wanna see what we're up to this weekend?
it takes my breath away too ... in so many ways!
she's growing up fast.
my tiny dancer isn't as tiny as she used to be.
she doesn't have bangs anymore so she blends right in with all those big girls with the slicked back hair and buns.
she is adorable and bubbly and lovin' life though!
she keeps us on our toes!
and her's are adorable ... just look at those ballet toes?
lots of laughter and color and smiles and yummy food and silly faces.
yep, in honor of my niece, andrea.
she's gettin' hitched in a couple months!
i'm glad i got to be part of it.
chicago, i have missed you so much.
i didn't even realize it till i came back to see you!
i just figured out that i haven't been there since i ran the half marathon there in september 2003 with dad.
i think we're gonna be heading that way more often soon though since someone very special to us might call that big city home.
okay so lots of you who come here to read follow me on instagram too (and if you don't follow me there but want to i'm "dsjbowers").
it was different than the beach vaca we usually take in the spring.
these kids were troopers and enjoyed the change of scenery too!
one day we walked at least three miles for one of our outings.
we hit some touristy stuff instead of boutiques this time.
we swam more than we explored.
it's different with four kids in tow.
it was fun!
man, oh man, is it nice to leave our four walls.
i think we're fixin to do this more often even if it is just to stay in our tent one weekend a month throughout the nicer seasons.
i'm still catching my breath from easter fun, a quick spring break trip to chi-town, and more days off school.
i am back into real life again though.
lax practice, hanging with buddies, soccer games, family dinners, laundry, and all that good stuff.
and i have to give myself a break because things are really gonna speed up fast way before they slow down.
we got to hang with my baby sister and her family this easter.
the bs welcomed all of us into their beautiful home and cooked us a nice dinner.
thanks kel, ja, anna, and baby rose!
the j kids love hanging with family for holidays, and you guys made this one very special and memorable for all of us.
thanks, aimee and shawn for letting me stalk your blooming magnolia.
i love finding beauty!
i watched this long before i ever snapped pics of it.
and today when i picked up for the lax carpool, i was a little bummed those buds are bloomed and exhausted for this year.
we would have more days off school.
so i can hang with my four favorite little people (who seem to be getting big right before my very eyes).
so i can sleep in till seven thirty or so.
so we can clean the house together.
so we can discover new places.
so we can love each other deeper.
so we can be silly and ridiculous and whine and laugh.
so we can march to the beat of our own drum more often!
i'm so happy it's spring break for johnny this week.
i'm so happy joey and janie are wrapping up q3 at school because q4 will fly and then it will be summer.
i do get to be in charge for summer time.
no homework, just housework ... no early mornings unless we're dying to catch a sunrise in one of our favorite spots ... summer goals and summer rewards ... a list of fun things and ordinary things we find beautiful year after year ... splashing ... growing ... bonding ... enjoying extra light and warmth.
that's my story today.
i'm sticking to it!
when we were off on friday for a teacher in service day, we headed into the city to hang at scioto audubon metropark.
it's awesome!! we'll definitely be back there soon.
it might just be our secret hide out for summer twenty12. i guess it wouldn't be a secret since i already told you though.
i'm yearning for the lazy days of summer.
i don't want to wish any of my life away though.
exhaustion has the best of me.
i've had sick kids a bunch over the past six weeks.
i might worry too much and waste some energy when my kids are sick.
maybe, maybe not.
the spring weather we are having today is awesome.
i just really want to lighten up the schedule and pack a bag for the pool.
that's it!
spring is gonna be busy and fast so i'll just enjoy that while i have it!!
so here are some pics from last august at mom's pool when the j kids got to swim with some of their cousins.
the morning started off a little slow, or uhhh, full of crankies in the house.
i was all up in my head going through all that needed to be done.
the kids were bickering.
ink was smearing on the thank you cards janie was writing.
i was looking at cluttered counters and small messes everywhere!
everything was driving me crazy!!
the sun was shining outside.
that right there helps me figure out how to get happy.
blue sky, bright sun, ahhhhhh.
i got to take a walk in the woods with my bestie.
a bunch of my pent up energy was burnt off right then.
then i got to go out on a date with my camera and kara!
and i got cuddle time with each of my favorites.
when forgiveness and fostering an environment for reconciliation are top of mind, opportunities to live it out appear magically.
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here's my new friend, graduating senior, future babysitter, kara.
thanks, mom and dad, for the gift of my catholic faith.
thanks, God, for the grace of the sacraments that's easy to be open to.
thanks, rosie, for a reason to gather at mom's house.
i picked my word of the year for twenty12.
yep, it's a practice i started a couple years ago.
this blog world inspired me!
the combination of 2010's word: pray and 20eleven's word: peace, helped me to stamp these words in phillipians 4: 6-7 on my heart
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don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
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i am learning life is a practice.
i will be practicing love, self care, patience, photography, exercise that makes me sweat, remembering to breathe, faith, yoga, laughter, eating healthy, gratitude, vulnerability, and living fully into the moments that make up my life.
it might even be okay to make some mistakes in this practice.
(the recovering perfectionist in me told me that :))
here is one of the families that let me practice my photography on them while i was in california last weekend.
thank you, kristin for the opportunity to snap the beauty and joy you guys exuded on the beach last friday afternoon!
