Kids Were Here
'If you must look back,do so forgivingly.
If you must look forward,
do so prayerfully.
However, the wisest thing you can do
is be present in the present...
gratefully.'
-Maya Angelou
Remember all those spilled cups of water; all of you, it happens often. I went to wipe up the table, & this puddle so perfectly captured the reflection of the pussywillows on the table. 
Remember your boots, Ella; the ones you HAVE to wear, which is beneficial since you spend a lot of time in mud puddles, but not so good when you kick them off to run barefoot in 40 degree weather. Perhaps that's why your runny nose won't go away. 
Remember your forts- under the table and in the living room. You even slept in your living room one; we had strict orders to leave it up that day and night, for a slumber party. 
Remember one of our Easter art projects- using potatoes to make egg prints. Covey, you got a little carried away with the paint. Actually, you all did.
Remember your 'babies,' Ella. The ones you so happily love and reject; there's not a lot of middle ground for them. 
Remember your love for olives, Ella. You walk to the pantry daily, shouting 'olives! olives!'
Remember Ry's first baseball practice, Cove; we played catch for awhile then headed back to the truck. I asked you where you put your mitt, and your directions lead me here. 
Remember your 2nd birthday party Ella- your cake, your flowers, your friends and family. It was a beautiful day. 
Remember your obsession, Ella, with dumping out games all over the floor.
Remember how much you love your collections, Cove; you were so proud of those bullet shells you collected from the beach. 
Remember the collection you created at Ry's soccer practice, Cove; finding all sorts of (not-so-safe) objects behind the bleachers. 
Remember that red rocking chair- the one Ry got for his first birthday; the one Ella now sits in regularly. 
Remember when we dyed Easter eggs, Ry; you were so anxious and excited for the process. It was your first year dying real eggs. 
Remember that giant green duck egg, and how beautifully it held its green color; and all the other eggs you dyed turned out so vibrant.
Wish You Were Here 16/52
Wish You Were Here ...virtual postcards from around the world
Dear Friends,
Last week, I was one of the artist-in-residence at Ry's school. I did a watercolor photo project with the first-graders, incorporating the Dr. Seuss book "My Many Colored Days." It was an incredible experience. It ended with a wonderful Art Walk the school hosted, showcasing all the students' artwork in the halls. Truly an inspiring event. We continue to juggle sports and school; just 7 days left for Covey with preschool, and a few weeks left for Ry. Definitely bittersweet- we're anxious for summer, but hard to believe I'll soon have a kindergartener and second-grader. Wow. It is moving fast. Life is good. xo
Wish You Were Here 15/52
Wish You Were Here ...virtual postcards from around the world
Dear Friends,
It's been a whirlwind, juggling Ry's activities. How a seven year old ended up with so many sports, I'm not sure...okay, I am sure, but just have to get through a couple weeks of craziness and then we're back to one a week. Somehow his soccer, baseball and dance recital are all overlapping. So six days a week for two weeks, we're doing the shuffle- and he's not exhausted. I'm convinced he cannot run out of energy. It's been really fun to watch him come into his own with his sports this year, he seems so small to be able to throw and catch a baseball, or make a soccer goal. Yet he's not...Life is good. xo 
WIsh You Were Here 14/52
Wish You Were Here ...virtual postcards from around the world Dear Friends, EllaGrace is '2'!! How'd that happen?!?! We had a wonderful birthday party the day before her birthday- spending the Sunday with family and friends. The weather was amazing, sunshine and blue skies. The kids ran, and ran and ran. It was perfect. Her birthday was spent with us five, enjoying a few rounds of happy birthday and cupcakes. Life is good. xo.
Happy Birthday
When your due date came and went, I wasn't surprised. It was the same with the boys; but I was anxious and ready to have you, even though I knew I'd be sitting here, two years later, wondering what happened to the last two years. Time is a funny thing. You want something so bad, you patiently wait, it takes forever, then suddenly it's come and gone, and here you are running and talking and laughing and telling us everything is 'mine!' Your curiosity and sense of adventure amaze me, you're fearless and that scares me, you're funny- really, really funny. You're a spitfire and you're incredibly sweet. You're pretty dang amazing, EllaGrace, and I hope you have the happiest of days today, and always. A few favorites from the last two weeks, her last two weeks before toddlerhood.
'live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.' - r.w. emerson
