Hanna climbing

cuteness.

a certain little girl in our house is really loving her new room.

she doesn't even want to be taken from her bed in the mornings or after nap time.

the others tend to join her eventually,

after hearing all the fun she is having.

in other news, we are in full soccer season.

after debating about whether or not we were going to play,

i decided that we all needed the fresh air (and, i must mention, it is very nice to just have hanna to play with as i sit on the sidelines.)

she makes a very good cheerleader!

all else is well, not too exciting, but never a dull moment.

like right now.

elias is on one knee 

and hanna is jumping off the coffee table.

it might not be safe.

i should go.

xx

happy girl.

 this is the typical scene in our backyard.

and, of course, here are a few from my phone.

looks just like me!

 our pet turtle for the day.

a starbucks morning with my ada.

small moments.

it's the little things in life

that make it so special.

the big things are so anticipated

they don't always live up to our expectations.

on a typical day, i don't have expectations.

yes, i have to-do lists,

but mostly i just keep my fingers crossed that things don't combust.

we have plenty of combustions.

like the other day when hanna took her diaper off 

and smeared poop all over the carpet.

or

when the babysitter cancelled at 9pm 

the night before our 8th wedding anniversary.

not so awesome.

but just looking through the pictures

the small moments have been so wonderful. 

you can see for yourself.

in the days filled with busy school drop-offs and pick-ups,

soccer practices,

playdates,

home renovations,

it is the ordinary moments that we enjoy the most.

 a dish-wash station filled with bubble bath.

ice cream.

 bike rides and walks through merritt's pasture are a current favorite.

 lizard watching.

 rugrat perfection.

 turtle catching.

 cow-hunting.

 bamboo swinging.

 walks in duke garden.

 visits from grandparents (that includes babysitting!)

 cute kiddos.

 jedi knights.

 sour pusses.

 soaring.

 happiness.

 flying.

pure bliss.

first day of ladybug preschool

he was so excited to go back to school.

although, he was a little turned off by his new class' name-

the lady-bugs.

he is no lady, he will let you know.

he dressed himself, not exactly what i would have picked

but he felt AWESOME.

mostly, because he is.

when i picked him up, i asked him how his first day when.

"GREAT!

but mostly the kids were scared of me.

and the teachers."

me "why?"

"because i was a inja (ninja) and i ran around jumping and kicking."

you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

awesome.