Afternoon

Our afternoons seem to have developed a nice rhythm to them. After lunch and quiet time we have been heading out for a bike ride (for the girls) and a walk (for me).  It is delightful and the perfect way to kick off the second half of our day.  

Once we get home there is usually more time spent outside. We can't get enough of this glorious weather! Oftentimes the girls play outside while I get some chores done inside. Ah, the joys of having older littles! Today, having nothing that needed tending to inside the house I headed outside to read while the girls played. I ordered caterpillars today (hence the butterfly books we took out from the library). I can't wait for them to arrive. The girls (who have no idea I ordered them) will surely be over the moon!

This book arrived in the mail last week. I am so glad that it's part of our family library. It's just so us!

Emma, having noticed me reading, ran in to get the books on horses she took out from the library today."Mama, let's say it together!" (her way of saying let's read). So, of course we did. Much reading was done on the lawn this afternoon.  

Grace then joined us. This kid knows enough about butterflies that she could write her own book on the subject, She is going to be so excited when the caterpillars get here! Have I mentioned how much I love surprising the girls?!

And then it was back to the swing set (as always). Such a simple, classic swing set and yet so many wonderful adventures are had on it for hours each day!

From there there was the watering of gardens. Filling of bird baths. Running. Playing. Digging in the dirt. Singing. Jumping. And finally they came in. Tired, hungry and oh so dirty! The sign of another fabulous afternoon in this oh, so incredible life we are blessed to live!

Weekending

On Saturday I got a text from my brother asking what we were up to and if he could come for a visit. I quickly replied. We hatched a plan. And a visit was had (it was fab)!

The girls were overjoyed to have Uncle Grant come spend the weekend at our house. His arms sure got a workout pushing his two favorite nieces on the swings and giving lots and lots of hugs!

We figured his visit was the perfect time to have the first fire pit of the season, too!

On our way home from church yesterday we scored this fabulous, classic, red metal Radio Flyer for $15! We sent it home with my brother so that my Dad could spruce it up (there's some rust on the inside). You really can't go wrong with a classic!

After dinner Dave put the final shingle on the dollhouse roof! Such an exciting day, indeed! We really should have kept a tally of the hours he put in on this roof alone. We're sure it's way more than we think it is. 

And just like that our fabulous weekend was over. For a weekend that, at the beginning, had no plans it sure turned out to be quite a lovely one. Impromptu visits are always divine and the chance to be with family is even better.  

{This Moment} Through The Tunnel

{This Moment} - A Soule Mama Friday ritual. A single photo- no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments section for all to find and see. We wish you a lovely weekend!

A Mama And Her Divas

The gorgeous weather of the last couple of days can mean only one thing.  It's pedicure season.  And as such it seemed only fitting that we had to our favorite place to get our nails done and kick this season off in style! So, that's exactly what we did!

Even at their young ages the girls are seasoned professionals!

One of the many perks of being homeschoolers: being the only kids at the salon during the week!

Isn't this such a fun pink color?

And seriously, Target need to make these super cute sandals in my size! Adorable!

It was such a lovely way to kick off our day! Adorable new sandals and super cute new toes are indeed the perfect way to celebrate the warmer weather we've had the last couple of days.

Wordless Wednesday::A Lovely Lunch

Two Down, One To Go

Grace is bound and determined to complete all three Daisy Journey badges before bridging to Brownies in June. Something tells me that she'll have no problem achieving that goal!

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is one of our most favorite days ever. And to honor this day we always try to find something to do. We usually read some lovely Earthy books and then take a walk around our neighborhood to spruce it up. This year, in Grace's quest to earn all three of the Daisy Journey badges before she bridges to Brownies, she decided to do her Clover project on Earth Day."Mama, I want to make a banner to hang up for the neighbors to see and then we can clean up the street." Sounded like a good idea to me so we got out the supplies and the girls got to work.

Thank goodness for blue painters tape! The girls did such a great job on the banner and it looked just perfect hung up on our fence! Once the banner was hung it was off to spruce up the neighborhood!  The girls collected two bags of stuff before we headed in for lunch and quiet time. What a great idea for her Clover project and what a lovely way to honor Mother Earth on this glorious (albeit chilly) Earth Day!

{This Moment}

{This Moment} - A Soule Mama Friday ritual. A single photo- no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments section for all to find and see. We wish you a wonderful weekend!

Daddy-Daughter Dance

Last Friday night Dave and the girls attended their first father/daughter dance. Evidently our town has been holding these dances for awhile but we only found out about it last year about a week after the fact. Thankfully, I had it on my radar for this year knowing full well that the three of them would have a blast! I helped the girls get ready while Dave ate a quick dinner.

"Mama, since it's a special night can we wear a little lipgloss?"

This instantly became one of my most favorite pictures ever.  

And then off they went to dance the night away and eat more sugar than we ever thought possible (cupcakes and brownies and cookies! oh my!)! Upon returning home the evening was deemed fabulous and there were many exclamations of "I can't wait to go back next year!" 

Wordless Wednesday::Grace's Robot

Mercy

Sleep was hard to come by last night.  Thoughts kept drifting to Boston and the events of the day. This morning I felt (once again) like an empty shell of a human being. Walking around the house aimlessly. Constantly checking Facebook for updates only to find that nothing was any different from 30 seconds before when I last checked. It was then that a message arrived from my dearest friend.  "What are you and the girls up to today? She asked. "I need to get out of the house and enjoy life." Instantly I knew that she was struggling with the same emotions and compulsive Facebook checking that I was. We hatched a plan. Packed lunches. Got the kids ready and out in search of adventure we went...  

On our drive out to meet our friends at the chosen destination the girls and I had iTunes cranked up and on came "Mercy" by Dave Matthews Band. The lyrics are fabulous and very appropriate given the state of the world and the recent events that have transpired here in New England. Between those lyrics and spending the day watching these five littles live as joyfully as ever I started to feel better.  Still sad. Still heartbroken. But a wee bit better too. We need to do better. We need to find peaceful solutions instead of shooting each other or blowing each other up. Enough is enough. We need to be able to peacefully co-exist regardless of how upset or how different we may be. We need to play better in the sandbox with each other if for no other reason than so that these five littles (and the countless other children inhabiting our planet) can have the future they so richly deserve.  

For Boston

"Boston is a tough and resilient town. So are its people. I'm supremely confident that Bostonians will pull together, take care of each other, and move forward as one proud city. And as they do, the American people will be with them every single step of the way." —President Obama

The words of these two men are just what we who love (or live in) the city of Boston needed to hear today.  Marathon Monday is normally a fabulously joyous day where hard work and dedication are celebrated. Today started out as any other Marathon Monday but it surely did not end as such. As I result, I find myself heartbroken once again. Three months ago, I was rendered utterly speechless and totally heartbroken when my beloved home state was thrust into the news due to the tragic events that took place in Newtown. And now, here I am today feeling just as sad and disappointed in the world. Needless to say, Gandhi's words could have not have come at a better time. 

I am eternally grateful to know that all my friends and family are safe. And I am even more grateful that Dave was three days late in submitting his application to be part of the Boston Marathon medical tent staff this year. Otherwise, I would be going out of my mind with worry right about now. Thank you to everyone who has checked in on us and who has let us know that if we need anything they are here. We are fine. Heartbroken but fine nonetheless.  

For those wanting to do something the 26 Acts of Kindness Facebook page posted the message below:

The Boston community is in need of signs of love and support, and that's what we are all about. Please consider sending a card or hand written letter showing you care. These letters will be reviewed to make sure they are appropriate and then forwarded to the Boston community to pass out to whomever wants them. Do not send any donations at this time, this page is not authorized to collect on their behalf. We only want to show support and love through words and kind acts.

26 Acts of Kindness
PO Box 185083
Hamden, CT 06518

Together we can stand up for one another and spread love, not hate.

A Fairy Party

The girls were invited to help their friend Maggie celebrate her seventh birthday on Sunday.  They were so excited that it felt like an eternity before the long awaited day was finally here! Maggie and her sisters love fairies as much as Grace and Emma do so it was only natural that she have a fairy party for her birthday celebration this year!

The party began with chicken cuddling, 

and fairy garden box assembling. 

And once the boxes were assembled it was off to fill them up!

There were games and more time with the chickens and cupcakes and snacks and just lots of good outdoor fun! The girls had a blast, and Maggie seemed to be over the moon to turn seven with all her friends there to help her celebrate this most special of days! Happy birthday, Maggie! May your seventh trip around the sun be your best yet!\

{This Moment}

{This Moment} - A Soule Mama Friday ritual. A single photo- no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments section for all to find and see. We wish you a marvelous weekend!