A Big Day

It was a big day today.

Today would be the first day that these gorgeous blue eyes would wake up

as a "big girl" as she likes to call herself. Her school career has now started

and there's no turning back. What a feeling that is!

Kate conquered her first day of pre-school and Charlie, he became a big 1st grader.

Kate was so ready for this. Although a little bit shy at first,

she didn't even think twice about us leaving her there for a full day of school.

I now get to spend 3 days a week with just my little Ella.

She's loving it, at least for now.

But I think she will miss having Kate and Charlie around pretty soon.

Why do they have to grow up so fast??



Better

This summer has been a strange one for me.

Growth, heartache, joy, pain, change, love, pride, delight, hurt...

I've been overwhelmed by all of it and completely unable to find words to express myself.

I've been processing those feelings and trying really hard to actually feel them.
Slowly, deliberately, intensely.

The silence on my blog has been the result of all that.

The way the whole spectrum of emotion seemed to find it's

way into my life all at once caught me seriously off guard.

I couldn't think straight or write and I could barely even manage to pick up my camera
on a day to day basis and that is so out of character for me.

I was living my life like usual.

Just going through the motions, doing what I've always done, mindlessly and without conviction.

Living that way wasn't how I wanted my life to be.

I expected more from myself than that and I didn't even know it.

I'm slowly working my way out of it...
Getting better every day, working my way towards a better, healthier, more fulfilling me.

"I haven't a clue how my story

will end, but that's all right.

When you set out on a journey

and night covers the road, that's

when you discover the stars."

- Nancy Willard

Alive & Well

I almost forgot how to do this.

It's been a month and I've got so much to say

and so much to share.

The problem is, I've got writer's block. Bad. I'm stuck.

I'm working through it, looking for inspiration and

trying to enjoy my life along the way.

I'll be back soon, friends.

Lots of good things coming...



Sweet Little Friends

Kate invited one of her friends for a sleepover and for an entire week, she was so excited.

It's all she could talk about.

The day didn't disappoint.

The girls had a blast and it was so fun watching them together.

I had to be told a couple of times to back off because it

was so interesting to me, watching how they interact and

hearing the things that they say to each other.

I like watching the confidence come out of my girl

as she forms relationships and her personality shines through.

It was a great day...

Lunch, nails, shopping and ice cream...all topped off with a sleepover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pike Place Market

Another phone call to daddy. He lights up her world.

I am a coffee lover. That's no secret.

We got to see the very first Starbucks ever opened.

We did totally touristy thing a took a Duck Tour.

The Seattle Skyline

The sky was electric.

This plane took off from the water, not too far from us.

The house from Sleepless in Seattle

This dude... funniest guy ever. I love a guy with a great sense of humor.

He totally made the entire tour.

Dancing

 You can't come to Seattle and not take a ferry boat. So we did.

They were glad to stretch their legs after a 30 minute boat ride.

Burning some energy on Bainbridge at the park...

And that was Seattle. We left early, early the next morning to make the

LOOOONG trip back home.

We stayed the night in San Francisco, which is about 15 hours from Seattle.