Family Life

Just thought I'd post some of my favorite "this and that" pics taken this month. Scarlet and I are together all day every day, with the exception of two evenings a week for a few hours (when I'm teaching dance). So we have lots of chill time together and I try to make it a priority for her. It's those moments sitting together on the floor in that sun pouring through the window, sometimes just listening to music or reading a book. Or even snuggling up together for a cartoon, each with a drink in hand. We do this quite a lot, or at least in balance to the running around. I remember these same moments with Elliot, 4 years with him alone as my baby boy, and I loved those quiet times with him so much. So I wanted to absolutely make sure that, though I would have 4 kids and all the crazy busy that would come with that, I had to slow it down enough to enjoy the sweetest moments I'd remember in years to come. 

It's the reason you'll see waaaay more pictures of the little lady then anyone else. She's glued to me, everywhere I go. And I'm all the better for it. I am so completely infatuated with her, no less than when she was born. Her daddy and I still can't believe we have a girl … it's crazy. She's an incredible child and a huge, HUGE gift to our family. She's crazy about her brothers and they have an unending supply of love for her. Every once in a while I can steal Elliot away for a picture too but he has to be persuaded to do so, and it's always a quick in and out. Not always easy for a mama who takes a good 8 pics to get that one beautiful-enough shot. :)

So here are a few pictures from our day in and day out. Nap time, play time, lunch time. Those times when I'm trying to get some work done at home and she's "helping". 

I cannot begin to tell you how much I cherish these days. I have been feeling like I'm in a comfortable place as a mommy. It's just a good time for us. Our kids are all doing well and we're in a phase of life where we're not constantly struggling with discipline. They're comfortable with their schools, their extra curriculars, their friends, with each other and with us. They're getting along well and they're good to each other. Now this is new. We've been through tons of struggles raising 3 boys with incredibly different personalities. Tons! But it's just our time to sit back and relax and enjoy them and I'm so grateful for that. I know that excruciating difficulties are ahead (hello pre-teen!) but hey, I'm loving life and these kids just as they are, right now, so happy and perfectly imperfect, and so eager to please. Whew, that's a lovely thing isn't it? This time when our children are eager to please us (for the most part!). Thank you God for the incredible gift of a happy life. We're counting our blessings.