A Rainy Day (Finally!)

What. A. Relief. The first rainy day in almost three months for us. I was beginning to get worried about our trees! But the clouds built up and didn't burn away, the winds quieted down, and for a good chunk of the night and a good hour during the day yesterday we had rain!

Sister was home sick (her fever broke the afternoon before, but she can't go back to school until she's been fever free for 24 hours), we didn't have anywhere to be, and the crafty projects we love so well were a-callin'.

It felt so good to have a rainy day again at last.

We didn't even mind when the last drop fell and the sun came back out; the feeling of relief outside from creatures and plants was almost palpable, and that is what we needed.

Shortly after the rain stopped Audrey glanced out the windows and saw the droplets clinging to the trees and said, "Look, Bubba, everything is sparkling a thank you to the rain!"

I think she was right.

Remember

Remember this day.

Remember how she still needs you when she's not feeling well.

Remember how he still needs you, even though he feels so big now.

Remember what a sweet and concerned little brother he was today, what a protective brother he is.

Remember how he blew air kisses and air hugs to his big sister, and how she told him it would be his air kisses that helped her feel better fastest.

Remember this at 2am when they call out- they're already so big, but they are still Littles... so easy to forget when sleep deprived and startled but so true, so...

...remember.

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Breakfast bedside, hot coffee delivered without a drop spilled, handmade cards and decorated wrapping paper, snuggles and smiles and cartoons in bed. The trappings of a perfect birthday morning.

My guy is another year older and wiser today, and my oh my are we glad to have him. This afternoon we'll hang out around the house and get a few things done, probably take a nap, and then polish up and head out for a dinner with more family that want to celebrate this man that does and gives so much for us.

We love you, happy birthday Kyle!

Weekending :: Trying Something New

This morning I had a surreal moment- my kiddos dressed in black, white, and pink, and got ready for ballet class... loading their slippers and tap shoes into the same bag I used when I was Audrey's age and in ballet class.

It was surreal, that's the best way I can describe it. I have vivid memories of pulling ballet slippers and tap shoes from this bag, the way it felt on my shoulder when I'd carry it to and from class, the way it smelled when it was full of leather and chalk dust and tulle.

And now my own kiddos are loading it up with their own gear, off on a weekend adventure, off to try something new.

Bees! (Well, Bee Cookies)

I'm falling deeper down the rabbit hole... or would it be bee hole? That doesn't sound right. Anyway, I'm all up in this beekeeping thing. I'm now involved in two beekeepers' clubs, one of which is just getting started, and for last night's meeting I volunteered to bring refreshments for everyone. All 75 of them.

I could have just brought Chex mix and bottled water, but what would have been the fun in that? As the only member in this charter club that does not have bees (yet!), I felt like a little more effort would be well played.

So a little more effort I gave.

Every time I attend a bee class or a beekeepers' meeting, I come away feeling so much more 'in the know' and at the same time so humbled by what I still don't know. One thing I'm feeling good about, though: I feel like I'm ready to place my order for my bees and hives. I can't wait until October!

But until my order is placed and Spring brings my bees, I'll just settle for a hives' worth of bee sugar cookies and a bunch of new beekeeping friends!

Find the cookie cutters I used here. 

Long-Awaited Endings, New Beginnings

Our August wrapped up with a monumental, long-awaited conclusion to a drama we've been wrapped up in since buying our house. It's finally 99% over. We can breathe. We can celebrate. We can raise our eyes to What Comes Next and start laying in a course.

What a perfect way to begin September. How apropos that the physical turning of a calendar page has us metaphorically turning a life page, too.

Welcome September! Everything will come in due course, but for now, we celebrate!

No Story, Just Adorable

...and he sang to it until it warmed up enough to jump away.