Things I Don't Want to Forget

Life with two littles leaves little down time (duh, goes without saying).  Right now, I try to keep my phone with me at all times to capture all the memories that happen day to day.  Lots of times we make it to the end of the day and I look back at my pictures and remember all the little things to tell Tony about or just smile and let out a deep sigh.  I'm learning how to use my big camera, but the two of us don't have an intimate relationship yet that I can count on to help me get that shot.  Here are some things I don't want to ever forget.

 The way she looks with her hair all piled up on her head at the end of a busy day.

 Her love of art and her brother.  She will bring it all to him to be near to him and help me keep him content while I get dinner on the table.  He's fascinated by her!

 Chalk dust on face, red cheeks from playing outside, and a band-aid for a scrape, all while coloring in the car on the way home from a day at Grandma's.  To  me-this is the perfect picture of her childhood.  Reminds me of me when I was little.

 Simple happiness sliding on a sunny day with her bug catcher in her hand (empty playdoh container).  I love her imagination!

 I want those daddy!  Her love of flowers and her father.  They are quite the pair.

 The two men in my life.  I'm so blessed that he will have such a strong male role model as his rock.

 Spring mornings in the wheelbarrow following daddy along in search of the perfect native flowers for our gardens.

 First trip to Whole Foods downtown with Easton.  My little troopers!

 This describes her love for him.  So happy to part with prized flowers found along the way of her day to give to her daddy.

Her love of ice cream and SPRINKLES!

Easton's first time in the swing.  His sister was so excited to share this moment with him.  

 All dressed up and her love to stay home.

 Caught this only because I had my phone and they were so engrossed in each other.  I never want to forget that delicate balance of bath time/dinner time/quiet play time at the end of a work day as we wait for daddy to come home.  She began this ritual of running to him to be with him and soothe his sometimes fussiness after being wrapped up in a towel fresh from the bath.  This time I caught it, but I've been lucky enough that it's a routine in our home.

 Such a solid daddy and the best guys around. Our Spring Friday night ritual.

 My hardworking gardener in his zone.  

I never want to forget how she can do art for hours at this age.  "Mommy will you color with me?" is a phrase heard often around here.  This was her drawing of the ferris wheel she rode two weeks ago.  Pretty darn accurate for a three year old if you ask me.

Life is busy, filled with day-to-day moments and routines, but together they are the sum of our lives.  I never want to forget those fleeting "normals" because I was too busy to stop and take it in and document it.

She's 3, He's here, and Life is really good!

In 2013 life really changed for our family.  We sold our first home (after several near sells!), moved in with my mom and grandma, found out I was pregnant with #2, began building our next home, started my seventh year of teaching, Tony went back to the company that hired him out of college, Emmy started preschool, moved into our new home, welcomed our sweet boy into the world, left the world of diapers for E, and adjusted to life as a family of four.  Whew...exhausted just thinking about all the change.

There were many moments where I doubted our choices...doubted myself...doubted our plan...doubted HIS plan...but we made it to the other side smiling.  Life is in a great place right now and I'm striving to find the beauty in each day.  It's not always calm, not always pretty, and not always easy..at all.  But it's always worth it. 2014 brought a chance for me to test my strength as a momma of two. We decided I will stay home after this school year.  These people are my world.  And it's a beautiful one at that.