Things that make me happy:

Spending time with family

babies

the smell of popcorn

watching my children laugh

waking up next to Ben

summer breeze

watching football on Sunday

daisy's

Sunday drives

visiting with friends

crisp fall mornings...
going on a walk with my babe and Gussy

....this tells the story of our beautiful morning.....




The chores are done the kids have gone to school, the fall air is beckoning us to come out and play... Blayre loves the dandy lion seeds...they are so fun to blow on and watch them scatter to the wind...
we found treasures..
walked hand in hand..

..threw our treasures into the canal..

I am focusing on the things that make ME HAPPY!...the constants...to see..to really see the little things that often get overlooked.

Sometimes there are just GOOD days.

The ones you seem to get right as a mommy..you laugh, you love, you play and you feel completely satisfied in the small moments of your life that will ultimately become the sum of who you are.

I wish I could document all the cute noises and giggles watching this little one play..

Aside from the completely obvious difference of Jensen being the first boy, watching him grow has almost been a renaissance of parenthood for me.

Not sure why exactly....maybe the sense that these opportunities to relish and LOVE on our little ones really are numbered!

And the reality....of the fleeting moments of our little one's lives..

Jens' football season came to an end this last week! We were both happy and sad! I think it is one of the hardest things these little boys have done in their lives thus far..they work these little ones to the bone and they seem to relish in it! :)

I will not miss the 3 hour practices every night. Hopping from Football to Volleyball was just too much for me this year...looking forward to Ash driving in 6 months! :)

Barnum & Bailey

We had so much fun at the Circus! Anz loves animals and was just mesmerized the whole time!
I really dragged my feet on going and ended up just loving it! We can't wait to go back next year!

busy lives..

Our lives have been so so so busy..I will do an update as soon as our computer gets back...Our computer is in the shop...I will be checking in soon!...and telling of all our adventures over the past month..

an A+ kinda day..

Our Summer has flown by..
and this morning was greeted with much excitement..
our "mommy kid dates" to get the perfect attire..
found out classroom numbers and teachers names..
filled backpacks and lunch bags..
and worked on some signature “rockstar-ness” in prep for the BIG day!

I always think of the beginning of the school year a "new years day"
of sorts because there are so many new things
school supplies
clothes
shoes, socks
new teachers
new friends
new schedule
sports and dance start anew
ect..

The 2nd grade was ohhh so lucky to gain this little rock star..

the 5th grade was ready to welcome this awesome dude..

Anz was the only one to ride the bus...the older kids are just a bit "TOO COOL"
to catch a ride on that thing...

Another "first" day of school down.. just wish time would slow a little!!

end of Summer party

Every year on the last day of the kids' Summer break we throw a "end of Summer" party! It isn't really a celebration to me..I hate it when they have to go back to school, but the kids love to do it and it is a celebration of a new school year for them, so this year we had to really work it into the schedule because Ash has had practice twice a day and gets home late. But we did it and of course the kids love it. We get everything we can think of that everyone enjoys having on ice cream. Brownies, m&m's, gummy bears, oreos, bananas, strawberries, whip cream, caramel and hot fudge!!
Ash and Chan make their own version of cold stone and Anz and Jens just pile everything on their ice cream and Blayre had fun just taking samples of everything!!

Sad to see Summer has come to an end! :(

varsity..

3 words... Var. Sit. Tee.

Ashtyn told me when she was 12 years old that she would make the Varsity Volleyball team when she was a freshman! She said that this was going to be her goal and asked if we would help her achieve it.
She got a lot of different opinions on why she should shoot for J.V.and not dream something so big!! set her expectations to something that could be reached!
but there were those few that would tell her that if she set that goal and worked hard and kept her eye on the prize she would get there!

AND SHE DID!

Congrats Ash I always knew you could do it!! We are so proud of you. I know how hard you worked to get here and you did it!
Sky's the limit for you baby!
LOVE YOU!