Elise's guys

There's only four more weeks of summer left.  Elise is going to miss her guy friends once school starts.  

Elise, Ethan, Nick, Owen, Aidan, Chase 

Way gorgeous

I had to share!  Everything looks gorgeous against natural stone and driftwood.  

Look what flutters in the backyard along with my kiddos.  Plant one butterfly bush and three milk weed plants ( grown in the wild) and these pictures can happen before your eyes.  

Color play

When I can remember to, I like to set up a water color painting station for the kids as a calming transition/redirecting activity.  The instructions is not to paint but to okay with the colors.  Our isle and paint pallets are completely brown afterwards.  But who cares if that's how they are able to self discover the blending of colors.  We do alot of art in this house with little instructions and without intention of the pressure of turning into a masterpiece.  I save it all though with the intention that as they grow I can make a time line book of how they grow artistically.  

Cousin time!

My niece Danica turned 365.4 days old last week.  It was one special celebration with nothing short of spectacular food, and decor reminiscent of all things little girl. 

Despite her " I miss mommy and daddy" face. Kyle and I held it together pretty well watching Danica along with our trio for a part of an afternoon.  

Dads on duty.  

Birthday girl rhumba. 

More pretty things for her closet.  

Danica loves blueberries, peas, mommy and daddy.  It's all very organic and sweet.  

Cousins by the pool.  Aidan says he can't wait until Danica can jump off the diving board with him.  I bet she can't wait either!!! 

A little gratitude goes a long way

There's Kyle drawn in yellow.  The yellow circle is his conference table because that's where they sit and eat lunch when we visit daddy at work.  We've been writing thank you pen pal letters and sending them all over the country to family and friends.  On this particular day one of the boys said "lets thank dad!" And the other brother said "and he will be proud because we are saving money by not having to send his note with a stamp" .  

Summer nap time

I look at this picture and notice how big she's grown to be.  Last summers mullets has turned into a beautiful mane of hair.  So far she will only allow me style her hair enough to sweep her bangs out of her face so that we do not need to cut bangs and deal with the grow out process.  Elise will be going to PM preschool in the fall which means these nap afternoons are coming to an end soon. Until that time come u continue to cherish her nestled in the nape of my neck as age drifts off to dreamland mid-day.  

Truck wash