#100HappyDays :: Day 81

Yesterday a group of friends and I tried something new.  SUP Yoga (Stand up Paddleboard), was a ton of fun!  It truly added a whole new level to maintaining balance in poses when both physically your platform is moving as well as all of your visual surroundings.  I would definitely love to do this again!  There were enough of us that we had to break into two groups, so the first picture I took, then the second two I want to give a photo shout out by my friends Mary and Heather.    A happy couple of hours in what was otherwise a busy chili cook-off prep day :)

#100HappyDays :: Day 72

Sid had a friend over last night, and a spectacular sunset began the girls evening activities.  You can make out a few green flecks in the water.  As we watched the sky change from brilliant color to brilliant color we filled the pool with glow sticks for a little night swimming and lots of laughter.

#100HappyDays :: Day 47

An evening celebrating dear friends.  A party filled with laughter, tears, good food, lively conversation and all kinds of wackiness.

#100HappyDays :: Day 37

Yesterday evening I hosted a class where we learned how to use a bullet journal.  A pretty cool concept especially for someone who is a list maker and note taker.  I will not use it so much for the calendaring, I am perfectly comfortable with iCal, but I have never found a to do list app that I really liked, and I find that I have notebooks for so many different things that this will be a good way to consolidate everything into one place.

Our dear friends who are moving next month were in attendance and brought their kids so that our kids could have some extra time to hang out before the move.  Lots of laughter, a very heated round of Anomia, and playing ghost in the graveyard in the rain gave the kids as well as the parents a very happy moment to remember.

#100HappyDays :: Day 30

It seems like just yesterday she was in kindergarten, now she has graduated 8th grade and is on her way to high school.

She has grown up before my eyes and my heart both sores and hurts for her as she learns to navigate life.

She was not enthusiastic about the ceremony, but I think that she is glad that she went. What she really was looking forward to was hanging out with her friends at the reception and art display afterwards.  I had to dodge a cafeteria full of adults and kids moving around to try to catch a couple of candids.  It is fun to see her in her element at ease with her friends.

We went out for frozen yogurt with her group afterwards and I was reminiscing with one of the moms how only three years ago at a roller skating meet and greet of incoming sixth graders Sidney and Libby sat on the sidelines, both too shy to join in much or communicate with one another.  Now they are both zany, smart, beautiful girls with sharp wits.  A happy evening of endings and new beginnings.

#100HappyDays :: Day 14

The kids have been marathon watching Friends and we have been catching our fair share in the evenings.  It is so much fun to watch it again.  This time around we get to laugh and debate about episodes and favorite characters with the kids.  I love seeing it again through their eyes!

{this moment}

{this moment}-- A Friday ritual.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment that I want to pause, savor and remember.

Linking with SouleMama

Our Daughters

Our daughters.  Smart, creative, imaginative, old souls.  For months they have dreamt about getting their attire in place and spending their summer weekends at the Renaissance Faire.

Though, the season passes may be in next years reality, hopefully we will get another chance this summer, and this weekend was one to remember.  Spending a beautiful day; half of it getting the perfect peasant chic dialed in.

So proud of my girl, getting into perfect Ren Faire character as she yelled "Lady Rebecca" through the store to be fitted with her bodice. (very against type I assure you, yet the glee in her face when she broke free to do it was priceless)!

Then to top off the glow of the day at the faire, an overnight with her kindred spirit.  Followed by a day planning for a photo shoot.

Look what lovely young wenches ladies, our daughters are turning out to be.

These photos were taken by my good friend Nicole.  An amazing job capturing the beautiful spirit of our daughters.  xo

Solstice Weekend

This last weekend was full of busy celebration.  The weather here has been un-summerlike for late June; fairly cool, rain almost daily, and lots of fog.  Despite this, every moment this weekend that truly mattered was enveloped in a ray of sunshine to remind us that it is really summer.  On the solstice we dodged rain drops all day.  When it came time for our Solstice Celebration at the Eco-Justice Center, the sun came through just in time for a spectacular sunset on the longest day.  Perfect to enjoy the Native American drumming and stories around the medicine wheel.

Sunday a high school classmate of B's arrived for a short visit (thank you facebook for rekindling old friendships).  He and his wife rode all the way here from Tulsa on their motorcycle and headed out this morning toward the U.P.  We welcomed them in true farm style with a garden supper complete with a large beer tasting and a welcoming party of Wisconsin friends to celebrate.

The adults enjoyed the garden, while the kids picnicked on the grass and played the evening away.

Yesterday after work and running to appointments and 4h activities we enjoyed another lovely garden dinner with our friends and off they went this morning...in what else, more fog.  Great to finally meet you Tim & Jeanice, until next time!  I'd say quite the perfect weekend to celebrate midsummer.

All of Our Different Families

We are very fortunate that we can spend the holidays with each of our families.  We made a very important commitment over 20 years ago, that family was an a-number one priority to us.  This became even more intensely so when the kids were born and our business moved us further from both families.  We try to alternate, and this year we are in California with my family for Thanksgiving, and we will be spending Christmas with B's.  It can be hectic, but we have never had a second thought.  This dedication to family is something we want our kids to be acutely familiar with and hopefully emulate.  A nice byproduct of this is they get concentrated spurts of quality bonding time with each family.

Beyond that we have another special family, that of our friends and support system at home.  Any other special days are always peppered with these amazing people.  We laugh, cry, cook, eat, joke, listen, wax philosophical and cook some more.  I know that our siblings also have similar support groups of family-like friends and these relationships are such a gift for all of us.

I am truly thankful for all of our different families.  Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving, full of amazing food, drink, lively conversation (possibly inspired by said drink), and most importantly family of all sorts.  xo

**A special thank you to my dedicated readers for all of your support and comments, it appears that I blew past 60,000 hits this week while taking a break.  A Happy Thanksgiving to you!