cousins.

 

we don't see them often enough, but it's always so much fun to get together with cousins for a day of fun at the annual family picnic.  thanks mom & dad for a great day by the pool celebrating the fourth of july and family!!

today, i am happy, happy.

i am very happy today. jeff arrived (and surprised our children) very, very early this morning to spend a week with us while we are vacationing this summer in new jersey! the five of us are together again for a whole week and today i am happy, happy!!

{print via farouche}

togetherness.

hello tuesday. it's hard to believe easter came and went. last week went by so quickly. it usually does when life is so good. my days were entirely filled with happiness and contentment. the five of us were together again as a family should be. it was wonderful having my husband back at home for a few days. last week, i truly had intended on sharing all the easter treats, crafts and decorating i had been working on. however, i submerged myself into togetherness and didn't want to pull away for any time at all. i love when we can all be together. the simple things seem to be so much important and meaningful lately. i don't think i will ever take for granted the time we have just to be together as a family.

i am truly thankful and very blessed.

i hope your easter was just as joyful and happy too.

back from the beach.

although we really didn't want to leave, it was time to go.

we packed up and arrived back home last night. back from santa rosa beach. back with sun-kissed faces and a little more rested and rejuvenated from our little family getaway along at the shore.

lucky for us, we had absolutely beautiful weather all week long, allowing us to spend most of our time on the beach...

which is exactly what our family enjoys.

together, we dug giant holes and built sand castles in the sugar-white sand. we swam and played in the water, sometimes along with the fish. we took long walks along the shore, enjoyed picnic lunches, played ball in the surf and...

jumped the waves as they came crashing along the shore.
(which i might add is one of sia's favorite things to do-)

we also had fun swimming in my sister's mermaid pool, attending a nearby seafood festival and even riding go karts one night.

and... on our last evening, we enjoyed dinner a local waterfront restaurant and bar spending one last evening with my sister and her husband- laughing, talking, soaking in the smell of salt-air and truly being thankful for our little vacation by the shore.

and so... we are back from the beach. back to life here at home. we will be spending the weekend unpacking and settling in before the kids go back to school on monday.

i hope you have a happy weekend whatever your plans are. i'll see you back here on monday, perhaps with some more pictures of the fun that we had.

happy, happy weekend!

headed to the beach.

happy friday. we are headed down to the beach today. school is out for the first break of the new school year. it's hard to believe i know, because it feels like school just began. (actually...it did!) but, we are not complaining. instead, we are very anxious to be taking a family trip together and looking forward to putting our toes in the sand again. we love spending lazy days on the beach, unplugging ourselves from daily life.

i hope you have a great weekend and i hope you'll enjoy some of these things too--

i'm loving these fabric pumpkins

or this pumpkin (made by kids) for the front door

book paper wreath- DIY too!

very glam party for halloween

simply beautiful & homemade meadow wedding

great clock that caught my eye

have you checked out rue magazine yet?

just a note: although we'll be frolicking in the sand and water this weekend, i am still dreaming of fall. still wondering when it will ever begin??

moments.

via seeing the everyday magazine
(and wonderfully written)

happy monday. where did my day go?

i am just stopping and sitting down now for a moment. the kids are in bed, i just threw a load of whites in the washer and finally i am eating a dinner of crackers and cheese.

sometimes i wonder how a day can slip by just like that? yet, when i finally stop and remain idle for some time, i remember the moments. i remember the moments that made me smile. it was the confidence elle showed as she got on the school bus this morning and then found the friend she was planning to sit with. it was the giant chocolate chip cookie i bought sia as a treat today and in return she said "thank you mommy, i'm the best girl, right?" or her excitement to use the scanner at the self-checkout while we were shopping. it was the fabulous shirt i found (and bought) on clearance, perfect for the fall. it was the smile of proud satisfaction that slade gave to me as he came out of the batting cage looking my way. it was my two children sitting quietly in their rooms doing homework diligently. it was the sweet text messages i received from my more than supportive husband. it was the quiet "i love you's" and the kisses i placed on each child's forehead after they fell asleep. and, it is the calmness and serenity that permeates through our home as i sit here now.

everyday, there are those moments. joyful, happy, gratifying moments. moments that may seem inconsequential but are so nurturing for me and for our family. moments of reassurance. moments of life. i thought the day just quickly went by. but now i remember as i am sitting here now. i remember the simple, meaningful moments that give fulfillment to my life everyday.