Simple things we enjoyed November 2015

A 10 year anniversary trip to Aruba where we read, rested, relaxed and had uninterupted conversations with each other in the sand and sun.

I also found some heart shaped coral!

Watching our kids play together, using their imagination and tightening their bond.

Thanksgiving day 5k and a guy who is bsck to running after his mountain bike crash/injury.

Holiday preparations! And the magic that surrounds the season.

Simple Things Enjoyed In September

We are enjoying that our little guy is talking and running and just so happy. After a rough previous year with him being sick constantly, his health and growth is a beautiful thing.

He even ran in his first race and for a family that loves to run, this is a fun milestone for us.

Our little girl started school . She is making friends and loves to learn. Her stories from school are something I look forward to each day. And our weekly lunch dates at her school brighten my week.

She also lost her first tooth and got a visit from the tooth fairy. When daddy is a dentist, we get excited about teeth around here:)

Watching brother and sister play together is the highlight of most days- they love each other in the way I hoped and prayed they would and I hope that never changes:

That my husband is healing. He’s back to work after a bicycling injury that made us realize all we have to be thankful for. He even got on his bike for the first time since the accident.

Our health is something often take for granted. As are our jobs and sense of purpose. Gratitude is something we celebrate in November each year, but we are reminded daily of all that we have to be grateful for- coworkers that stepped up to help out, family and friends who helped us with meals, transportation, a listening ear, caring for our kids and our home.

I’ve enjoyed running, some craft projects with my little ones and because of my husband’s injuries a slower pace in the evenings. We made leaves out of coffee filters (directions here: http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2014/08/fall-window-art-leaf-suncatchers-free.html) which was great fun:

More movies watched and more rest. Something we desperately needed but would not have otherwise made time for. I've found a love for audiobooks that I can listen to while running and working on household chores and just read a great book that any woman should read: 

~Angela 

First day of school

I can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that we have a kindergartner.

I’ve had a week to digest this now (a week is enough time to have missed the bus already in case you were wondering) and really thought I would hold it together that First Day until I got a message from Our little girl’s preschool teacher the Morning Of The First Day of School saying “I know Your little girl is ready for this and God bless” that started the tears…

then there was those little legs climbing those giant bus steps that created more tears…

and then little brother who said “Sister, bye-bye, bus” and I lost it. I cried all the way to work (it’s only a mile, but still). 

I was giddy with excitement all day to pick her up and hear all about it. We waited in what has become our spot for the bus to round the corner and drop her off. Her first words off the bus: "can I go back tomorrow?!" 

She was ready. No doubt in my mind. She was up at 2:30am the first day she was so excited. But I guess I wasn't. I'd been thinking of all these fleeting moments of growth and I get very sentimental- this summer she has mastered riding a bike without training wheels, learned to swim on her own and learned to read. And her first tooth was loose just last week. These are such exciting milestones, but reminders that she is growing up- it's bittersweet. 

I want for her to love school like I did- new friends at her new school, new projects, a teacher that makes learning fun. Through tears, I read this prayer I've sent to friends with kids in school over the years, and it hit closer to home this year than in the past.

It's been awhile

After much consideration (the safety and online security of my family being my biggest concern) I decided to continue my blog. It's no secret that I take many photos and although I scrapbook these photos and keep journals for both of my kids, I miss writing about our other moments - our ordinary days, crafting and cooking and playing and being in nature. Living life together. Being a family. Traditions. I enjoy going back to the blog posts to relive the moments and the digital preservation of our family memories are captured in a way that we can watch the videos and see the photos again and again.

So, after combing through every single post to eliminate anything that would give away more info than I was safe revealing (first or last names, addresses, license plates, etc.) I'm giving this another go.

I've quickly filled the time I spent blogging with other things. Mostly being healthier- we eat much healthier because I cook much healthier (which means I spend more time shopping, cleaning and cutting all the fresh foods we are eating) and I've added running to my daily routine, getting up earlier than I ever have voluntarily (who knew I'd ever be a morning person?!) So I likely won't blog as often, but it's my blog so there aren't any rules anyway:)

Welcome back:)