanksgiving week at Kure Beach. Here's my Forrest in his Indian costume he made in preschool. He loved having Grandma and Baba at his school for his Thanksgiving program. We spent Thanksgiving at a rental house right on the beach and Forrest made sure that I packed this for the big day.  The week was spent playing with cousins, swimming, sleeping in, eating and lots of lounging. Perfect.

Jump!

There's nothing like cousins. Here my kids are with my sister in law's two kids, Jack and Peyton. I really wish they lived closer. My cute kids were actually trying to jump as high as their cousins. They begged me to take pictures again and again until I could catch them jumping higher. I don't blame them.

Happy Birthday to my David

Today is my David's birthday. The big 4-7! Happy birthday to my best friend, the best daddy to our children, the smartest, funniest, most caring person I know. The best decision I ever made was choosing to share my life with YOU. You make me want to be better and do better. I love you forever. 

Happy Birthday!

Look Who is Writing!

There's a new writer in town...

In keeping up with her K curriculum, my Summer started writing on her own just a few days before Halloween. Here she is sitting in her desk feeling very independent. She keeps her own diary. I couldn't look at her without smiling. There is something so sweet about watching your child write her first words. Summer just writes now like it's no big deal. I happen to think it's a big deal and very, very sweet. The cutest thing was that you could tell she felt as proud as she looked. She's a keeper.

Risk Takers

"There is no greater risk than matrimony.

But there is nothing happier than a happy marriage."

-Benjamin Disraeli, 1870

I love David. The best part however is that I really, really like him too. I'm glad we took the risk.

All Boy

My Forrest is all boy and I love it. We took the kids to the Touch-A-Truck event in town recently. Any vehicle you can imagine was sitting right there on that parking lot... ambulances, helicopters, tow trucks, racing cars, 16 wheelers, firetrucks, tractors, and construction trucks. And get this, any of these you could touch. Sit in the driver's seat? Honk the horn? Climb the firetruck ladder? Swing on the tow belt? Sure, why not! Imagine the squealing and laughter coming from this boy. He felt really grown up.

It is amazing how your heart's ability to love just multiplies. The love I have for him is indescribable. I grew up with only a sister. Often I rely on David for his expertise in the boyhood field. I quickly learned what boys are like. To wane through the world of toys designed specifically for boys is no easy feat. His top three favorites are legos, trains and trucks. Yes, there are days when Forrest plays with his sister dressing up and hosting tea parties. So that's all right.

Forrest is a sweet, sweet boy. I really love this boy. Having Forrest in my life is a blessing. I love being his mama. He makes me smile and laugh every day. When i asked him how he liked it he said, "Mommy, thumbs up!" So I guess it was a success.

Pink Ruffles... Again

Summer came home from school one day last week and started screaming... Screaming with excitement. I ordered her this knitted sweater with pink ruffles the week before when it had gotten chilly. It was just too cute. I showed her the picture of it online and told her it would be delivered to our doorstep. I kid you not she has asked me 3 times a day for the last week if she could check out porch for the package. Today was the day! She put it on and then ran upstairs to get her outfit to match it, complete with the pink flower headband. Seeing Summer's excitement over these pink ruffles is so cute. Here she is counting the ruffles. And in case you're wondering, there are fifty-three ruffles. That's a lot. A girl can never have too many pink ruffles.

My Girl

This girl is all mine. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Halloween

Last week was one of those crazy weeks I can remember. To say the word crazy is an understatement. Let me explain. I have always wanted to read the book, "I was a really cool mom before I had kids". It rings so true to me. I had a vision of myself being so organized and put together and that is just not the case for me a lot of days. Halloween, for example... Even just a few days ago I had a vision of what I wanted to get done. The perfect Halloween. Carved pumpkins sitting on the front porch, all of the Halloween decorations up, the kids' costumes picked out and the basket of candy ready to pass out. None of these happened until the day of Halloween! I was out of commission with a broken computer (now back in business with a new one). And I was in the middle of painting the family room. We went to the pumpkin patch earlier in the day where the kids picked their pumpkins. We pulled over at the grocery store on the way home from church to pick up the bags of candy. After lunch Summer and Forrest carved the jack-o-laterns with David while I painted. David and I were so tired that evening and it sounds silly but I really had to "rally" to get the energy to dress everyone up and head on out. however the minute we saw their little faces light up when we hit the streets it was all worth it. David and I looked at each other and smiled. Totally worth it. Before heading out, we went around to the backyard to take some pictures before it got too dark, I made the kids stand still in their costumes... because any "good" mom would have a picture of her kids' Halloween every year. I took the kids up and down our neighborhood streets while David passed out candy. They each filled their plastic pumpkins to the brim with candy. David and I woke up the next morning to both of them sitting on the floor with their pumpkin buckets in their laps chomping away. If you are not having candy for breakfast on November 1st then I just don't know if we can be friends. It's a must. The end to a very fun Halloween. I know the kids are already looking forward to next year... We will carve the pumpkins earlier next year and I think it is time for me to surrender to the myth of "perfection" in this art of motherhood.

Forrest the Firefighter

Summer the Witch