Fantastic Four

a wave a day

we live close enough that if we wanted to we could jump waves everyday.

this option brings me big amounts of joy.

here's to wave jumping...

a day with the butterflies

i love little day trips.

via the school.

via walking the streets of leucadia.

track & field

i never take for granted i live a life where i am lucky enough to be present.  

to witness what they do.  the fun they have.  i'm lucky to just be apart of it.

including all the fun of the 2nd grade track & field event.  

there was a lot of hooting and hollering, jumping for joy & clapping.

also ball throwing, three legged racing, meter jumping & a very nail biting relay...

the warm up.

3 legged winners.

long jumpin'

beating the boys!

pig

added yet another barn yard animal into the mix.

carlito.  the pig.  

and sadly (for me) bacon just isn't the same anymore. 

and man... i loved bacon.

8!

oh man.  i can hardly believe it.  she is 8!  i am the mother of an 8 year old.  if i sit on that long enough i can totally trip myself out.  here's the thing.  i remember 8.  being 8.  i so hope she enjoys this age.  just being.  no rush.  taking it day by day.  she is wonderous & glorious.  and like every year i will do my best to honor her with a love letter.

dear gia,

you've just turned 8 and i find myself having a difficult time adjusting to you growing older.  

i want to hold on.  

hold on to the little girl you still are.  

the little girl you will always be to me.  

forcing myself to realize you don't need me for certain things anymore.  

simply because you are older, growing up, asserting your independance, showing me you can do it yourself.

i am in awe of the little person you have grown into.

gone are the princess dresses, frilly & pink.  replaced by blues and greens, trucker hats, boots,  tank tops & scarves.  

i love this.  

you have your own style.  

you are very expressive in style and spirit.  

you rarely have to speak words to know exactly how are you feeling, what you need or what is on your mind.  

your eyes often to do the talking for you.  

and we all get it.  your family.  we understand.  this secret non verbal language.

i so enjoy being your mother.  

waking up to you every morning.

seeing you off to greet the day.  

conversing about friends, school, the best part of your day - (which still is spending the day with me).

when i see you and the young woman you are growing into i feel like i am giving you the best i have.

like i totally know what i am doing in the motherhood department.  

and truth be told there are days i am sure that i am screwing it up royally.  

but you remind me daily that no, no i am not.  

i just look at you and the glorious, lovely, giving, spirited, soulful and kind girl you are and i know we both will be alright.  

navigating life.  

you are my super star.  

you inspire me.

i am grateful you are mine.

and i am yours.

happy birthday my love.

xoxoxox mama

jely

adding another into the mix...

jely mora

important things to remember

the important things.

when you are six...

circus

the first time we've been to the circus.

was quite the cheesy experience.

the glitter, the glmour, the silly magic tricks, the heat inside the tent, the over priced coke, hot dog & cotton candy.  cheesy and expensive?  yes.  

worth every penny to watch their faces light up in amazement?  absolutely.

a rabbit

new addition to the family.  i am slowly working on my little leucadia farm.

jely.

just like jelly.  but spelled - jely.

what's important

to my six year old