Tuesday, May 31, 2011

May 30, 2011- Fly

“Fly, little firefly, fly!  Fly little firefly, fly!”

My daughter ran in her bathing suit next to her brother, also in his swim trunks through the front yard singing this song with such innocence and purity.

I knew the song, but couldn’t remember where we’d heard it.   She’s so big anymore anyway, listening to all this pop music and bopping her head…. I don’t know where she gets most of the wild things that she says, much less sings.  Still, I found myself humming along to her sweet little tune and in turn smiled, remembering it was Sesame Street after all where we’d heard this beautiful and fitting song.

DSC_0043-1

They ran and frolicked, enjoying the privilege of being up late and the first official night of summer vacation so appropriately gracing us with a yard full of flickering  fireflies.

Barefoot, squealing, cupped hands to the sky, she sang, teaching the words to her brother and they caught firefly after firefly. 

Usually my kids have a pretty strict bedtime.   Not this evening.  We threw our schedule to the wind and enjoyed their little bathing suit bottoms chasing fireflies late into the night.

DSC_0063-1 DSC_0060

No regrets.  I’m not sure who enjoyed our late summer night more.

~K

Monday, May 30, 2011

May 29, 2011- Sugar Magnolia

“Sugar Magnolia, blossoms  blooming….”

DSC_0078 ~K

May 28, 2011- There’s Nothing Like…

… fresh picked herbs in the summertime. 

DSC_0052

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Unless, of course, they are fresh herbs from the ‘little garden that could’ that you planted with your family.

 DSC_0066

DSC_0045

And unless it’s with that little family that each day you patiently water the boxes that hold the plants…..

DSC_0063-2

And unless those are the boxes that you spent Mother’s Day hand painting with that same little family…DSC_0036-1

DSC_0022

 

After you spent the early afternoon of the same day building those beautiful boxes together…

 DSC_0013

And then spent weeks, watching and waiting patiently for your veggies and herbs to grow….

DSC_0030-2 DSC_0034

And then… when those same little baby hands that are able to see the full process in effect, and pick the grown herbs….

DSC_0043 And then come into the kitchen on a lazy Saturday morning and cook with his mommy.

DSC_0051 

Yep.  Now that’s what there’s just absolutely nothing in the world like.

DSC_0054

I will hold these very special moments in my heart and in my mind forever.

~K

May 27, 2011- Summer Beginnings

Summer is here.  Summer, which is now dictated by a school schedule and not the yearly calendar or the heat or the start of a season,  but summer, the time in which my babies come home with me, all day, every day… for nearly three months.  

Three months of a busier schedule this year than I would like, but three months where I will vow to do my best each day to enjoy them where they are, love them far more than necessary and appreciate every moment our hot sweaty summer days together.

I will fill them with goodness, love them fiercely and unconditionally and work on making sure that they fully understand that they are enough… just the way they are… just by being them. (thankyouverymuch Ms. Winfrey)

We will spend days on field trips, spend days in pjs, spend days in bathing suits.   We will get dirty from painting all day and get dirty from playing in the yard on other days.   On both occasions, we will rinse off only in the sprinkler.   

We will swim, we will boat.  We will read, we will run.  

We will just be.   And I will try my best to be the best mom I can be.  I will remind myself of the choice I have to make each day… to fill their summer days of childhood with smiles and beautiful memories.

Thank you, Summer… we’ve been waiting for you.

~K

Saturday, May 28, 2011

May 25, 2011- Beautiful Boy

Three years ago today I was made an aunt by a beautiful little boy who just couldn’t wait to get here.

Happy Birthday to a little man I love to have in my life.  I cannot wait to continue watching you grow, listening to your music, sharing your laugh and loving your sweet little boy self.

For you, today, I am so grateful.  Happy Birthday-

Love, Aunt K

Friday, May 27, 2011

May 24, 2011- Gardenias

Gardenias are now in full bloom. 

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I love how each takes its turn… from the tulips in early spring to the hydrangeas and then the magnolias and gardenias, almost side by side.

One by one, welcoming the spring and summer, coloring my world and giving me such peace.

~K

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

May 23, 2011- Sweaty Smiles

Watching my big girl run and play… be of her own…smile and know her place and her way.  Laughing with friends, loving with others… amazed at how she’s growing and being.  Sweaty, sunshine smiles cherished as she still runs to her mommy for hugs after each event..  

Holding my little man,… under the weather, though being the trooper he is and wondering how much of it is his personality and how much of it is birth order.   Setting it all aside and enjoying his soft tan sweaty, sleepy, yet still baby body in my lap… and for a moment forgetting the hundreds of people around us and the heat of the day.

Sweaty, sunshine smiles.   My moments for today.

~K

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

May 18, 2011- Good Mornings

Today is busy.  One meeting after another, after another… overscheduled…. lots to complete.   My first appointment was at 8am and my final will end at 8pm.   It will be a busy day.

At 7:40 this morning, in preparation for the day, I poured some lavender calming oils into my small crock pot with water and let it simmer, the scents filling my house.   Then I walked through my backyard garden and gathered some beautiful flowers for my table.

And with these two small steps, my day began with peace and with me at my best, ready to go.

DSC_0003

 

Maybe these things don’t do it for you.  I guess the lesson in this today is to find what it is that soothes you.  What makes you tick… or relax… or be the most positive and functional and peaceful?

Find it.  Do it.  Enjoy.

~K

 

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

On a side note….

****Bonus points if you can name this vase… ***** :)

May 15, 2011- Peaceful Discoveries

As we were running around trying to make it to our final soccer game on time, we noticed a little something outside of our bedroom window.

There she sat.   Watching us, perhaps, but no.  I think she was busy.   A beautiful taupe colored bird, several feet from us, right at eye level nestled into the core of the palm.   She sat, still, but certain.   We carefully opened the blinds.  She stayed.  Her mate came and went, gingerly walking  the length of the palm leaf each time and delicately into the niche they’d created, supplies in tow.  We watched, amazed by our front row seat to this beauty.

As we watched these birds in their element, my young daughter ran to find her bird identification book.   She looked and looked, finally identifying our new friends, who chose to perch outside our window and start their family.   “Mourning doves!” she exclaimed, though her father and I had already figured as much… “Definitely, that’s what they are!”

She excitedly ran through the details of the dove, including it’s size, mating practices and nesting preferences. 

The four of us crouched by the window and watched.   We were late to where we were going.   It was worth it.   And to think our enjoyment out of this wonderful little surprise is only beginning. According to my daughter we have at least 15 more days to watch.

…………………………

..."DOVE - reminds us how important peace is. The peace symbolized by Dove is that of the deepest kind. It quiets our worried and troubled thoughts, and allows us to find renewal in the silence of mind. In such moments of stillness we are able to appreciate simple blessings. It reminds us that no matter what is happening in our lives, there are always new possibilities open to us..."

(taken from a website about animal/earth connections)

……………………….

~K

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

May 14, 2011- Rat-a-tat-tat

This is how I woke up.

The kids must be knocking.

The dog’s tail must be wagging and hitting the floor.

………………..

And then….

I remembered I had the windows open.  And the rat-a-tat-tat waking me was that of the woodpecker outside my window.

……………….

And this….

started my day out perfectly.

~K

Friday, May 13, 2011

May 10, 2011- Jump, Sweet Girl!

DSC_0010

Savor this  joy. 

Reach for the stars.  

Know anything is possible. 

~K

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

May 8, 2011- Happy Mother’s Day

DSC_0030-1

A garden full of love… a perfect day…. little hands… little sprouts… lots of paint… lots of smiles.  

Our garden full of love.   Happy Mother’s Day~

~K

May 1, 2011- Cinderella

“She spins and she sways…

DSC_0025

To whatever song plays…

 DSC_0030

Without a care in the world…

DSC_0028

So I’ll dance with Cinderella,

While she is here in my arms…

Because I know something the prince never knew…

~Steven Curtis Chapman

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Beautiful moments I am so fortunate enough to have in my every day life.   My sweet Cinderella, full of joy…

~K

April 24, 2011- Click!

I love photography. 

With photography, I love it when something magical happens.  Regardless of how many pictures you may have taken on a given day, sometimes you find that there’s just that one… that one snap where you are able to freeze the essence of complete happiness with one quick click.

And it is a moment to forever treasure.

DSC_0170 

Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap.  ~Doug Larson

~K

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

April 23, 2011- Happy Easter

Such fun. 

Creating  Memories. 

Starting  Traditions. 

Painting  Colors. 

Sharing Love.

DSCN9918

Happy Easter.

~K

Monday, May 2, 2011

April 20, 2011 - Honeysuckle

hon·ey·suck·le

noun /ˈhənēˌsəkəl/
honeysuckles, plural

A widely distributed climbing shrub with tubular flowers that are typically fragrant and of two colors or shades, opening in the evening for pollination by moths

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Also known as the perfume of my happiness.   Blooming, beautiful, remarkably fragrant… filling my world with goodness and smiles from morning until night.

~K