Simplicity

Wow. It's high time I dust of this little bloggie. It has been a whirlwind past three months. We sold our condo, house-hunted, traveled to Idaho for my grandpa's unexpected funeral, had 3 crazy holidays, started a little business, and most recently this past weekend moved into our first house. Not to mention trying to be a good wife and mom, neighbor, church member, friend, and keep up with work. There were days were I sat down and instead of doing one of the million things on my list, I simply sat there overwhelmed because I didn't even know how to make a dent in everything that needed to be done.
I dislike the feeling that your life is moving so fast that you can't keep up, and suddenly you realize months has past and it's a legitimate shock. That you're so busy that you can't savor the small, simple, beautiful things every single day. The things that make your life fulfilling and real. So that's why one of my resolutions this year is to slow down. To enjoy those moments with my husband and children that will never be there again.

Goodbye 2012, you were good to us. Here's to a wonderful 2013. And here's to slowing down. 

The thing about family pics...

Have you ever noticed the day you have family pics scheduled things never seem to go the way you'd like them to? Whether it's the clothes don't quite match as well (or at all) like they did in your head, or your child spills on their outfit right as you're going out the door, or you snap at everyone to try to get them out the door because you're running late, and by the time you get there everyone is in a crabby mood and smiling through their gritted teeth as you try to portray a loving family. 

 Case in point, the day we took these pics, because we left in such a hurry, I had to grab my clothes and make-up and just get ready in the car on the way to meet the photographer. Conley woke up with a cold that morning and was miserable, and I had to feed him several times in the car during the shoot to try to settle him down, and then rush back and get in the picture. And lastly, Chanley was super tired. And we all know how toddlers act when they're tired... 

So basically, this photo describes how things really go down behind the scenes. :) 

And it's ok. That's real life right there.

Thankfully, we had an amazingly talented photographer who somehow was able to get some really gorgeous pics. Kara, thank you so much for capturing these memories for us. You're pretty much a genius. 

Ryan, thank you for the birthday present. Someday you'll thank me for always dragging you to these things. ;) 

A Preschooler

Chanley's first day of preschool. 

As I was taking the picture, a bunch of little kids started walking towards us, and Chan turned really shy and wouldn't look at the camera. This picture was taken right before she went to hide behind a tree. ;) 

Signing Chanley up for preschool was one of the hardest things I've done as a parent thus far. Sounds silly, I know. It is something she has been excited about for quite some time, and I knew she'd enjoy the structure and learning environment and making new friends. So it should have been an easy decision. But the day I hung up the phone after talking to her teacher and signing her up for real, I broke down. Suddenly it hit me. I had a child that was going to school. How did this even happen? How would she do without her mother? She needed me I was sure. Was she too young? Was she ready? Was I ready? 

 

After my little breakdown she came over and asked me what was wrong. I told her I was sad she was growing up, and that I wanted her to stay my little girl forever. Well, she took that quite literally and she started crying too. She looked at me with her big brown eyes and said, "mommy, I'm a BIIIG girl. Pease, peeease let me go to peeschool?" :) She's so darn cute. So obviously the transition was much harder for mom then it was for her.

 

It's true. I'm realizing just how hard it can be to watch your child grow up. 

Farewell to summer

Lovin' the beach bum. 

A few days ago it was a gorgeous day, so we decided to run over to our "beach" (aka small lake) for one last hoorah before summer ends.

Chanley loved finding seashells, and Conners tried to eat all the sand. It was a good time. 

{Thanks Ry, for taking the sweet pics of me and the kids.}

Farewell summer. We'll miss you.