Sunday Afternoon

The sweetness and simplicity of this charming scene truly captured my heart today. I love how such simple things, like play silks and wooden toys, can lead to such creativity and imagination and hours and hours of play. xo

Last Page Day!

Yesterday brought the arrival of "last page day" also known as the last day of morning lessons before we head in to our summer rhythm. 

For Grace's last page she chose to write about what she was most looking forward to this summer. 

Emma's last page was actually completed the week before with a verse about the elements of fire, water, earth and air. Yesterday capped off a week of review for both girls. 

 Once their lesson books were finished all of the lesson books from this year (each girl completed three) were brought out. It's always fun to look back and see how much they did and how much they grew from September to May. The improvement in their handwriting alone is remarkable! 

 As you can see Grace still needed stars to help with her spacing between words in the autumn/early winter. By late winter/spring those stars where but a memory! 

This year to celebrate Last Page Day we asked the girls what they would like to do. After a little bit of thought they decided upon a celebratory ice cream with Dairy Queen being their destination of choice. Vanilla cones dipped in chocolate were chosen to kick off our summer on a classic note! 

We're looking forward to moving into our summer rhythm- Of days spent primarily outside (in and around the garden and at the lake). Of reading and knitting, and maybe even a little bit of German. Of visits to the library, the farm and the summer concerts on the green. Of walks to get ice cream and adventures yet to be determined. xo

{These Moments} On Memorial Day

{This Moment} - A Soule Mama Friday ritual. A single  photo Two photos - 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 beautiful weekend! xo

Choosing Home

About a month ago I was invited by my friend Kerry to contribute a piece to an eBook she and her friend Rachel had decided to put together about women who choose to be stay-at-home mothers. I was so very honored to be have been asked, and I spent a good long while pondering what it is I would write. Initially, I was a wee bit worried as I wasn't sure there was much of a story there for me to share. You see, I have always wanted to be a stay-at-home mama and I worried that one short sentence wasn't going to make for such interesting reading! So, after days of thinking about it I sat down and began writing. The words started flowing almost immediately and it wasn't long before I had filled three pages. After a  little editing and tightening up I finally had a piece that I felt would be worthy of this incredible project. I sent it off to Kerry feeling very much like I did back in my school days when I was turning in a paper I had worked really hard on. Would she and Rachel like it? Would it be too much? Too little? Should I have written more? Less? Was it what they were looking for? My fears were put to rest when I received an email back from Kerry proclaiming how much she loved my piece and how she was so grateful to have my voice a part of this book! And so, my friends, I give to you Choosing Home: 20 Mothers Celebrate Staying Home, Raising Children and Changing the World ! It's a truly incredible collection of stories and one that I hope you all will download, read and enjoy. 

Thank you, Kerry, for asking me to be part of such a special project as this. It is an honor, an experience and a moment I shall carry with me always. xo

Boston On Memorial Day

Boston on Memorial Day. The field of flags. Time spent with some of our dearest friends. Bubbles. Swans. Watching as our girls and Erin's boys were captivated by the living statues. It was the perfect ending to the long holiday weekend. xo

Keeping With Tradition

It's been Emma's tradition to never loose her teeth at home. So far she's lost a tooth a dancing, at Panera, at the library and now at the Alwife T Station. The funny thing is it's not even the tooth we expected hoped  thought it would be. Rather than the front tooth (which is super crooked and clearly very stubborn) it was a tooth that had only been wiggly only for a week or so (rather than the several months we've been waiting on the other one). We arrived at the T, and while Dave was adding money to our Charlie Card, Emma turned and showed me her ready to fall out tooth. A gentle tug and out it came. We got her all cleaned up, deposited the tooth into the change section of my wallet and headed in to Boston. 

 And so, this morning she woke, covered in glitter with a new treasure (a bracelet) and note in her tooth fairy box. 

We're now super curious about when and where this stubborn tooth of hers will fall out! Here's to hoping that wherever this next one is lost it happens soon! xo

At The Memorial Day Parade

To Them We Owe

Happened today, and in the past;

Sacrifice made, for ours to last. 

Wives to widows, families torn;

Gave their lives, for them we mourn. 

Gone forever, souls are lost;

Freedom comes, with this cost. 

Enjoy the life, they did preserve;

Fate they suffered, did not deserve. 

On this day, lest we forget;

To them we owe, our life in debt. 

-Don Nielsen 

39

 Gorgeous flowers from my gorgeous girls, 

 a sweet card from my sweetheart, 

a wonderful surprise from some wonderful friends, 

 and a delicious cake made for a stellar day! 

Thank you to everyone for the calls, texts, Facebook posts, hugs, cards and gifts! Your sweet words, generosity and love made my birthday so very, very special! As I begin the final year of my 30s (or as I like to call it the fourteenth anniversary of my twenty-fifth birthday) I am finding the words in this post and this so very spot on. I'm excited for all that's in store for me during this next trip around the sun, and I am so very grateful to have such a wonderful family and incredible friends to share this journey with! xo

On The Eve Of Turning 39

A long wished for book from my soul sister and birthday twin Jannine, a card from my grandfather, one from my mom and dad and another from my dear friend Patricia made for a lovely last couple of days (and a very fun week of mail)! As I get ready to enter the final year of my 30s I'm feeling rather reflective  and nostalgic tonight. Lots of thoughts are swirling around in my head as I get ready to celebrate another birthday tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who has made this week so very special for me. I excited to see what tomorrow (and the next trip around the sun) has in store for me! xo

{This Moment} Ice Cream

{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. On this long holiday weekend we hope you will all take a moment to pause and remember those service men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we may continue to live in freedom. xo

A Summer House Guest

This summer we'll be taking care of this gorgeous plant while Miss Alexandra (beloved yoga teacher of Grace and Emma and a dear friend of our family) is away. She couldn't bare to leave this lovely plant behind, and asked if we'd be up for a house guest. Always up for a new adventure our answer was a resounding "yes!"  Please pardon the not so great picture that I quickly snapped while we were stopped at a light. 

And so a journal was begun. 

The girls thought it would be fun to document the summer adventures of the plant. 

Let's see how creative we can get with this! 

Welcome, lovely plant! We're happy to have you! xo