summer beach week, in pictures.

first day of first grade!

today, this very special little girl started first grade.

she was thrilled.

she sprinkled her "jitter glitter" under her pillow last night

and woke up ready and excited for her first day.

she and i walked to school, alone, and she talked incessantly the entire way.

she walked into her class with confidence 

put her stuff in her cubby

and gave me a kiss.

that was it.

i wasn't ready to leave, but she never looked back at me so i knew i should go.

i have a good feeling about this year!

happy first day of first grade my ada.

i love you!

a cloudy heart.

we just spent a week a week at the beach.

the weather was perfect.

the kids were so well behaved.

and then

we had to come home.

why is it that is had to give me such a heavy heart?

 summer is ending.

ada finds out who her first grade teacher will be on wednesday.

i hope first grade is a tad bit better than kindergarten.

 my house is still. under. construction.

and it is getting very

very 

expensive.

i really just want them to gather their things

and leave.

they can leave the keys under the mat.

i want to enjoy my last days of summer alone with my children.

playing in our house.

without saws, and dust, and nail guns, and paint fumes.

i am beginning to wonder what we have done.

  

our bucket list is pretty much done.

playing beauty salon included cucumber facials

which ended up everywhere.

i am pretty sure the leather couch did not need a facial.

the olympics were very inspiring.

they also made me feel very out of shape.

as in v-e-r-y.

i hear when all your children are in school

first, you cry

then, you start working out.

it gives me hope

but also makes me never want that day to come 

(not because i want to go to the gym, but because i think i will cry ALOT.)

the beach was wonderful.

we all loved spending time with reza's family.

it does not come naturally for me to do nothing.

it is actually quite hard.

but by about day 5, i got the hang of it.

(kind of)

 and there isn't a single bone in my body that wants to be back.

in my manufactured subdivision.

in my teensy, tiny yard.

but i am.

i like the wide open spaces.

and sand 

and view.

the ocean waves reminded hanna of her noise machine

and every time we went for a walk

she would curl up in my arms and think it was nap time.

but she loved to play in the water.

almost as much as her big brother and big sister.

it was perfect.

elias even caught three fish.

he was so proud.

and he kept some pet clams the entire week.

we let them go last night

and he cried.

and cried.

let's hope these last days of summer prove to be as happy as the rest.

and while my heart feels cloudy

i know the sun will always shine through.

not to forget.

amidst my exhaustion, my kids really do seem to keep me on my toes.  i tend to forget the funny things, the little conversations that brighten my day and make it all worth it.  for that reason alone, i will share these two.  they are VERY entertaining.

- a few weeks ago, the kiddos and i were in the car coming home from a museum.
ada turns to elias and says "did you know, a long time ago, people with our skin color could not ride in the front of a bus?  we had to sit in the back or give up our seat so white people could sit there."
elias responds (bewildered) "wow.  well, one day i am going to marry a boy.  they are cooler."
ada "well, you will have to get married in another state then.  in north carolina you they just passed a law saying you can't marry a boy.  but don't worry, i will come to your wedding."

seriously, this was their conversation and my heart was laughing so hard.
i am not sure what ethnicity ada considers us, but it surely is not white.  and as for amendment one, i think she is still in shock that it passed!

- this week ada came to me and asked "mom, how big do boobs get?"
i responded "grown ups can have boobs of all shapes and sizes.  mine are probably smaller than most other lady's"
ada "i like yours though mommy.  they look just like mine."

enough said.

say it isn't so.

is it really already august?
seriously.
i obviously haven't looked at a calendar lately.
on a good day i remember which day of the week it is.
i won't mention what could happen on a bad day (i really did try to put a diaper on ada the other day and was shocked when i saw cute little undies covering what-i-thought-was my baby's tush!)

so,
hellllllooooo august.
we are still busy.
and our house is unbelievable dusty, as the drywall has now been hung in our much overdue addition!
in a matter of a few weeks, i will no longer have an 18 month sleeping in my closet!
oh, and i will have a little girl in first  grade.

i am not sure if i have shared my feelings about school.
if so, stop reading.
i am not one of those mothers who is counting down the days.
the thought of a new school year= heart sinking.
maybe it makes me feel old.
maybe i hate the mundane schedule.
maybe the morning rush makes me drink less coffee.
or maybe i just miss my ada when she is at school for over 7 hours straight.

so, in the meantime we will enjoy or last weeks of summer.  we have a big beach week coming up, and lots of progress on our little attic project.  and we have to finish our bucket list- we are almost there!

enjoy the loads of random pictures!

 our little friend at the butterfly house.

 the new mist exhibit at the museum of life and science.

 new friends.

 naked babies= cute pictures.

 new skateboarding shoes. 

 my fisherman.

 our friends live in asheville and get to wake up to this view every morning.

how lucky are they?

 shave ice.

 we had to vacate our house for the night due to insulation installation.  our hotel shower had three shower heads.  nothing is more exciting!

 a visit with nande and poppi.

discovery place.

 smores.

me and my crazy girls.

mountain time

 dr. slechta and his winnie.

sisters.

 this kids has a pretty awesome "cheese".
i just wish she wouldn't make it every time i pointed the camera at her!

 siblings.

swinging.

 elias is a great role model if you ever want to borrow him.
swimming fully clothed.

 more nakedness.

rocks.

exhaustion.