A little lavender scented bubble bath
 and then some nail polish
 for a Sunday night treat. Everyone needs to be pampered once in awhile.

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.

for my mind: seeing little ones read together. Or mostly listen as Paul reads.
The writing out of tickets to see a baseball game in the bedroom.

At school they have such a healthy balance of learning and fun.

for my heart: a sneak away breakfast at the Starling Diner with homemade scones and butter

with my favorite guy. He is my best friend.
for my soul: a letter from Portland that I needed to read after such a long hard week at work. A friend (even far away) is uplifting and encouraging.

These are the tiny moments making a huge difference in my days.

We went to our first local soccer game (thank you Mimi-for tickets).
Henry playing soccer means there is added interest these days.

 A warm and loud Sunday evening, a total change of scenery and pace. My first time seeing a soccer field that big. 
The field was super close and balls would go flying into the crowd.
Plus, friends make everything more fun.
Chivas won!

I love to see Fiona and Olivine side by side.
They both have bangs and chubby cheeks to frame their smiles.
They are at the age where they can tune everyone else out and gibber gabber away.
Or sit together and read before bed time.

Is how we feel about the newest baby in our lives
Miss Reagan Eleanor.
A newborn is more tiny than I can fully remember.
When I see toddlers gathered around her, I can’t imagine how fast time has flown by.
I am thrilled for Jessica and Mike.This baby is the welcome reminder of joy and family and life. A season to celebrate.

Who knew these kids would be cheering for a team in the playoffs?That means we feasted on veggie dogs and chips and fruitwhile the kids watched and then imitated.
They love the imaginary swinging of a bat with serious faces.
This also means Joe and I are learning the players names and listening to baseball games in the car. It is a new season for sure around here, with all the sports talk.

My heart swells these days when I watch Paul help his siblings. It could be his age (almost seven-What!) or my noticing more.Without asking, usually just glancing over, he has become this kid who willingly plays with his brother and sister. He is unafraid to be silly and sweet with them. This morning, he was pushing her on a swing and laughing. Later, he was helping with helmets, buckling seat belts, and passing out water bottles. He is this guy that Joe and I find ourselves talking about late at night because of  the changes have come about so quickly. He calls his friend Mario on the phone and invites him to the park. He loves to climb into his bunk bed and put on a cd to dance to or lay quietly listening to a baseball game. He makes eye contact and orders his own food when we are out. I overhear phrases like “excuse me” and “thank you” fall from his lips without prompting. It is the reassurance that  although life is not perfect he is turning out to be a great kid.

Sometimes I think we are all adoring this little girl so much that she couldn’t possibly want anything more. Then I realize she is very attentive to the individual attention paid to her brothers. They both started school, Henry is in soccer, and she is only two. Happily, that is why she has a Grammy who can indulge her with just a little one on one time. Which I know every kid needs, even this baby girl who is seemingly spoiled.

This ended up being a shoe shopping trip. With not just one but two pairs of shoes being purchased.I guess my mom couldn’t resist her big brown eyes. Or maybe it is all the choices shopping for a girl brings. Which I denied before having a girl, but now will fully admit. There are tons more choices and colors and styles and it can by mind boggling.

But this momma heart feels thanks. These days, any extra time, that one of my babes gets with the folks they love, warms my heart. I know I can’t be in more than one place at a time. I am fortunate to have a job. I am ecstatic Joe is in his LAST year of school. But it doesn’t take away the ache to make sure my kids have their needs met. She doesn’t need shoes. Not at all. But a little time with no brothers interrupting her, no parents pushing her little legs to walk faster, and a seemingly endless amount of time with just her Grammy is seriously priceless.

I consciously fight against the guilt of not being able to volunteer in the kid’s classrooms or push the multiple fundraisers sent home (don’t really want to hit up all my other friends who have kids). So when opportunities arise- like at the Child Development Center- to sign up to be the “play dough parents” for a few months I know there is grace for working parents.
 Our first batch is due by October first (fast approaching) and we decided to double the recipe.
 Just a few ingredients and some tips on-line about food coloring to use.
 Easy to make and intentionally mixed while our youngest slept.
 This gave us the rare chance to be with the boys and make a mess in the kitchen. Two things I need more of in my life (truly).
Henry handled the oven stirring and measuring of ingredients.
We all made our own color balls. We experimented with color mixing.By the time she woke up, there were plenty of colors to choose from.
She was more than happy to just play with each color.
 Henry joined in.
Honestly after this I found myself wondering why we hadn’t made any of this sooner. We will definitely be doing this again.