~Recently....FromTheiPhone~

~working on a pink room with a cozy nook~

~pink enough for her but not too pink for me~

 ~hiking with friends~

 ~and more hiking~

~I should have killer quads by this point~

~but I don't~

~ice cream~

~I see the moon and the moon sees me~

 ~there has never been a cat that was so much like a dog~

~ballet camp~

~"I just want to go there still"~Emma

~Shaggy hugging sister~

 ~and people actually say, "there is no God"~

 ~skating...

 ...and night swimming~

 ~words of wisdom~

~stacey

~ASadLittleGirl~

Oddly enough, one of the parts of motherhood that I love the most is….

Being able to take care of them when they're sick.

Don't get me wrong. I don't like viruses, colds, or flus, quite the contrary. 

I just get incredibly grateful that I'm able to be here, holding hair back, checking fevers, and letting them know they'll be okay. I know there are bigger, harder things going on in the world  so I refuse to sweat the small stuff.

When this one woke up this morning, digestion going wrong, I was hoping she wouldn't remember what she was missing as a result.

No such luck.

"Mommy, I fink I am going to be late for ballet."

I grimaced, knowing what a big deal this day was for her four year old self.

"Baby, you can't go to ballet today because your sick. I'm sorry."

Tears the size of Rhode Island followed and then the worst part...

"But can I do my recital today?" (The performance was to be the high point of the entire week for the little tutu clad, bun wearing covered in pink girlies. All she has talked about since the start of the week)

"No, darlin'. I'm so sorry."

Then there was silent crying (which is the worst) and more huge tears, that this Mama couldn't bear so I immediately go for the materialistic, "let me buy you something to distract you because otherwise I'm going to cry too" approach. 

"Lambie" is something I've said no to in the past. And thank goodness for it.

She was the perfect consolation.

Meanwhile,

my sweet husband is hard at work,

my sweet Mom is taking my big girls to chickfila and swimming,

and my sweet Daddy is in the basement, hammering away, building me a table, and teaching Jake a little about wood working.

Thankful for my blessings this Friday.

But I agree with E's sentiment, and I quote:

"this is disgusting" 

bless her sweet heart.

Have a wonderful, weekend. 

Be a blessing to the people you encounter!

~stacey

~squeezingthejuice~

seriously think i may go into shock when that day in early august rolls around and i have to get up at the crack, get completely dressed,  make lunches for some, get ready to teach others, and smile while doing it. 

trying hard to live today and squeeze all the juice out of the rest of the summer but …...three weeks is just a little too close for comfort. 

all in favor of summer break being May 15 through Labor Day, 
say "aye". 

that's all i have to say about that.

~stacey

~JulyLivin'2014~

little girls being little girls. 

before things change.

while trees are still meant to be climbed and 

swings are still the best things ever.

She wore this purple hat for two days straight.

….and toted the vintage lace fan around.

~magical~

 catching tadpoles….

cousins

because Grandpa taking her for a ride 

just may the best part of her week

Summer S'mores

`

~City girls need to feed a mule every once in a while~

Quite possibly the best "big girl"cousin 

in the history of all the world.

ever.

waiting for fireworks

"Watramelon"

a full day on the lake is just too much for some people. 

….even if it IS Lake Burton.

grandma helps her "do the marshmallow"

~stacey

~OBeautiful~

O beautiful for pilgrim's feet

Whose stern impassion'd stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life!

America! America! May God thy gold refine

Til all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!