happy memorial day + some things.

i hope that all of you are enjoying a long memorial day weekend. our is very low key. baking festive treats. spending some family time poolside. eating outdoors and making s'mores. whatever your plans are today, i hope it's a good one.

and please remember the men and women who have faught for our country and made it the place it is today.

here are some things i've seen that i thought you might enjoy too.

popsicles for grownups. yum.
confetti cookies.
a cute printed tote diy.
loving summer denim right now.
and some summer necessities.

happy memorial day.

yay, for a summer break.

today marks the official first day of summer break. yesterday i was a little somber as the school year came to an end. sad to be leaving the teachers we have come to love over the year.  however, today i woke up excited for what i hope the summer will bring. and now the planning of our summer break will begin. 

i hung my traditional happy summer banner across the front door yesterday just before the bus arrived for the last time. here, here and here are banners from years past. it's a tradition that began when slade first started kindergarten. and now he's headed to fourth grade!

how about you? do you have any last day of school or first day of summer break traditions?

the last day.

i sent them off for their last day of school this morning. today, it made me proud to watch them go. this year, more than ever, i think they have grown tremendously. and as they walked across the street and got on the bus, they seemed as if they had grown years since that the very first day last august. they are not so little anymore.  and although there is a part of me that is so sad seeing my babies growing up, i have this strong sense of gratitude and love for who they are becoming.

it hit me more than ever on mother's day. they gave me cards and stories in their own words. they were so grown up, telling me to find beauty in the day, and to shine and be proud. and elle even wrote "i love you so much i want to cry." at that moment i realized, how grown up they really are and they totally get the unconditional love between mother and child. they know that this bond will never diminish wherever life takes us. they know that i love being a mother and i take so much pleasure in being at home with them. i love watching them as they cross the street to get on the school bus each morning and anxiously wait for them as they get off later in the day.

and so, as i watched them get on the bus for the very last day of this school year. i am very proud and full of gratitude as they have grown and excelled during yet another school year.