the sunshine after a storm

today . . . . well, today rocked my world.  i love the sunshine after a storm (and it was a monster of a storm yesterday!) and the cool breeze that was blowing across the lawn.  i love the feeling of experiencing something we haven't done in awhile . . . . i love watching the girls explore new surroundings or sometimes even old, unfamiliar one's.  we have been spending so much time in our backyard that our poor front yard was lost and forgotten.

today brought new perspectives for us.  new toys to play with us . . . . new avenues to explore . . . . new flowers to pick and new bugs to hide from.  i loved lounging out front with my gigantic cup of coffee basking in the warm glow of the early morning sun.

i love seeing the excitement on my girls' faces as their friends come to play and bring with them new treasures to explore.

i love how my youngest daughter is as girl as they come . . . . wanting to wear fancy dresses and fancy shoes . . . . changing her shoes 4 times throughout the morning because they might have become the tiniest bit wet . . . changing her outfit because it has the tiniest speck of dirt on it.

i love watching them peddle away on their bikes seeing just how fast they can go, making it a race around the cul-de-sac . . . taking after their daddy more and more each day.

i love being able to sit there and take picture after picture knowing that they are probably thinking in their head "another picture mommy?  aren't we done yet?"  and then they give in and allow me to take just one more picture before they run off and find something more exciting to do.

today we were shaded by the umbrella as we felt the texture of the red play clay between our fingers . . . .we made pretend pancakes and birthday cakes and shared them with all of our friends, inviting them to make a wish as they blew out the imaginary candles.

and then, at the end of the day, i am reminded that even though they might act like big girls, they still have a little bit of baby left in their hearts.  oh how i heart my blonde haired beauties.

these days are precious

juicy, sticky, yummy watermelon . . . . a great reminder that summer is officially here.  we love watermelon in our house and it seems to be that if we have watermelon it goes in a flash.  the kids eat it up almost faster then i can put it out.

i love the laughter that the sunshine brings.  between the splashing in the pool and the bouncing on the trampoline, shrieks of delight can be heard ringing out through our backyard oasis.

smiles are more then abundant as we play with our friends finding fun and exciting ways to cool off.  by the end of the day we have had our fair share of sunshine and happiness that it almost feels like we are stealing it away from others.  we wouldn't change this feeling for the world though.

we see silly faces and expressions as the cold water dances around our feet and splashes into our hair . . . we listen to the stories being told of their adventures and fun . . . we revel in the fact that our little girls love the outdoors just as much as we do . . . and then, in the midst of it all comes the small little scream when a tiny little bug, no bigger then a fly, interrupts our play time and brings just a small look of panic on their precious little faces.  we reassure them that they are safe, we cuddle them close and then, the fun begins all over again.

and at the end of the day as the exhaustion sets in and their happy little faces are slowly yawning away in the setting sun we bring our day to a close with a snuggle on the couch under our favourite orange blanket and remind ourselves that tomorrow will only bring more fun for everyone.

and so we end our days with happy memories placed on our hearts and engraved on our souls and pray that God will grant us many more of these days together.  and as they lay their heads down on their pillows, silently tucked in for the night as adventures in odessey silently lulls them to sleep, mommy kisses their heads and smiles at the swelling of her heart as i know that these precious two are mine to keep . . . forever.

Summer is . . . . .

sunkissed noses, sunscreen kisses, living in our bathing suits, summer dresses, sandal clad feet, fresh fruit with every meal and wishing the lazy sun soaked afternoons would linger on forever.

summer is homemade popsicles and lingering smiles, ringlet framed faces and shrieks of laughter.

summer is skinned knees and owies, cuddles and kisses and bright coloured band aids.

but most of all summer is love and laughter with family filled fun days and water soaked snuggles underneath the lazy summer sun.