my sleep is sandwiched between so much joywhere Henry wants to cuddle in bed telling me about how the moon looks like banana
and Paul wakes up first (super early) and I serve him breakfast on the couch while I pack lunches.

We walked over to the park and I just watched and listened. After a full week at work I just needed to sit.The boys rode their bikes while Olivine stayed close byShe found rolly polliesand Henry found a stray balloonwhich he eventually gave to Olivine and she ended up hugging it too hard.We meandered our way home, stopping for a session on the workout barsand suddenly I am recharged. My family is the best cure for my stress and they are always reminding me life is full.

She imitates her papa, spinning her baby around.Sometimes she doesn’t want to do what she is told or asked.Other times she looks like she is going to give you a piece of her mind.It will change on a dime when papa has let her play in the sun too longand then insists on packing her back into the bike cart.

In phases with me and papa first. Next up, was Henry and Olivine. They started back on Tuesdays, going twice a week.This gave Paul one last breakfast alone with his papa. A fabulous way to say good-bye to summer.On Wednesday our oldest and first born started kindergarten. I’m full of sentiment looking at this boy who counts down the days of summer, truly disappointed that he was the last to go back to school. He spent a handful of days proclaiming “I’m ready” and he is. He loves school, learning, playing, and having a slice of independence. A space all his own without the doting on Olivine and distractions of Henry. My favorite quote at the end of the day was “When I close my eyes, my teacher sounds like Mrs. Wilson (his teacher last year) and I love it.”One more moment in parenting, where I get to practice letting go.

to celebrate our friend Andrew turning six (this is Paul’s friend since they were three at the co-op).
There were teams on each lane, including Olivine.
At some point papa and baby went on an adventure on the other side with the arcade games.My first though was “why?” but when I saw the pictures I mostly wished they had won.
Paul looks pretty good as a pin.The boys were having a blastI never knew there was this kid bowling support contraption to push balls off ofAt one point the noise and action of balls and people shocked our youngest
but she can enormously resilient
especially if there is chocolate birthday cake.By the end I felt like she looked
and that’s what a six year old birthday should feel like. Well done Demboski Family- STRIKE!

this jelly from France (raspberry please).

the last few flowers from a bouquet the Paul picked out at Trader Joe’s.

the open kitchen window with a breeze and slightly cooler weather.

a house that sleeps in on Sunday morning, with children straggling into our room one at a time.

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

with 90 degree plus weather we are trying hard to stay cool in Long Beach
with a ride on the water taxibeing tourists in our own backyard
eating ice cream
lots of time spent in diapers
naps are even sweatyand finally when we exhausted all choices, we headed to the bay.
They were so excited to feel the chills from the water while laying in the sunand the breeze off the water
The happiness showed in their behavior, because we all know that the heat can make folks a little cranky, and the cooler weather was our relief.