watercolor days

Watercolor reminds me of the beauty of summertime: no definite lines, colors washing and blending and lots of carefree relaxed moments.  All these images were made using this fun app for my phone.  Have some fun turning some of your summer moments in to watercolors.

breakfast at our favorite local bakery

riding a cow at a fun dinner and ice cream spot

lots of frozen yogurt with sweet friends

a hike in the mountains

the timeless fun of an old fashioned carousel ride

vanishing summer days

It's hard to believe midsummer has passed.  The days are like firecrackers: bright, loud and quick.  With these boisterous days always comes some sweet memories of carefree summertime.  Hope you are enjoying some sweet memories this summer too!

floating in the ocean - peeking down from a favorite playground - mowing adventures with Daddy - healthy well-checks with sad goodbyes - lots of birthday celebrating - our little mermaid - fancy drinks on the beach - peeking out at the vast ocean with Daddy - piano lessons - balloons and flowers at a favorite store - 3 sisters enjoying a slow summer morning

summer tomatoes

The summer tomatoes have finally arrived!  They hang heavy on the vine just waiting to be plucked by anxious hands.  We eat ours right away while they are still warm from the summer sun.  Washed, sliced and doused with a bit of sea salt is our preferred method of devouring these lovely summer gems.

Happy July to you!

daddy

He is calm when I am flustered.  He always has time for them no matter how busy we get.  He cares about how they experience the world, what they watch and who influences them.  He is involved in every aspect of their lives.  He makes an effort to be there when they are sick, for recitals, school performances, soccer games, piano lessons and dinner as a family each night.  He can foresee problems before they arise and extinguish a fire before it begins to blaze.  He balances us all perfectly on the tiny tightrope of life.

He is wonderful and was created especially to father these girls.

We are endlessly grateful for you!

Happy Father's Day!

a bit of water

There, in the usual fields of overgrown wispy grass and old oak trees, they found water.  It lured them near it's gentle flow.  It begged them to step into the cool clear liquid that ran through the field as a result of the recent rains.

Their feet were wet in seconds.  

Soon, the older one began to "fish" with a long stick she found.  The little one stomped in the stream as she followed it's lead.  Leaves were collected and thrown into the deeper parts to feed the hungry rockfish below.

Oh the minds of these little ones that force me to pause and remember the simple pleasures of my youth.  It was refreshing for all of us to find this little runoff stream to guide our play today!

a real ballerina

"Mommy, today I am a real ballerina!"

"I can put my shoes on all by myself but can you help me tuck in the ties?"

"Today I am going to dance on the stage where the real ballerinas dance."

"There is no curtain there so they will just turn down the lights when it is time for us to walk on stage."

"I will smile and not sing during my performance."  

"My teacher said not to sing along to the song."

The song they danced to was the ever-popular Let It Go song from the movie Frozen.

"I wasn't nervous and I did my best.  I heard my Aunt cheer for me at the end!"

"I sat and colored with my friends backstage."

She was captivated by every detail of the afternoon.  

It was a magical performance day for my joyful ballerina and her family.

We are grateful for such a positive experience for this budding ballerina!

oh what fun

Oh what fun it is to collect bugs in the backyard in your PJs on an early summer morning!

Let the summer fun begin!