The fourth and beach days

Rainy holiday found us all together with soccer games watched, scrabble games played and homemade ice cream made in the basement! Luckily, rain did not fall until after lunchtime, so in the morning a beautiful, peaceful beach greeted just us. So lucky, we are, to celebrate this awesome holiday of Americanism with family and friends. 

This moment

{this moment} - Joining Soulemama - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

Father's day

A perfect day for my guy. This guy who is patient and kind, loving and full of humor. What a lovely day indeed. Great weather for a boat ride,  a great meal (that he cooked) and love from all of us. I think we are all thankful for this slow morning. What a nice break from the end end of school/work busyness. 

Enjoying this

 Enjoying this spring time weather. Time on the deck, things in bloom. My favorite people around me. Feeling blessed for it all. 

Snow Days

Typically, February is a tough month around here. Moods are lowish, sunlight is tough to find and the snow just comes and comes. And this year, like so many other places in the country, it's been simply COLD. Phone calls and texts came last night notifying us of yet another snow day and no school. Expecting today to be a what it was, I was lucky to clear my work schedule and just be. Be here with my favorite little (and big) people, take it slow with no where to go. The past couple of snow days were spent scrambling; piecing together parental work schedules to fit the kid care in and relying on various play dates to get through our work days.

So, today. Today was fun. Peaceful. Slow and needed. We stayed in our jammies, baked, played games, knitted, did crafts - lovely. Oh, these simple things, how I cherish them.

Time passes

Oh, how it does! Has it really been since June that I've posted something here. A whole summer has passed?! Now, the summer is nearing it's end and I am reflecting on how quickly it went. Yes, yes, such a thing to say and to hear, but to feel, oh so hard to express how nostalgia can feel. We've had a great summer, a lot or running to and fro, driving here and there, enjoying camps and the beach and everyday warmth. Sigh. My two are growing, growing fast. I love it and I mourn it. On to the next stage. 1st grade and Pre-K? Wow, when did that happen? Yes, what a great summer we've been having and how quickly time passes...

Last days of school

Slush at the Ice Box

Boat nap

Recital

Beach morning 

Hermit crabs!

Detroit - Greenfield Village

Toledo Zoo

4th of July (and matching mom-made outfits!)

Niagara Falls, Canada

1st bike ride with Mom on a 2 wheeler!!

Boat Dinghy

Beach Day with Mom

Nature hike after the BEST camp this summer!!

Bike ride break :)

Summer joy, 2013 

These two

There have been heated conversations, a foot in the face. A lego creation "accidentally" knocked down.  This one has more than the other, he/she got a special treat and I didn't, etc. They have been, how do we say, getting on each other's nerves lately. So, I post this to remind myself that it is all normal sibling-ness. We try to teach them to just love each other. And to be good to each other. And to take a break AWAY from each other. And then I hear the giggles. I hear Elena say, "Frankie, will you read this to me?" and him willingly doing so. I sigh some relief.

 We are gearing up for the end of school. Ready for the warm weather that is hitting us (supposed to be 90 degrees today!). We all have a bit of spring (and summer) fever happening here, especially these two. 

"Mom, this is Jake" Frank says

"Yeah, he's our pet worm" Elena chimes in

"I'm keeping him in our museum and writing a story about him" says Frank

Elena says, "I'm taking care of him! C'mon Frankie, let's go make him a home!"

Lovely

We had a beautiful Easter holiday, filled with family and friends, good food and lots of candy! I think of the people in our lives and am thankful beyond thanking words for all we have been blessed with. With good weather and the sun finally warming up this place, we were out and about searching for eggs and climbing trees.                                                                    

                         

Above is Flowery Bunny (aka Miss Maggie Softie), pattern is found here. I fell in love with this bunny when I first saw her here. She waited patiently Easter morning, hanging about with Easter baskets filled with fun stuff for the kids. I had been wanting to practice more hand work, this bunny is all hand sewn, and not as hard as I thought it would be. It was a very enjoyable project that did not take more than three nights to work on. Ok, I was up late Saturday night to finish her for Sunday morning but she was well worth the lack of sleep. I did, for a brief minute or two think about keeping her for myself, but then my husband convinced me otherwise. It's good thing he did, as she's been so loved since.

My mother and father in law work so lovingly to always prepare great food and spirits for the large crowds that are welcomed into their home and I am grateful for the memories we always make there. I made a specific effort to take some family photos, which I know I will be glad that I did.

taken by Ellie