A happy home

I read an article about 5 common things happy people have in their homes, and it made me stop and think about all the people I love and what specifically about their homes makes me feel at home, loved, and just happy (besides them of course)! All of them have a home that is inviting, begging me to stay for a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine).  I see comfy throws, friendly pets that plead to be snuggled, family photographs, yummy food, candles burning, music playing, kids scribbles and drawings taped up on walls and refrigerators, to-do lists, scriptures on the walls and just an air of openness about them.

It also gave me new eyes to see what, in my own home, at first glance might drive neat-freak me a little bonkers ( overflowing toy basket that I keep saying I'll pare down), but after a second, deeper look, shows something much more beautiful (a house full of children).

The evidence of our abundance is all around me.

My never clean windows show smudges of sweet little faces watching the world around them.  My casserole dishes, waiting to be returned on the counter, show loving care of generous friends and family during those not-so great days of illness. Medicine on the counter reminds me of our 24/7 access to medical care during these bouts of sickness, the hairbrush that is always on our table brings to mind all of the little blonde bed heads that I get to detangle every morning during breakfast.  Pillows on the floor (and not on the couch) are evidence of a giggly game of chase the twins played with one another just this morning.  Dishes on the counter and laundry on the couch are evidence of more than enough food to eat and clothes to wear.  Dirt and grass on the floor reveal a yard to run and play in.  Flies all over my kitchen point to neighborhood children running in and out the front door, making themselves at home.  The mess and joy of life completely surround me.
Here's to seeing the happy in our home.

Swingin' Along

My own little (9 yr. old) mermaid

The weekend of London's ninth birthday, I ended up catching some sort of yucky, achey, makes you feel totally miserable bug.  I'm attributing it to the fact that while out shopping with my mom and sister, London picked out (and came home) with an adorable top labeled 'Tween'.
 So it begins.
We had the best time though.  L was beaming all weekend.  What's not to love about a nine year old? She likes to shop, get her nails done and her favorite restaurant is Olive Garden.  Oh, and her top birthday request was for a mermaid tail she can swim in.  I'm sort of jealous.  Okay, I'm really jealous.  Trying to justify why I need a matching one, although we don't have a pool and I don't think it would be socially acceptable for me to wear a spandex tail in public.
Happy 9th Birthday sweet baby girl, you light up our lives!

These two

First Days

Now officially a third grader and a Kindergartener.  These years are passing all too quickly, I feel like we are just beginning the school years and that they will come to a close before I can even blink.

Now to soak up my time with these two littles. They will be off to school and new adventures much too soon.

Summer-time's end

The evening before school began the weather shifted.  There was a cool breeze and a nip in the air that felt like fall was pushing itself through what had, just the days before, been stifling heat.  It was an unusual shift, being only mid-August, the hottest time of the year around these parts.  As I gathered up all the bikes, riding toys, balls and a host of other children's toys I couldn't help but feel nostalgic and like I was putting away summer, all the days at the pool, evenings running through sprinklers, hot, sweaty walks and sticky, dirt covered children, like I was tucking her neatly into bins in the garage.  There was a certain peace that went along with it as well, for as much as I dislike change and the uncomfortable feelings that so often accompany it, it was also cathartic ushering in a new season through the clean-up.   So many things to look forward to, making new friends,  working on school projects, trips to the pumpkin patch and holiday festivities just around the corner.  Because life is change.  We will never remain in one season; our lives are always moving, churning around us. Some seasons will be more difficult than others.  There will be some full of more than their fair share of trials, others full of joy and most, I believe a combination of happy and hard. The time of transition in this world will never stop.  I suppose this is one reason why we feel like aliens here, yearning for a home of constancy.  Somewhere where we are complete.  Tranquility comes to mind, and also joy, and peace.  Until that day comes, I hope to do my best here, weathering the storms and enjoying the blessings, with as much grace and love as I can humanely muster.  And this year I will be soaking up my 3rd grader, kindergartner, and my chaotic days at home with toddler twins.  Here is to the season at hand.

All City Swim Meet

These two had a great season, London took third in her team's relay and sixth in backstroke.  Noble brought home third in free and first place in back.  They practiced hard, raced hard and cheered their team on to take third place in All-City. We may have found our sport.:)