Coffee and Cocoa

{sharing the morning together}

Happy Fall Y'all!

Just getting into the spirit of fall over here.

  My little helper and I put this up this morning.

 His favorite part was dropping the leaves from the highest he could reach.

Now if only the real leaves would hurry up and change color!

What we did on our summer vacation

This summer we went on a vacation to Maine.  

We did a lot of fun things, ate a lot of yummy food, and saw a lot of great things.

We stayed at this hotel.  We wanted to stay forever because they make the beds for you!

We sat on the beach under sunny blue skies

and played in the water when we got too hot

We saw sailboats

and seagulls

We watched fireworks over the beach

They were beautiful and sparkly

Four people built an amazing sandcastle on the beach.  Lots of people stopped to see it.

The beach was crowded with people and umbrellas

We ate delicious food everyday

We shopped for a lot of cool things

But the candy store was our most favoritest

 

We visited Portland

And ate the best hotdogs ever made

We were forced to pose for Mom's photo shoots

  This is our mom and dad's favorite restaurant to visit

 And this is what they always get when they eat there

Mom and Dad are dreaming of living in a house by the sea

But until then, we can't wait to go back to Maine next year

 The End

Photo-a-Day twenty-six

Photo-a-Day six

the little teacher

Photo-a-Day five

Photo-a-Day four

Photo-a-Day three

and rotting brains on Sponge Bob

Photo-a-Day two

Photo-a-Day one

Remember Today 3.13.11

{remember} I introduced Maddox to Flickr today--he spent 20 minutes looking at Lego creations there and then another 40 building.  An hour well spent!

Dream Big

If there were ever a time to dare,
To make a difference
To embark on something worth doing
It is now.
Not for any grand cause, necessarily –
But for something that tugs at your heart
Something that is worth your aspiration
Something that is your dream.
You owe it to yourself

To make your days count.
Have fun. Dig deep. Stretch.
Dream big.

Know, though,
That things worth doing
Seldom come easy,
There will be times when you want to
Turn around
Pack it up and call it quits
Those times tell you
That you are pushing yourself
And that you are not afraid to learn by trying.

Persist.

Because with an idea,
Determination and the right tools,
You can do great things.
Let your instincts, your intellect
And let your heart guide you.

Trust.

Believe in the incredible power
Of the human mind
Of doing something that makes a difference
Of working hard
Of laughing and hoping
Of lasting friends
Of all the things that will cross your path

The start of something new
Brings the hope of something great.
Anything is possible
There is only one you
And you will pass this way but once.

Do it right.
Dream Big.

-Author Unknown

Remember Today 2.20.11

{remember} doing a little soul searching, being at conflict with myself and my role/purpose. 

Why do we as mothers
need to face the struggle
of choosing
ourselves and our dreams
over the
care and raising
of our children? 

Having a hard time finding
a good balance
and striking
a happy harmony. 

Feelings of selfishness and guilt.

Why can't I just sit back
and enjoy these mothering years
and not want to search for more? 

These years are so fleeting,
and I know deep down
the time for me
to pursue my dreams will come,
but what if it won't. 

What if my time is now? 
What if waiting
will make it too late?

Remember Today 2.18.11

{remember} that some days are just better off forgotten.  And let's just leave it at that.

Remember Today 2.17.11

{remember} how much Maddox grew up today: holding his little arm safely against his body, going to x-ray bravely by himself.  I wonder how a child can look so incredibly small and vulnerable and so brave and independent at the same time.

if {a project 365 ponderance}

If I were doing project 365 this year:

Happiness is... {a list}

...finding a piece of chocolate in your pocket that your middle son gave you from his own Valentine gift.
...getting a 3 pound bag of Jelly Belly jelly beans from your hubby for Valentine's Day.
...getting a huge hug and "I love you" from hubby after he looks through the scrapbook album you made for him.
...taking a nap and reading a book in the middle of the day.
...eating a meal out as a family and not having to make lunch or dinner (this should be a new monthly tradition).
...thrilling the boys with the gift of books for Valentine's Day

this one for Logan:

  

this for Camden:

and this for Maddox

 ...having a lazy weekend without deadlines and worries.

Remember Today 2.13.11

{remember} the third time's a charm:  after attempting a dinner out Friday and Saturday, we finally succeeded today at 3:30.  Stuffed myself to the belly-aching point.

Remember Today 2.12.11

{remember} how much more peaceful and happy our home is without screens.  The boys spent the day playing Legos, drawing in their doodle books, cleaning up their bedrooms, practicing guitar, reading, playing knee hockey, playing catch (oh, and there was that bit of wrestling--uggh!).

Remember Today 2.11.11

{remember} how much I love Fridays, and not to fool myself into thinking that if I don't go to Pilates I'll workout at home.