The Farm

One day this summer the dear friends I meet and pray with each week and I took all of our kids to visit a sage of a woman who has meant a lot to all of us.  Several years ago she moved out to Middleburg.  It is gorgeous out there:  low stone fences, horse farm after horse farm and winding roads.

The moms all got to visit with Mary Ann and our city slicker kids got a needed dose of "country".  My kids desperately want to live on a farm.  Sigh.

Climbing fences, petting horses, collecting tadpoles ... sheer bliss for my kids!

The tadpoles didn't last long after they morphed and some didn't grow legs at all.  I think the the nearest stream water I changed out for them wasn't murky enough and arrested their development.  The last two were released at the other Fabulous Farm event of the year.  But that ... is another post for another time.

The Recital

I am hoping to FINALLY catch up on a little downloading and editing of summer images.  It has been quite a summer in our household.  The kids go back to school soon and I really want to capture what has been an unexpectedly wonderful summer.

First installment:  Kit's piano recital.  Last year in Kathmandu the Jazz Conservatory held the recital in a bar.  Tiki torches and everything.  This fact that Kit's first gig was in a bar still cracks us up.  The only issue was that she could barely play a thing.  Nevermind though, she bravely got up there and did her thing and we were proud of her courage.  This year Miss Mary the piano teacher's recital was in a church.  We're far from the 'Du indeed.  What a difference a year makes!

Practiced hands.

Happy performer (note silly bandz!)

Dutiful Brother (and Nana in background).

Shakin' and Quakin'

We lived for three years in Kathmandu having a fear of "the big one" hanging over our heads.  We had earthquake drills.  We had supplies.  I had spare sneakers under the bed.  We were (somewhat) prepared.  Thankfully - nuthin' happened.

But this morning at 5 am, in Washington Crazy DC, there was an earthquake!

Now of course I wasn't fully aware of this fact.  I read the paper but rarely get to watch the news because as Gavin DeBecker says (paraphrase) - NEWS stands for Nothing Educational Worth Seeing when it comes to having it on in front of children.  But I digress.  SO ... my neighbor Lucy comes over to ask if I woke up at 5am.  At first I said "no".  Then she told me about 3.6 earthquake that shook the area and I started to LAUGH. 

I did wake up at five.  Do you know when you are in that twilight/quasi sleep state?  I woke up and thought "Hmm, they must have finished the HVAC part of the renovation and that unit up on the top floor is on.  Bummer.  It shakes the house.  Is there anything they can do about that?  Put it on a platform or something?  Probably too late.  Oh well."  And back to sleep I went.  I actually didn't give it another thought until Lucy came over.

No one else may think this is funny.  My husband might (yet another good reason to have married him).  Our contractor did (he may have been laughing that it entered my mind at all that they might be ... done!).

I know, those who live in California mock as we rock! 

Here's to just enough excitement to stir us from slumber. Clink.

Tomorrow

It isn't as if nothing is happening in life that I don't blog anymore.  Au contraire Pierre!  There is so much going on that my head is spinning a bit.  Actually I try to keep the head straight so I can see where I am going but the rest of my body is doing the rubberband man keeping the family afloat.

It isn't as if I think the events of life aren't blogworthy.  I compose posts in my head sometimes.  I just can't seem to get them down on the screen anywhere close to the actual event.

So what's goin' on?  Enough fodder for a whole bunch of posts!  The kids have been out of school a month already.  Kit is doing swim team for the very first time.  Our house is being renovated while we suffer neurological damage from lead live in it. There is something else that I just can't write about but I PROMISE to tell you later.  I went to more recitals in June than that woman with 18 kids.  (I'm lying about that.)

I'm so tired right now I can't put a sentence together.

Tomorrow, tomorrow.

Summertime

According to the calendar it is the first official day of summer   We've been at it for a few weeks in this household!  There are two sides to the lazy days of summer coin.  I find the lack of structure can be both relaxing and stressful!  My childhood memories of summer were full of days at the pool and trying new things at camp and I love to see my kids enjoy the new activities and experiences of the season.

The Gratitude List goes on ...

011
Melting ice cream cones.

012
Kit's first swim team meet ... ever.

013
The angst surrounding said meet being overcome by the joy of achievement.

014
Water slides.

015
Cannonball joy jumps into the pool.

016
Breakfast for dinner.

017
The longest day of the year.

018
Sun kissed faces.

019
The fun of newfound summer friendships and the faithfulness of the long held ones.

020
Watching the pollywogs grow legs in our kitchen.

021
Little Swift ditching the swimmies for the very first time.

022
Lemonade and ice tea ... every day.

023
Tutus, roses and curtsies to end a year of Ballet

All about babies ...

The only baby shoot I've ever done was for a friend and what a SWEET little guy he is.  He's bigger now but the baby shots of his are some of my favorites.  It's baby week at I Heart Faces.

Grateful ...

I started this weeks ago (#s 1-6) but got too ... busy (the "b" word -sigh!).  I am here striking out again and will actually push "publish" whether I feel "done" or not.

Life has felt a bit insane of late and being too busy is not something I cherish.  So in light of that I want to bask in the light that is Gratitude.  Thankful hearts beget so many good things.  I have been intending to join the Gratitude Community for-simply-ever.  I love the idea of intentionally celebrating those things we are grateful for.  It breeds contentment.  And what else?  I'll let you know when I reach 1000.

So here goes ...

001
A weekend with dear friends full of laughter and good conversation.

002
Glorious weather at the beach.

003
Little hands to hold.

004
Sand castles.

005
Enthusiastic theatrical performances by our little thespians.

006
History with old friends.

007
The proud/embarrassed visage of our little pianist at her recital.
 
008
Grandparents who love on their grandchildren.
 
009
Bare feet and summertime.
 
010
Playgrounds.