Catching Caterpillars

my favorite part...

2012-01-23T13:34:00.000-08:00

my most favorite part of Christmas this year... and maybe ever...
was...
just before bed...
The Excitement!
We set out milk and cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer... then put the magic key outside since we don't have a chimney...
then we sat just the four of us on our driveway under the stars and moon... we hugged our children tight as can be... and Pappa and my eyes met and we were sparkling happy to be in this moment! I will always remember this moment...
Isabelle whispered quietly...
"Mamma, if you are really quiet and listen hard, you can hear the bells..."
it was so beautiful and sweet all at the same time!
we sat there for a bit and listened for the bells... and we heard them.

Santa Claus came!!!

Santa's reindeer were quite messy this year!

Uma and Umpa made the coolest tent!

thank you Santa... but my darn foot can't keep these sweet Toms on my foot... :-( had to return them to the North Pole...

a surprise present for Pappa... he was so happy!

I love every bit of Christmas... my girls make it magical!!!

Christmas Time...

2012-01-23T13:11:00.000-08:00

just came across these pics and had to post... I loved our Christmas time!
It was magic!
I love the coziness of it... it's a nice reward after such a crazy busy season with our photog biz...
We plan it right finalllllly... so we are OFF the week before Christmas!
I dream of it... and when it happens... it's like fireworks good!
Like I never want it to end good!

above... Skyping with Farmor & Farfar is so wonderful... technology these days is fantastic!
you can feel so connected to those you love all over the world!

can I just say... we will NEVER do the hard gingerbread house... you know... the one that requires melting sugar... spun sugar... sugar glass windows... ya that kind! NEVER!
from putting the roof on upside down... to crashing front of house... to broken chimney..... THEN...
Then...
Pappa Mattias yelling a VERY LOUD word that I maybe shouldn't write... just in case...
but it starts with an "F" and it wasn't fudge.
to me running in to see what happened...
to me grabbing the SAME pan that he BURNED his hand on...
then I said the "F" word!
to me soooooo burning my hand like the whole grabby part of my hand!
so bad that I couldn't let the hot water of my shower touch my hand bad!
ya, it hurt... and NO there will not be SPUN SUGAR EVER in our house..!

marzipan santas... much better!

I love how Christmas makes children prance and lift their hands up like fairies... it's magic! totally is! and I love every day of Red & Green!

This is how we do it...
Christmas Eve!
We celebrate at our home Christmas Eve as Swedish style... that's when they celebrate... we pull out all the traditions! Food! Drinks!
it's beautiful!
but... we eat outside under the stars... maybe a little bit different than Sweden... but that's how we do it!
Then Christmas Day we do it American style!

FUN!

and then the Swedish Tomten comes!!!
He is very old and comes with a lantern leading his way and an old sack... full of presents for our girls from Sweden...

a day on the farm with the Sullivans...

2012-01-22T18:16:00.000-08:00

I can't express how much I love taking our kids to a farm... any farm!
The experience of being so close to where their food comes from is the best lesson ever! and they really love it too!

this sweet mama and I have known each other since we were in kindergarten (5 years old!) and we actually met on a farm too... picking strawberries! I know I can hardly stand it myself!
So we have been friends like our whole lives... grown up together... our parents are great friends... weddings together... babies together... and we're even this cutie pie's God-Parents!
so..... when the news came that they were moving back to Florida last year... I was beyond ESTATIC!!!
So any good warm welcome needs a Farm Tour!!!

So here we are with the Sullivans! You'll see them a lot more now that we're beach buds again!

I mean the pitch on this slide was the best... my little girl's skinny bum was not hardly touching on the way down! That's a good slide! The faster the better right!

This is Ridge... my God-Son... and yes, he is the cutest! and yes, he really loves me! and man oh man do we ever love him!

ok... this is pretty sweet... I hardly had a chance to change up my settings when my little girl squealed... SANTAAAAAAAAA!!!!! I was like... what!??... turned and BAM! yes, the jolly guy was at the FARM!
I know... pretty sweet! Sometimes things like this happen... I like to tell our little girls that it's called Karma!
Isabelle: What's Karma Mamma...?
Me: well... Karma is when good things happen to you because you're really good! and don't just be good so that good things happen... just be truly good... and Karma will find ya!
Isabelle: I like Karma Mamma!
Me: Me too! :-P

are these two farm kids adorable or what!
and gosh, could their feet get any dirtier!
we had to scrub their feet raw to get close to their rose petals!
but it was worth it... running free on a farm... no cares... cow poop... chickens clucking... sun on our cheeks... cool breezes!
it was one of those... I love my life... kinds of days!

yes, they even got to feed the babies!

can't take it! I want a baby cow in my backyard! maybe let's start with chickens!

ok... prepare for a little bit of oooohs and ahhhs...
my girlfriend and I were talking when this view happened... our jaws dropped... it was like the most perfect light ever! we are both professional photographers so yes... the first thing that came out... ahhhh the LIGHTING!!! The yummiest lighting ever!
This is the sweet light we always try to find... the light that can make a shot AMAZING... waaaahbam!

....

but the lighting wasn't happening for a client... not for a shoot... no, it was happening to us! to our children... as we watched the lighting fall so soft on our children... I know we were both thinking it... saying it out loud... look at our children... being children... naturally outside... free... just like we grew up!

I'm not changing... I'm letting my kids grow up like kids... outside!
call me granola but my kids have to be kids... I'm not going to tell my kids stories of how it used to be... because it still can be... if you let it! throw them outside and give them nothing but an imagination!
It's the BEST gift you can ever give them!

Thank you Sullivan Family for moving on down! So happy you're here!

3...

2012-01-22T17:52:00.000-08:00

oh dear... totally wrote in my last post that our little sweetie turned
2.. totally meant 3!!! whoops!
We are LOVING 3!!!
she's got so much spunk and her true character is blooming!

so here we are waking and singing Swedish Happy Birthday to Cecilia!
it's a fun tradition... breakfast in bed, candles, singing, flowers, and presents!!!
all week we collect cards in the mail and never open until the real day! the special day! usually we don't even show the person who's birthday it is the pile of cards... so it's more of a surprise!
I love it when it's my birthday... listening in bed trying so hard not so smurk... the giggles out in the kitchen... the scurrying to collect every last detail.. the hushes... the tip toes... it never gets old! I look forward to it every year... and I hope my girls do to!

this cool German rainbow is amazing! The most played with toy in our home currently! Not only can it be a rainbow but also a horse stable.. a fleet of boats... a farm... a pond... and a rocking seat of course!
I love how Waldorf toys magically make children's minds come to life instantly! I start to doubt it when I pay online... nervously cha ching... but the satisfaction of happy imaginative play makes it all worth while! and I totally never regret it... the thought also that so many of the toys are made so carefully and with so much love!

a little play doh is always fun though... OUTSIDE!!!

and of course Elefun!

so we spent her birthday riding bikes in to town as a family to the Botanical Gardens! One of our most favorite places!
The day was gorgeous... as most days are this time of year!...

then back home we lazily sat in our garden being together...

Happy Birthday my little girl!
I love you so!

Luau Fun for a sweetie pie!

2012-01-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

I mean seriously... had such a blast at
Cecilia's 3rd Birthday Party!!!
We try to keep it way different than Christmas as her birthday is on the 19th... eeeek... totally didn't plan that one well...
BUT...
I am so damn glad that her birthday is when it is!
I love a Christmas Baby!!!
Best Present EVER!
and seriously would the lady at the grocery please rethink the comment of "That's SO mean to do to your child!"
like really....
We love that our girl's birthday is in December ... heck it could be on Christmas Day and we would still make it super special!

this girl's never going to tell stories of how awful it was having a birthday around Christmas... nope!

that's one happy Birthday Girl!

and a happy Pappa!
yes, Mai Tais... yes a Luau!
and gosh, it was so much fun!

some of our great friends live out in Maui, Hawaii... so we have learned soooooo much about Hawaii through them...
with hopes to one day visit!
but until then we love little surprise packages that feel like Hawaii!
We used so many things from them to decorate... and try to make it feel like they were here too!

thank you Mama for the best ever idea... Hula Hoops for parting gifts!

my brother came early to help with fruit sculptures!

my silly dad!

pass the coconut game...

birthdays are about making someone feel special...loved...
no matter when someone's birthday is...
make them feel special... I love birthdays, anyone's! people I don't even know... tell me it's your birthday and I will make it special!
I remember every birthday of mine! I have never dreaded a year nor will I ever... they are happy... it's when you were born!

this little friend always makes Cecilia feel special...

and then...
be still my heart...
there was ballet!

Cecilia has been doing ballet for a few months now... we wanted to put her in something fun once a week that only she would do...
a lot of the times she follows in her big sister's footsteps.
so to be by herself walking across the stage of the Nutcracker Winter performance... well I choked back tears and tried not to sniffle.
It was so beautiful in so many ways!
she was so proud as were we.
I stood on the side of the stage to help her off... little did I know I may have needed someone to help me... my heart was pounding!
back in the audience big sister was proudly watching and clapping her heart out!
saying, "Hi Cecilia... it's me Isabelle!"
love!

a little Christmas catch up... but still more to come later...

2012-01-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty happy I married a Swede... for so many reasons...
but gosh I love Lucia!
This tradition is beautiful... I mean really... what other holiday do you get to have real fire on top of your head and SING!

now our girls love these traditions just as much as I do!
I love holidays I love everything about celebrations!
I love the anticipation the happiness... the planning... the decorating... mannnnn I was born to celebrate!

since having children it has multiplied my excitement for holidays and celebrations times... hmm... a million!

oh ps... don't you just love it when your kids leave you a tiny bit of juicebox on the coffee table... just a little slurp... ok back to holidays!

bam! that's the face! those smiles... make it worth it! make all the prep... the setting... the staying up late to iron pretty white linen dresses... that's what it's worth! those dimples of pure ... oh my gosh I'm so happy mamma... kind of happiness!

at Lucia you have to have sweets... and glögg! glögg my friends... is something else! even in Florida! you get a feel of winter! warming your souls until you can feel Christmas! the warm mug of spiced wine.... raisins sinking and almonds floating... the perfect balance!

kid tested... ginger thins... so good mamma!

so at our oldest girl's school they had a little store set up thingie before school let out for a fundraiser at school... Isabelle did all of our shopping there... let me tell you the treasures she shopped! it was seriously taking everything she could to not tell us what she got us... but yes, her little sister surely got to open her little special green frog from big sister! If you could just see that face of wow, thank you big sister... it melted me to the core! and the return look from big sis... of I love you you're welcome... the end! sweetest thing ever!
but not as sweet as my gift... a fairy AND unicorn snow globe... it will look perfect on my night stand and yes, I sure will turn it to make it snow EVERY morning!!!

so green frog got to go everywhere this winter!

she got her medal! all of those early morning Saturdays and Tuesday evening practices paid off! she got her medal! what a day... cheeks so happy like little apples!
and she scored 2 goals... REAL goals! She stuck with soccer and loved it! and that makes us pretty happy!

this pic makes me laugh out loud... it's so happy!

in these cooler months here in Florida... don't start... it is nice and chilly at night! and we love it! and yes, we know we are so lucky! and yes, we do have a big orange tree that is in our backyard full of maybe a hundred bright orange juicy gems ready for picking next week we think! but these months are our favorites!
so much bike riding! we live pretty close to town and the marina and the beach... and gosh just hop on the bike and take the back scenic routes and you're there with no stress!

so we road to the boat parade with some friends we have met from school that happen to be neighbors a few blocks from here...

the kids climbed up the banyan trees to the rooftop for the BEST view ever... but for us really... I'm pretty sure this was the best view... I mean look at that moonlight!

Christmas Florida style!

a little gingerbread treat from class...
I'm loving kindergarten... really I promise!
it took some time... but now I'm happy!

WOW... what a lot of gardening we have been doing!!!
in Florida fall and winter is when we like to garden!

we put my dad to work...

lots more posts coming soon... it's been a way fun month!

I let her go........

2011-12-21T06:03:00.000-08:00

yes... she did it...
she rode a bike!
I was there... the first time she was on two wheels and let me tell you... my heart may have stopped...
it was a HUGE deal!
something about holding her small little back... hold it... hold it...
then BAM...!
letting go.............!
it was HUGE!!!
and I still feel my heart skip when she gets on her two wheels... something about that big step makes her a big girl.
Riding bikes might sum up my childhood... I was riding since I can remember... always on the go! growing up in the country, kids are pretty free... my mother would tell me I had to go outside... "you have to get fresh air or you will get sick!"
I'm so glad I did!... because man oh man I had fun!
and you probably know... that philosophy is still strong in my own children... I like them to be outside... more than inside!
getting thorns in their barefeet... scraping a knee... it's childhood!
and that day she got on two wheels brought me back...
and I loved it!
I let her go... on the bicycle that I learned how to ride on... that my brother learned how to ride on...
that I crashed into the creek on... that I scraped my knee on so bad that it bled for a day... the bicycle that I felt like I was flying and would get little mosquitoes stuck to my cheeks because I would go so fast...
that ... letting go ... was beautiful!

I love this pic... I love to wonder what our youngest is thinking... imagining... wishing for...
She looks up to her big sister so much...
it's the sweetest thing!

things have been pretty magical around here... lots of candles... twinkles... carols... I LOVE this time of year!!!

sometimes you have to pull out the ol' cycle with trainers... for sister to ride on the back of, of course!

this time of year has been the best for sitting outside until dark... covering our driveway with little rainbows and stars...
chalking up our jeans knees... staining our palms with rose colored chalk... then clapping them together to get the big cloud!

an evening with a bowl of rice pudding and "Charlie Brown Christmas" can be so simple and so much fun!!!

I know... PUMPKINS in December....

2011-12-12T13:35:00.000-08:00

I know I know... I'm sooooooo behind on blogging...
I have so missed this space! so much!

but I feel that I may be BACK! and I am so excited!!!
but to be back I have to go a bit into the past...

so we'll start with pumpkins!

our October was truly a treat!
just the other day I even thought of this and Pappa Bear and I smiled..
Our girls are SO LUCKY!!!
They have two sets of Grandparents
both near and far
but both are truly special!
They are so close!
Our October the Grandparents from Sweden visited!
Farmor & Farfar!
It was so nice to see our families come together and be just one!
Sharing our traditions... stories... remember whens...
smiles... laughter... and lots of wine!

a good ol' classic Halloween Party!!!

seriously... can you stand it!
I cannot!
I could watch this for days!
This party took me back! took me back to my days... growing up out in the country... sugared donuts... bobbing for apples... dressing up with paint stuck to your eye brows...
the one day a year that you get to be something else...
Didn't you always want to be a Fairy!!!

or a cat!

just climbing a big tree... sometimes that's enough...

we have had some amazing fall sunsets... the kinds that take hours to set... the kinds that you forget about the mosquitoes nibbling on your ankles... totally worth the glimpse..
Being outside this time of year is what life is all about.
the smells of oranges ripening... the sounds of children on the other sides of fences... the hint of Christmas getting closer and closer...
it's so so exciting!

I love my Fairies!!!

(disclaimer... we totally had intentions to have two little Super Heros... but a visit to the fabric store and passing the fairy wing aisle... who can leave JoAnn's as a super hero...? Fairy wings! The most glittery blues and purples a little girl has ever seen!...
yes please!)

a little kindergarten Thanksgiving Performance... could possibly be one of my favorite things! I remember being a pilgrim 26 years ago... my friend Jule Marie having trouble tying her bonnet on... my ears making mine stick out... some of the kids were Native American Indians... I loved their feathers... I secretly wanted to be an Indian! but I stuck with a black and white Pilgrim and rocked it!
to see my little girl American Indian on stage... singing the songs... I remembered them... sailing her hands like the Mayflower... smiling... shining... it made me sparkle for her!

Pumpkin Pies were a big deal of course!
my Mom always makes the BEST pumpkin pies and our little Isabelle could maybe eat an entire pie... forget the turkey!

Pappa and his girls always make the family bread rolls for Thanksgiving... while the Macy's Day Parade is blaring of course!
We take breaks to kick our legs with the Rockette's yes, even Pappa does... one day I think I am going to be a Rockette... it's coming soon!

and a family Thanksgiving is the Finale!
we play croquet!
we had so many family members from so far away all at one table! it was so special! So great for our girls to experience! I think something that is so important and starting to lack a bit in the modern day is family... family dinners... aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents... all coming together... the value of this is truly priceless...
the stories... the remember whens...
growing up so many good memories were with family...
if children have a good sense of family
close and distant
they will feel more connected to their past... their ancestors...
they will want to be something special... a good person... a kind soul... for them... but also for their family...

I think I may be "Thankful" for my "Family"
I may have stolen that from our oldest... but I think it's a good one!

it's been a month!

2011-11-30T18:47:00.000-08:00

wow... it really has been a month since I last was at this space...
an entire month went by...
This month is the busiest month for our studio and I just could not even get close to this space which I love so much...
any spare moment I had I just wanted to be with my family!
hugging my girls, laughing!
I cannot even put into words the feeling I have for how amazing our season was... I get the chills just thinking about it!
Yes, we're still slammed but I am feeling a little lighter...
I cannot even count how many portrait sessions and even 3 weddings we did...
I'm pretty sure there was at least one shoot a day...
It was amazing...
I walked, I ran, I hiked up hills, I ran up steps, down steps, I carried so many newborns, I hushed babies to sleep, I was peed on, I wiped children's noses, I wiped sand from eyes, I kissed boo boos, pretended I was a monkey, a chicken, a bird, a butterfly, and a moose!
I sang, I clapped, I blew kisses
I got stepped on by the sharpest stilletto heel I'm pretty sure they make and still have the bruise, I helped cut wedding cakes, I fixed bouquets, I held lip sticks, I threw my keys to a valet while my car stalled to chase down a bride, I got bit by a dog, I got kissed by a child, I got so many hugs, I parked in so many crazy places, I witnessed a limo accident, I twirled, I was up to my knees in the gulf in my jeans and it felt so good, I ruined my favorite pair of boots and it was so worth it for "the shot,"
I laughed so hard that my cheeks hurt!
all of this while my family was at my side... there for me... doing this with my husband is a dream come true!
being able to be there for my girls...
I LOVE MY JOB!!!!!!!

now a blog catch up!!!

even a visit from our girls Grandparents from Sweden!

we stayed a weekend out at Anna Maria Island!

a birthday celebration!

these kind of moments... these faces... make time stop!

wait for it... bam!

a bunch more coming soon!!! I can't wait for you to see what we've been up to!

and now... as I sit here next to our family Christmas tree...
I make a promise to SLLLllllLLllllllLLLOW down for DECEMBER!!!
no crazy hustle bustle! no crazy shopping nonsense! no rushing!
JUST FUN!!!
just spending time doing SIMPLE things!!!

a nice Sunday!

2011-10-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

the other day my girls and I got all dolled up and went for a fancy lunch!
our oldest was so impressed that the napkins were folded pretty and there was even white blankets on the table... (white tablecloths)
so we were very polite and enjoyed the most beautiful
Sunday lunch at a Spanish restaurant ... and I thoroughly enjoyed my glass of sangria!

an afternoon at Uma & Umpa (Grandma & Grandpa's) is always a lot of fun!

roasting marshmellows and a walk around the block... simple and nice!

a bunch of things...

2011-10-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

weekends are all about trying to spend some time at home...
relaxing... recharging... breathing!
lately though we have come crashing into our business's most busiest time of year... 3 weddings this month... + I cannot even count how many family shoots we have done... let alone everything that goes with that.

I am quite pleased though with how our business is growing and feel quite proud of it... I am happy to have success and try to be a good role model for my two girls! With all of this happiness comes a lot of work... and less time just playing with our children. So when we are off work... we really try to be OFF! We try to do fun things and really take each other in and be together!

We have had grandparents staying with us as well which has been so much fun! more of those pics coming soon...

but for now... here's a weekend of doing a lot of nothing...

SMOOTHIES!!!

this kitchen tool is maybe a magic wand!
one of the most used appliances besides the stove/oven...!
From when the girls were babies making baby food... to soup purees.. pasta sauce... smoothies... milkshakes!
It's fantastic!

a berry pineapple smoothie!
w/a hint of honey!

have I mentioned our oldest has started to play soccer!
it's so fun!

berry girls!

kindergarten has been great!
a HUGE adjustment!
from lazy days of summer, right into fast paced getting to school on time... working on letters... to being amazed at how our child is learning... it's really cool!

first birthday party of school friends...
(of course little sister had to come :-) )

what a fun birthday party!

with everything happening... so many new experiences...
we try to maintain a little bit of simplicity
like an afternoon of reading books...
"sigh"

a day with our littlest...

2011-10-29T10:32:00.000-07:00

a day with my littlest... is so so sweet!
now that our oldest girl is off at kindergarten some days we like to take our littlest for little special days...
even though maybe every hour she asks if it's time to get Isabelle from "kindagaaden" ... we have a lot of one-on-one time
and when it's time to get Isabelle we can hardly wait!

this day Cecilia and I spend the morning at the park...
feeding the ducks and turtles... playground.. picnic!

and...
a very special day...
the first day I braided her hair in "pippi braids"

tutu cute!

2011-10-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

I cannot describe the sweetness of a little girl at ballet class...
the little pink tummy
the little ballet shoes
it's melting cute!

We felt it was time to do something special for our youngest Cecilia...
so we signed her up for ballet class...
and she just LOVES it!

it's so cute how she concentrates and tries so hard...
and talks about it all week long...
I just think she feels pretty special doing something on her own...

xoxo

sidewalk chalk and some pies!

2011-09-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

sometimes an afternoon of sidewalk chalk and a surprise stop by from Grandparents are enough to make us smile...
I could sit out on our drive way covered knees with chalk...
listening to our girls imaginations run wild
telling stories of different lands
arguing with each other on which drawing really is a bird... not a cat!
laying on tummies coloring and shading dolphins until our chins are blue... I love sidewalk chalk afternoons...
I love chalk afternoons that include a really cold beer for mamma and pappa and ice pops for the kiddies!

my birthday was really nice... even got two nice pies from my sweeties!
the first pie was blueberry... please notice the little squirrel cut out which I didn't at first and am still hearing about it... and the second one down was fig pie! both were equally amazing and really good for breakfast too! :-)

slooooowwwww down!

2011-09-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

these are some of my favorite parts... my favorite days!
just being at home... biking on our sidewalk.. bar-b-qing fish in our garden... these are the little things that to me are BIG!

sometimes life gets going ... someone presses fast forward and all of a sudden two weeks have flown by and I find myself a little bit upset at where the time went! sometimes I feel rushed and feel that I haven't had a deep breath... a really really deep breath!

with elementary school starting trying to find our new rhythm has been almost impossible... I feel it's a constant scurry to be on time.. to get to bed... to pack a lunch... go go go!

but then once those days, weeks, months even have passed... and you actually realize that someone pushed fast forward...
then you get reminded to SLOW DOWN! QUICKLY SLOW DOWN!!!

I was reminded that maybe last night... as we again didn't get home until close to 9pm on a school night!
why... because we spent the day at IKEA!!! of course!
why does that store take your watch and any knowledge of time at the door... pipe in through the ac that feeling to need everything... why not it's only $5.. why not it's only 29cents... they suck your brain and you leave the parking lot with that stare and wonder... what the hell did we get! -that kind of feeling!
I felt that flutter in my heart that panic feeling that my kids will be tired...non bathed... cranky!
then I vow again to S L O W down fast before it passes!

so here I am again... slowing down a little this week... keeping things tidy... keeping the rhythm...

best part when you feel the need to slow down you can always get a chance to do so... there is always tomorrow!
my tomorrow is today...
on the schedule
swings and gardening
dinner
puzzles
bath
stories...

seems nice!

windsurfing in the bay

2011-09-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

it's days like this that make us really appreciate where we live...
it's a paradise... hot, the bluest skies, clear blue water...
just sitting on the edge of our bay...
with great friends
eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...
taking tuns on the board.

little school girls!

2011-08-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

Cute Slideshow!!!

Did you have a little school friend... a sweet little reminder of school...
I remember like it was yesterday my little friends in kindergarten...
I remember one girlfriend and I were so close that when she got the chickenpox the teacher called my mother to let her know that I could stay home too just in case... She would pretend to whisper in my ears a little secret but instead of a secret she would kiss my ears... it was so sweet. I had another sweet friend that had the coolest charm bracelets and my little ponies I ever had seen! We played all the time and even held hands at the playground...

all of these sweet friends are still my best friends...
some live close, some far, but we're all still great friends..

There is something about kindergarten... it's so innocent and special... and I'm loving it so...

as for our little Isabelle...
She doesn't want the weekend to come... she loves school so much!
She's learning to play the whoolooot... the shhhhheeeeoooow... the wait a minute Mamma... the FLUTE!!!
really... the shiny silver thing... yes... the FLUTE!
I loved playing the flute too in school! SO HAPPY!

school girl...

2011-08-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Our BIG girl...
what a feeling...
what a big beautiful feeling!

Nothing quite describes it... that heavy huge soaked up heart feeling...
but in the end it feels good.. really good!

this is when my eyes started filling...
gulp gulp... hold it together
keep holding
holding...

don't ache!

this is when the first tear dripped down my cheeks...
the hanging of the backpack...
that got me.

but I held it together...

and this is what makes me smile...
this happy face..
I have to be happy too!

Once I got through that first day... Once I realized there is no going back... you have to let your girl grow... it's a beautiful thing this life... if you just dwell on kids growing fast... you'll miss out.

I'm not missing out!

I had a teacher in high school that said some wise words to me...
The sad sad day that I came in second for Senior Class President...I thought my world was over... I cried and cried... stayed after class... told him how I was the BEST girl to be president of our class!
I was crushed... I mean really was it really a big deal.... hahaha..

But he told me, "Kollene, you can be sad for years... you can be sad for 1 year... you can be sad for a month, you can be sad for a week, you can be sad for a day, you can be sad for an hour... but it's up to you... it's your choice how you want your life to be and your choice how long you want to be sad..."
I left his class with my head held high... I wasn't going to be sad anymore...

and when it comes to my daughter starting the next chapter of her life... a school girl... I'm holding my head high again... happy!
but that first day... I chose to be sad... for just that day...

We are so proud of our school girl!

last days of summer...

2011-08-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

saying goodbye to the summer absolutely crushed me...
it did...
I didn't want to say goodbye... we had too much fun!

When we came back from Sweden I knew it was coming... the day was almost here... I knew it would creep on up and hit my like a dodge ball... unexpected... I knew I would wonder where the time went... where did it go... where does it go!
I always always try to lllllive reallllly live each day so that when the time flies it doesn't hurt so much... but this time it did...

it hurt bad...

my little girl started Kindergarten...

I tried to prepare myself for it the best I could... I tried to do amazing summer things... but nothing can really prepare someone for their children growing up...
it happens and we have to accept it...
life happens...

you can be weepy for a little while but you have to move on... keep on enjoying it... it will fly by at another time... another moment will pass and you will feel this enormous lump in your throat as you choke back a million tears... but really... the only thing we can do is...
enjoy this life!
let the time fly... it flies when you're having fun... so it may as well go fast!

I didn't want to say goodbye to the summer because I knew with that... would come kindergarten

I don't know what it is about kindergarten... why it hurts so bad.
I remember clearly starting kindergarten and loving it... I remember it well... and I was scared that I had a child making a memory... a really big memory...
I wanted her to be my little girl forever and ever... and with kindergarten comes the brick wall of a BIG STEP!

I was afraid that these little sister moments would disappear and sassy big girl moments would take over...

I was afraid it would all end...

maybe she wouldn't want to play bubbles...

or tear off her underpants with her sister and hop in the kiddy pool

I was afraid that our friends would fade away... our friends that we all grew up together with...

but they didn't... they don't fade away... they keep growing together with us... like a big garden

I was so afraid to say goodbye to the summer... I wanted to have sand in every crack of my car... in between my toes... humidity hair...
I was sad to have bedtimes... nap or no nap days...

I just wanted to always and forever live free like we do in the summer...

but you know what... all of my fears feel ok today...
We are heading to the Marina to play in the fountains with a bag of goldfish that can't stay in the car or they will melt
like real goldfish!...

We have a birthday party to go to this weekend... with pirates! real pirates!
We have a friend's pool to hop in to this weekend!
We have dinners at Grandparents!

and the best thing of all... our girls still have fun together...
in fact...
yesterday after Isabelle's first day they played school together...
it helped so much!
To listen to our oldest play school... happily... reassured that she liked her day... her teacher... her new friends.

So I will always hold a little spot for summer... but am welcoming the fall with a big heart!
no fears!

Things will still go on as they do... and we can enjoy this ride!

last days in Sweden

2011-08-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

where we spent nice weather mornings... hours... sipping coffee... reading paper... watching the girls play with Simba the dog... picking berry snacks... listening to birds... beautiful!

I love old European churches... they are so OLD... so BIG... so PRETTY!
I was explaining to our girls how you can light a candle in a beautiful church to remember someone who's gone, if you're sad, for a sad feeling... then Isabelle said, "Mamma we should light a candle for Great-Pappa (my grandfather who passed away a few years ago)... she had little teary eyes too... it was so sweet... so we got a candle and lit one... it was so nice! I felt good and so did my girls!

I'm pretty sure that our girls could eat bowls and bowls of raspberries... who couldn't help themselves!
Raspberries are perfection!
the perfect sweet!
At home we buy them in bulk... and they last maybe a half week... just gobble them up!

Pappa Bear's Grandparent's little beach house... it's always a fun surprise to bike to the beach and see them there... we stop for a bit... have some cookies and coffee... and away we gooooo!

friends on the beach! sweet summer fun!

and we always finish with a good Crawfish Party!

good-bye for now Sweden... We'll see you next year!

two lands... one love

2011-08-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

my heart is pretty full for two places...
I have come to finally accept it...
I'm in love with two lands and maybe that's ok...

I wish Sweden and Florida could be neighbors... just an hour bike ride apart... please!
We would live in the middle...
dive into the gulf one day... sea breeze on my cheeks
then the next day go for a long hike with my girls in the forest.
We would have a little cottage on the shore
we would bike a half hour to the best pastry shop and I would order a little chokladbullar and a cup of kaffe with mjölk and sit for an hour at a little table with the most beautiful roses I have ever seen blooming by my side and watch and listen to people walking by... then I would ride along the shore getting warmer and warmer passing by some sheep and cows then the road begin to flatten and I would see bluer clearer water and a dolphin... no wait... 2 dolphin... the I would have to take off my cardigan and put on my sunglasses I was now in Florida and the parrots were squawking and saying hello!
I now am meeting some friends on the shore with freshly picked oranges for snack! our children are swimming and we are chatting... life is good.
I must now go back to my cottage ...smack in the middle on the shore... have to make dinner for both of my families... a big salmon on the grill with mango salsa... coronas... then some coffee...

a girl can dream right!

Bornholm, Denmark

2011-08-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

ooooooh I really loved this Danish Island called Bornholm! I had never been here before... just love finding new places and discovering more while on vacation!

We took a giant catamaran (actually the largest in the WORLD!!!) from the harbor in the village we live... all the way to Bornholm with Farmor & Farfar for the day!

the smokeries in Scandinavia are amazing! The best smoked fish you will ever have!

we then went to this amazing Fort on the coast... it's so interesting when you go to these old old places... imagining battles being fought... people losing their lives... people conquering... it's so fascinating! I tried to explain to our oldest about history... I don't think we're quite there yet... she'd rather climb the crumbly brick wreckage instead with her little sister!

if you look closely in the above pic you will see our little sweetie walking across the big bridge... eeeeks!

breathtaking really! The air up here... on this beautiful island was so crisp...!

There were so many more things to see on this big island... always nice to leave things for when you come back...

fika

2011-08-15T04:32:00.000-07:00

fika
this is a word if you visit Sweden you are sure to hear...
it's to have a little break... with friends... with coffee...
and treats!
Every day... every where... fika!

I love it... it helps you slow down a little and sit and relax... and my gosh the treats... usually a bakery item... or even just a little cookie... but do you see those candies... a weakness for me really.
I could eat Swedish candy every day! I'm actually glad it's hard to find here... ikea is a little far to go weekly too!
In Sweden though at every grocery story there is a candy section... with bins from floor to as tall as you are full of candies waiting to be scooped and brought home to your sweet children!

but really I think it's more than about coffee and treats... it's about taking the time to check in... with your body... with the people you love... to slow life down a bit and sit.
it's beautiful.

garden shop

2011-08-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

this is one of my favorite places in the village we visit in Sweden...
It's a garden shop... lots of land full of flowers, vegetables, greenhouses, fruit trees, herbs, a cafe, and a playground... what more could I ask for.

so one of our last days in Sweden it was a little bit rainy and Pappa went out with his old pals for a guys day hiking... so me and the girls and Farmor (Grandma)went to this sweet little haven!
in fact... cool enough... in the springtime Farmor worked here a bit...

Farmor explained all the little nooks of this place... told us how they plant things... where the soil is... the compost... introduced us to some of the people there... it was so much fun!

While the girls were playing on the swings another set of children came about... I had the most interested conversations with this little boy... didn't even get his name... but he was absolutely fascinating!

He noticed that I spoke English so he came over and introduced himself so confidently which always is impressive to me... children are so amazing and curious to the world and this little boy truly shined!
He said in perfect English that his mother is from Finland and his father is from New Zealand... he lives in this part of Sweden just now and lives in Austria for the summertime. I think he said he was eight and loved to learn new things. He told me he spoke Finnish, English, Swedish, German, French, and was hoping to learn Japanese soon. Here I am with my jaw on the ground trying to sound somewhat smart myself. I was truly impressed and expressed to him how interesting he was. He said he loved different cultures and places in the world and was interested in so many things. I really know that this little soul will soar completely... I will always remember our little conversation...
We are always explaining to our children different cultures and ways of life... but really the best way to do this is to take your children to other lands... meet other people from different places. You can only teach your children so much but to actually dive into learning is so much more.

I know we are lucky to have Sweden to explore... for our children to learn about different cultures...
When we decided to have children we made a promise to take them to Pappa Mattias' mother-land every year... we promised to travel with them... to see the world together as a family. To learn about this Earth with them. It's not easy... it's not free. We don't live in a mansion... we don't drive fancy cars... but we do travel.
This is what we spend our money on... and it feels so so good!

plucking apples from the tree... so sour but so crispy!

Forest Walk...

2011-07-31T23:19:00.000-07:00

to me... this is what matters most...
I love my sweet little family!
gosh, the fun we have had on this vacation has been fantastic!

we have seen so many things, done so many things, and seen so many people...

but a nice walk in a forest is always the highlight!

I love how small my girls look in a huge forest... even I feel so tiny... so powerful these trees feel... the nature you hear.

I love how our girls plow through so comfortable as the trees surround them almost like they're being hugged.
We have always taught them to be kind to Mother Nature... respect her and she will be kind to you...
It's a beautiful thing when your hike takes twice as long because your girls have to move the giant snails from the trail to help Mother Nature... EVERY snail! ;-)

I love a forest but not as much as Pappa Bear...
He could probably live forever in a forest...
He has always loved them always will... I love how happy he is in the wild... like a kid again... showing our girls all of the trees, the moss, looking for forest fairies.

I love the sound of the thud... the hollowness of your steps... a good mossy forest can do just this... as you step there is this thud and you can't help but wonder what is below...
then a crackle as you step on a frail stick that was ready to leave it's tree... pop!

and then... there it is... you reach the top!
You feel SO alive!
to share these moments and take them in with our family is truly enough! I love how we appreciate nature and love to be in it...
we don't care if our shoes get mucked... we scrape a knee... it's always so worth it... it always is so beautiful!

to explore this world... to have such a passion to show our children and experience things together inspires us so much!

and then a stop by at a cookie buffet... yes you read that right!
In Sweden when you properly go to have cookies there are "cookie buffets" ... you go for coffee and walk up to a table full of cookies... BUT there HAS to be SEVEN different cookies... not six... not eight... but SEVEN! then it's official!
I love this tradition... and I love the cookies!

rain doesn't stop these Swedes!

2011-07-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

it's so inspiring these Swedes... when the rain comes pouring down... they don't run for cover...
instead they put on their rain gear and head outdoors!

ok... not as much as if the sun is shining but really... if you need to get to the store... on with the rain boots... dog needs a walk.. get the umbrella!

This visit has been a tad on the rainy side... I forgot what that was like after last summer's visit... last year was so crazy hot that I even had to buy extra tank tops!
this year I bought rain jackets...

it's not like we come to Sweden for an exotic vacation on the beach... so we don't mind too much...

but we have 3 days left in this beautiful country and a little sunshine could be a fun finale!... crossing fingers!

This was at our friends' Annual Gris Fest... (Pig Roast)... lots of fun games and lots of amazing food with amazing friends!

little visit...

2011-07-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

sweet sweet visit with our sweet sweet friends...

friends...

2011-07-28T01:25:00.000-07:00

it's so funny how small this world really is...
back FIVE years ago we were pregnant and were searching for the perfect way to have a baby... then... we discovered a beautiful Birthing Home!
we met the midwife... who I met a bit before... Heidi... we had something in common... we were together with a Swede!
when I found out that she would be our midwife it was like magic!
I was so happy!
then... her and her family decided to move to Sweden... to a village quite close to where we visit every summer... SMALL WORLD!

So every year when we visit we make sure to get in touch and visit this sweet family!

there is something about being friends with a woman who was present on one of most beautiful days of our lives... she was there... sharing our joy... sharing our tears... being strong for me too!
When I see our little Isabelle that this woman was present for her birth... it's fantastic!

this year a beach picnic was in order!

and now our children are friends.

the lake...

2011-07-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

this was a beautiful day... a day we will remember.
do you have certain days that you really HAVE!
a day where you just eat up every bit... every crumb!
you can just sit there and think... I am lucky to be here... to be me!
this was one of those days!

Pappa Bear is from this sweet little village in the southern part of Sweden... Sövde. It's small, it's wholesome, it's beautiful!
We both, even though totally different, grew up a little similar...
the way kids need to grow up!
being free...
he often tells me stories of wandering in the forest as a small boy... exploring and enjoying life. There are often stories of the lake... and this is just where we went this day...
It was so fun to show our girls this place... for him to tell us how this very lake that our legs are dipped into freezes so hard in the winter that he would skate all day upon!

it's beautiful to have a gentle childhood... to have happy memories of simple times... we had this... our wish for our girls too... is to have just this...

then a little stop by the Cider Mill... was the ending to perfection! we sampled the most delicious juice I have ever tried... apple juice... something so simple could be something so amazing!
It tastes so crisp, so clean, you can't help but imagine this glass you are drinking a glass of pure apples... you think of the apples on the trees... the apples being smashed, popped, delicious scrumptious bits of YOW!
I wish I could pack my suitcase with 20 bottles!!! ration them out to a glass a day... but then it wouldn't be special now would it...

a nice visit...

2011-07-24T02:58:00.000-07:00

a nice visit at some friends... lots of children running every which way... lots of giggles... lots of hopping on the trampoline... picking berries! so beautiful!

I love this picture... there is so much happiness here! pride! Our oldest, Isabelle, has always wanted a butterfly to land on her... well it happened!

can you believe how beautiful this little boy is... this family makes some gorgeous babies!

just so much happy fun times! making memories, remembering old times and making new ones! that's what life is all about!

playsilk fun!

2011-07-23T00:41:00.000-07:00

playsilks
a must!

We love our Playsilks! One of the best things I have ever bought our children! It's instant magic! Instant make believe! Once they place them on their shoulders, tie them on their heads, twirl them about... they begin to giggle, run, play!
They're easy to pack... easy to play! So FUN!

and as for the smoked salmon... mmmmmmm!

picnic.....

2011-07-23T00:22:00.000-07:00

what a beautiful night this was! just a little bike ride away was an outside concert in the park... so we loaded our picnic baskets and packed the big blanket and away we went!
could be one of my most favorite ways to spend the afternoon/evening...
I love a picnic... good food spread all about... laying in the grass... being together.
when there is music to listen to it just makes it even better!
Our girls just ran about meeting other children...
playing house under their tree... the branches hung all the way to the ground which felt like a real house to them.

Do you ever get down low with your children and actually see what they are seeing? Try it... it's a beautiful magical world down there...
Things look so different.
I thought about this, this evening as they were opening and closing their branchy door... it was so fun!
They climbed up the trunk to their bed... they cooked dinner with their sticks and leaves... they laughed just like little girls do.
They were children being children!

So the night went on and our girl's feet got blacker and blacker... well used feet... toes that do not touch each other with so much grass and sand in between... knees with scars... legs with scratches... finger nails needing a trim with so much dirt underneath and palms of hands green from the grass... this is childhood...

it was a beautiful evening...

just horsing around...

2011-07-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

just horsing around...
found these fun horses that Pappa Mattias and his sister Auntie Malin made when they were kids... now our girls are enjoying them....
SO Fun!

a beach day and a puddle day!

2011-07-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

a summer in Sweden... some days are full of sunshine and bright blue beautiful clear skies...

and some days you have to stay in and play with treasures found in Farmor's basement! so many hidden treats!
Barbies galore!

but with children you cannot ever be cooped up in the house... at least that's how our girls are... you have to go outside and get fresh air!

I find myself saying this to our girls now...
I remember as a kid my mother always shooing me outside
"you have to go outside and play.... you have to get fresh air or you'll get sick!"
she had a really good point... I knew it then, and I know it now!

so on with the rain boots... rain jackets... let's go!

every day we must get fresh air!
every day we must eat a vegetable!

these girls crack me up! I took them for an after rain walk... we must have stomped in every puddle and said hello to every snail...
but sometimes when it's just me and my camera they like to be really silly nillies! and I love it so much!
I love how the two of them together like to be silly... like to laugh... belly laughs... cheek squeeze laughs... I love how they love to hug each other, squeeze each other...
I love how our oldest takes our youngest girl's face in her hands and looks in her eyes and says, "oh Cecilia... I love you so much, you're so cute I could just eat you up!"
wonder where she heard that from... :-)
fun girls, fun times, fun hearts!

feeling at home...

2011-07-18T00:33:00.000-07:00

a beautiful walk around this beautiful village is fantastic!
so many little things to see if only you look up... the architecture is absolutely magical! how they built things so long ago... so smart! everything has a purpose and a reason for being there... if it's just for looks or to collect water... it's a reason!

sometimes you just find things in and out of little nooks... sometimes you can find a hoola hoop... and gosh, when there's a hoola hoop just sitting on the ground.... well you can't help but hoop it up!

I feel like this village is my second home...
I know which creek to hop over, which shortcut is really a shortcut, and which route is ok for going out of the way... a route worth while just to see things... just to see that certain cat that I see every year... just to see that certain old duck with the googelie nose... I know it... and I love it!

I have been coming here for so long that I have lost count... it always feels new again... but seeing familiar faces... children growing each year... shop keepers rearranging their storefronts... saying hello to me in English... it's a sweet feeling and a feeling that makes me feel
"at home..."

so early... just go with it!... you'll be glad you did!

2011-07-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

sometimes you just have to let go and let your children wake up at 5am and go for a walk...

we were still a bit off with the time being in another country/time zone... and in this beautiful country the sun likes to wake extra early in the summer months!

so at 5am our girls couldn't stand it much longer and were begging to go out for a walk in the country side... and you know what...
I'm so happy they did!

It was beautiful!
We may have been the only ones awake besides the horses and wild geese and a giant hare! All we could hear was nothing... we walked quietly and talked about the nature and how different it was. The air was so fresh and so cold but it was ok with us... we were free!

A lot of times a part of me says let's just sit and be for a few minutes... but really... these kids have life figured out... have fun! run! wake early and get some fresh air! watch the sun rise in your bare feet and sleep when you're a teenager!
kids live so free... they don't have many cares except maybe where's the toilet and when is dinner...
having kids has made us be kids again... it's fantastic if you just go with it!

simple life

2011-07-16T00:39:00.000-07:00

just simple times like plucking flowers in an open field are just enough... you have to really take in the simple life... just watching your children grow... into little ladies... is magical!

a countryside treat!

2011-07-14T03:32:00.000-07:00

a beautiful time at our family's house in the countryside of Sweden!
a fun birthday party for Cecilia's God-Mother! lots of singing and good food! hanging out with my sister & brother-in-law! Lots of laughs and good wine and playing in the grassy fields of flowers! and hopping from haystack to haystack!

a fun night that I have to tuck in to my heart!

I heart Vacation!

2011-07-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

just sitting in the garden while the girls walk about in and out of the berry bushes is simply enough!

just like before every shoot we do we charge our batteries... clean out equipment and empty our memory cards...

we need vacation
to be better people
to recharge ourselves again and get set for what life has ahead for us for the next season.

so this nice and simple vacation in Sweden is beautiful!

just to spend time together with our children is perfect!

family dinner...

2011-07-11T00:26:00.000-07:00

a lot of our family lives all over the world...
Florida, China, Sweden...
but the other night we were all together in Ystad, Sweden!
we had a beautiful dinner together and it was fantastic!
I think family is so important!
enjoying a delicious meal... talking about old times... being together.
Even when you're in different corners of the world... your family is what ties your heart together and it's what your children come from.
I love how our girls are seeing the value of closeness and family togetherness as well.
it feels good!

snails

2011-07-11T00:12:00.000-07:00

it doesn't really take much does it...something as simple as a snail could keep them busy for hours...

so this is what we've been up to...
I love vacation... I love the simplicity... I love the relaxation
just sitting in a garden drinking coffee listening to birds, the rain, our girls catching snails is perfection to me!

I love how the sun starts to shine on all the dew drop covered flowers... just sparkling and dripping of gorgeousness!
I love the scents of a garden... a garden filled with herbs... the buzzing of bees visiting each and every flower...
bzzzzzzzzzzzz

ps... clothesline pics done by my brother-in-law! amazing huh!

we made it!

2011-07-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

we made it! we made it! we made it!
whew!
after a bit of stress before coming to Sweden it feels really good to be here!
(just a couple of days before our flight we realized.. duh duh duh... that our oldest daughter's passport was expired!!! so a fast stressed out trip to Miami... begging to get an appointment with the passport control... just before a holiday weekend... and some tears... we got her passport!!!)

the colors of this land make me so so happy... in the summer time here it's fantastic! There are so many flowers! so many!
I have never seen such HUGE roses... blooming like big puffy explosions of tranquility! all year they have been cold... it's time for their debut... wait for it... BAM!!! it's beautiful!

meeting my sister-in-law's husband has been so wonderful! They live all the way in China... so you can imagine how important this trip has been... to finally spend some sweet time... my heart!
Uncle Daniel and Isabelle are hitting it off! They both have so much energy and are so happy! It's so sweet to see Isabelle having so much fun! Cecilia is starting to warm up a bit too...

another fun thing... some of our family in Florida is here just now as well... in this pic above Isabelle and her cousin...

snap dragons... pretty snappy!

Swedish strawberries... a summer happy treat... so good I could almost eat the stem too... so creamy... so sweet... perfect!

girls are pretty happy to have found in Farmor & Farfar's (Grandma and Grandpa) garden... a mulberry tree! yum... such a nice treat!

so yes, this vacation is turning out to be lovely!
a little bit of a rain just now... but a nice bike ride with our rain gear and a hike in the beach forest has us Carlsson's making the best of it! The weather is pretty warm with a little dampness just now... the snails are out catching a little rain drop... and the flowers are covered with drip drops...
the dinner is cooking... and the windows are wide open... the pitter patter on the window panes and the birds chirping so many songs just really is perfectly enough for me!

such a nice relaxing day!

Good Bye America... Hello Sweden!

2011-07-08T06:34:00.000-07:00

good bye for now sweet friends...

good bye for now sweet country...

Hello Sweden!!!

come and join us as we take you through the beautiful country of
Sweden!
we are spending a month in the fantastic summertime!
going for hikes! bike rides! lake swims! beach fun! visiting friends! visiting family! picking flowers!
finding the magic and wonder of this land we call our second home!

it should be a lot of fun! you're so welcome to follow us!

Pappa's Day

2011-07-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day

Midsommar!

2011-07-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

every year we have a magical day
a magical day where we invite our close friends and celebrate the summer!
Midsommar!
It's the longest day of the year and a very special day to my husband
and a way that we show our friends a bit of his heritage and culture!
There is so much singing.. good food.. candles.. laughter!
It's so beautiful! such a treat with so many flowers!
SO much good food!

We look forward to it every year... I just love so many traditions!

piano!

2011-07-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

our oldest has started piano lessons...
We are so happy for her! She has always had a little music in her bones! both our girls do!
They are always singing... hmming... tapping... dancing!
So we thought a nice starting point would be piano!
She has grown with a guitar in her hand but has never been properly introduced to reading music.
...
She loved it! Figured it out beautifully!
came home and wanted to practice... concentrated... and did it!

Birthday FUn!

2011-07-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

what a party!
Wow... does my friend ever throw a fun birthday party!
Little Dalton turned 3 a few weeks ago..
our youngest thinks the world of him...
so we were quite excited to go and celebrate him!
Horseback Riding! How fun!!!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy DaLtOn!!!

graduation day!

2011-07-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

what a week this was...
a week full of pride
a week full of a happiness
a week full of joy

We are really going to miss our oldest daughter's preschool.
It was the most magical place!
Thank goodness we have another little one to enjoy it again!
You walk in and it feels like a family...
so much love for the children
so many happy memories

This was the last week of Isabelle's preschool...
I spend every spare minute here...
it was a little bit sad saying good bye
I gulped back my tears and tried so hard to be strong.

It's so difficult being a mother of something so sweet... letting your children grow up and be little people is hard work.
Letting go when your heart wants to hold on to their sweetness... hoping they stay sweet forever and ever.

you just have to go with it and enjoy it...
that's all you can do really.

two for tea

2011-07-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

sometimes all you need is a little tea party date
to make your happy day... extraordinary!

a calm morning is so nice...

2011-07-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like summer break... especially when you have children... no school... sleeping in late... sunrises... it's perfect!

This time of year the sun starts to pour into our home so early... it starts to sparkle on our floors... rise on our faces
I think it's so beautiful how at different times of the year the sun comes into our home in different places...

I love a calm morning where I can actually see the shadows... see the sparkles... let our children wake to the sun rising.

what a perfect peaceful way to wake...

isn't it the best to watch your children sleeping
to wonder what they're dreaming
to be so lucky to see that little corner of their mouth smile
to lay next to them and watch as their eyes open

good morning

some good hiking!

2011-06-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

I could really get used to a forest!
That mountain air... the sounds of the streams racing down...
the pounding in your heart as your body explores something HUGE!
I always feel how incredibly small I am in this beautiful Earth when I'm in a forest... the size of the trees... looks as if they go up to the sky... the pure peaceful quiet... of just nature... if you creep in deeper and deeper you can almost hear nothing.
then the SNAP of a branch that always sends my heart leaping!

I am so happy to hike with my family... to show our girls a forest... and to let them feel just how small they are... to teach them to tread lightly... to explore... it's fantastic!

Having our friends show us some beautiful trails and to let our children play in a forest was something else!
Our kids stopped at nearly every rock to turn it over looking for worms... looking up to see the tree tops... looking down to watch their steps... to run up and down the deep deep trails... that thud thud as your feet pound on the soft mossy Earth, it just really
lets you appreciate this beautiful place we live in...

Pappa Bear even found a CRAWFISH!

slippery huge rocks to slide down... a forest playground!

my pal and I having a go down the slippery rocks! so fun!

the "Keen" kid club!
wish I had a pair!

love this guy! always makes me laugh!

what a time we had...
I love vacationing with friends... brings us closer!
making memories that we will laugh about when we're old and grey!
xoxo

a day in Brevard, NC.

2011-06-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

When we arrived in Brevard, North Carolina... I was taken back by so much beauty! I love a cool free spirit town with mountains in the distance! The homes were adorable... decked out with American flags for Memorial Day weekend... I felt like I was in a Norman Rockwell painting... I felt like I was back a few decades!
Kids were aloud to take their scooters in to town... ALONE! Kids our kid's age... yes! This was a sweet town for me!
So many people appreciating nature... wearing hiking sandals that were still wet from their morning river hike... pants with pockets for things like maps, canteens, and a luna granola bar.

I kept thinking how happy I was that my dear friend asked us to come up to this sweet town!

There was the coolest music festival going on..
White Squirrel Music Festival
Where we MET Jill Andrews who we have not stopped listening to!
Love Love
LOVE LOVE LOVE
She's amazing! She crouched down low for a sweet hug to our oldest who was pretty much star struck... as was I maybe a little bit.

It was amazing just to hike all day and come and relax with our friends at the music festival... we set up chairs, blankets, and our hearts under the stars amongst all the other music lovers in this sweet town and fell in love with so many passionate musicians!
Our kids danced and swayed in their bare feet hugging one another and so many times my sweet girlfriend and I would connect with our heavy hearts and love that our children are aloud too, to be free.
To be barefoot, to scrape their knees, to not have brushed their hair for a day or so... but most importantly to be children with their families listening to music.

road trip 2011!!!

2011-06-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

I love our little family... I love how we can have fun doing just about anything and I love how our children the older they get are starting to realize what a family is.

Our oldest, probably every day, says just how much she loves her family. I can see how much she lights up when we spend quality time together. By quality time, all that I mean is being close, calm, and in love!
We say I love you so many times a day... I feel when you love something, or someone... show it! say it! feel it! be happy!
This is how I was raised... this is how we nurture our children... with love... hugs... a million kisses... and a good long 11 hour road trip!

being inside of a teeny VW Jetta will get you pretty cozy cozy! ha!
driving on long stretches of highway with so many things to see can be so much fun! (if you make it fun!)
Stopping at rest stops cooking a little dinner!
playing pirate fairies with your children will totally fix your stiff legs...
finding fun coupon books to flip through... stopping at shady truck gas stations with creepy alligator heads for sale and little coffee mugs with peaches for a woman's breast and fun wind chimes made of spoons.
oh the beauty!

When I was a kid we would drive up to Canada maybe every summer... now that's a road trip!
My brother and I would count license plates... trees... look for birds... watch the changes in scenery and listen to my parent's oldies music from the 60s! I remember when the rain would hit watching the drips of rain drops gliding down my window... my glass would fog with my nose breaths... I would close one eye then the other watching the drops move with my right eye... then left. I would get scared when we would drive in really bad rain storms and sit on my clenched fingers... watching the drip drops on my window glass... imagining the drops were angels getting our car through the scary storm.

We like to take road trips... any vacation!
so when my friend called two weeks ago to see if we felt like going for a little vacation to the mountains of North Carolina!
in a week...
We checked our calenders... our budget... and quickly smiled
and said YES!!!

so to the mountains we went for Memorial Day Weekend!!!

check back tomorrow for mountain pics!

random fun!

2011-06-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

just a little random fun...
no theme... just some pics
and two forgotten Disney pics (red dress ladies & fairy pic)...

lots of beach fun these days
hanging with friends and family
long bubble baths
and board games

I love nice and cozy days with not too many things to do
except rinsing the sand off in between little piggy toes...

Hope you're all having a happy week!

lazy days...

2011-06-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

summer is here... it's hot... it's finally here!

the days of slowing down... having our beach vacation town to ourselves... wearing nothing but a sundress and flip flops (yes, and underwear) and a big sun hat!
ahhhh we're happy we're here!

I'm the type of person that makes any situation positive...
I always have been, just ask my Grandmother. :-)
Even when it's 98 degrees and 100% humidity you have to take it in and love it... at least there is a nice breeze...and hey listen to those birds!

School is out for summer ... that's another post...
lots of backyard adventures
catching tadpoles
slurping watermelon all the way down to your elbows... getting your toes stuck together by their juicy sweetness
but who cares when you're cooling off in a kiddie pool!
we like to fill ours to the rim and the four of us get in and the water comes spilling over... we stretch our bodies to submerge to our chins and hang our legs over the edge while our toes drip drop drip...

this morning we sat in our garden which is the best time of day...
the air is cool... a little breeze and all the birds in town are in our backyard saying good morning to our little girls... which happily are saying hello back!
oh I just love this life... how did I get so lucky to have this!

so here we are sitting in our garden...
a lot of people in Florida take cover inside for the season but why...?
if you do that you can't hear the birds singing
you can't catch tadpoles
you can't drip watermelon juice to your belly buttons

so for our family we will be living outside... keeping hydrated with coconut milk and watermelon and loving every minute!
(and celebrating life with berry pies!)

happily ever after...

2011-06-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

we stayed at such a fun place with such an amazing swimming pool
with a slide!!!
I feel that our oldest can really swim now...
she can let go
and so can I

There is something about Disney...
something...
It makes you feel like a kid again... it makes you laugh out loud... it makes you feel so giddy... so happy... it makes you run from your family to try to catch a closer glimpse of Mickey Mouse, then quickly remember why you came and run back to your little girls to carry them to Mickey Mouse!

It's magic...
colorful
sparkley

We waited and waited to take the Disney plunge...
I usually am not the resort, cruise, theme park type of girl...
We would rather fly to a place exotic with only a map, backpacks, H2O and a bit of adventure in our hearts...
but we knew we had to do it!
and are we ever glad we did!!!!!

our hearts may have stopped
When you first enter Disney World I think they may put something in the air... the music... the atmosphere
it's just so sweet!
our first stop was to meet Cinderella!
She is just oh so dreamy... my jaw was seriously on the floor!

my parents came as well!
This made it even more special! To see them experience the excitement of our girls was just magical!

I remember sitting just like this when I was a little girl!
sitting so close to my mama... my heart pounding!

letting your kids be kids is what childhood is all about...
letting go and getting dirty
splashing in a fountain
I think it's so funny how children can just find things where ever they are... their curiosity starts to take over them... they follow their hearts... and we should too.
If I feel like climbing a tree I will...
If my girls feel like swimming in a fountain in Disney...
I will let them...
living life to the absolute bubbling over with a cherry on top fullest is what our family is all about!

always nice with an ice cream break

my heart skips a beat when I see moments like these
I feel so happy when I see things like this... when I catch a sweet nothing that is really a beautiful memory
my heart

magic

sweet girls in their Mickey jammies
sweet magical dreams

all around the mulberry bush....

2011-05-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Weekend Everybody!!!

I leave you with this sweet image that I took at our oldest girl's preschool... they have an amazing mulberry tree in their garden!
Every day this spring when we pick her up she runs to the tree to gobble a few mulberries! she shares some with her sister who can't quite reach them, and away we go...
so many of their clothes end up with mulberry purples and so do their lips... but I love it!

We leave today for the weekend... heading up to North Carolina!
We are going to my sweet friend's cabin until Memorial Day!
Should be so much fun! I cannot wait to see spring in the mountains... hiking... waterfalls... yay!

tomatos & strawberries... quite a day!

2011-05-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

what a life
we took our kids out to the farm and man oh man every time we do so it makes us realize how lucky we truly are!
great kids, great friends, and great farms!
and my gosh, aren't those chickens above darling! I could just kiss them!

let the fun begin
so much plucking... popping berries in our mouths... filling our baskets! such a treat!

love these youngsters... comparing baskets... such cuties!

moving along to berries...

warm berries baking in the sun
bumble bees buzzing
strawberries bursting in our mouths
juices dripping from our chins
filling our baskets and our mouths (& our hearts)
with memories!

to cool off a bit, a nice sweet treat!

Tea Party!

2011-05-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

This post is just a tad late... sorry.

A few weeks ago my friend hosted a "Royal Playdate!" what a fantastic idea! We had so much fun! got all fancy... hats... and came over to watch the TiVoed version of the "Royal Wedding!" what a treat!
So many special details! great treats! even handmade crown napkin rings! wow!
it was a fun morning and a nice touch to have mimosas at a playdate! why didn't we think of that before!

but best of all was this image below... to watch my oldest seeing a "REAL PRINCESS" was just precious!
I remember myself maybe a tad younger than she, watching Princess Diana marry... so this image below reminds me of myself... to see that fancy white dress... the long red carpet... it's beautiful!

window star tutorial...

2011-05-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

http://gardenmama.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/01/as-the-snow-continues-to-fall-outside-of-our-windows-we-gather-together-at-the-table-to-create-waldorf-inspired-kite-paper.html

sorry forgot to share this amazing tutorial on how to make those gorgeous sun stars!!!
Have fun making some!

some juice and a snail!

2011-05-11T13:11:00.000-07:00

a little fun randomness for a Happy Hump Day!
mid week is my work time of week... doing studio biz and catching up on photoshoots...whew!
We had a bit of a busy weekend... shot a big wedding which usually lets me take some time off...
so feeling like a bit like a snail!
I shot that snail pic as I was waiting for a client a few weeks ago at their beach home... it was too early in the morning and my coffee wasn't kicking in so much so then I just started looking around and getting inspired...
and so there was a little snail friend just waking up too!
good morning snail!

as for the juice pic...
just a nice colorful goodness pic!
things from nature can give us such beautiful color!

sun star!

2011-05-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

what a fun project this was!
a friend of mine that used to be a blogger once posted this and I finally got around to making these beauties...
cannot wait to make them with the proper kite paper... then the sun can come through them so pretty!
The girls loved helping with these!

heat wave...

2011-05-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

it's that time...
putting away the closed in shoes... pack away the long sleeves...
jeans up on the top shelf...
sun dresses to the front of the closet... flip flops on the shoe rack... hair cuts... sun hats... new sun glasses

and even the long sun dresses may need a little knot to make them shorter...
yes oh yes...
the heat is here in Florida!

as it is... I do look forward to everything and really I think I get my whole family excited... even though the heat can be a bit overwhelming ... you have to make the best out of everything!
think hot bath water at the beach which is the Gulf of Mexico... no need to bundle when you get out of the cozy water... sometimes a summer breeze will cool you off at the beach...
walks after dinner where all you need is some shorts, tank top, and some cute flip flops... that's it!
or if you're one of our little girls... some underpants or a bikini!

and my favorite... Florida summer lightening storms! can't describe it... you have to experience them yourself.. they're unreal!

so we welcome the heat with pop sickles and bubbles and a kiddie pool!
love the change!

a day in the garden...

2011-04-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

some of my favorite days are the simplest of days...
a day in our garden... playing with the hose... planting some seeds...
being together doing a little bit of nothing

we are so so so excited about our broccoli!

this sweet face pops in front of my camera ever so often... she's so funny... I love this angel face!

our garden is a bit eclectic... nothing really perfect... a bit tropical and nice and shaded. When we started our garden around our home Pappa and I wanted it to be like a "secret garden" ... little trails, quirky things planted in unusual places. I love how our girl's imaginations totally open up the moment they step outside... they find secret trails where the fairies live... they cook lots of rock and fern stews... and every once in awhile they have to hop on their pirate ships and set sail to another land...
but my most favorite part of this eclectic amusement is when I find little things... things that make me laugh...
This little dinosaur caught my eye and made me laugh out loud... how did he get here... will he stay long... what kind of adventures will he too have???

so many special times shared here... many memories made

so many pretty things are in bloom... the smells... the colors... the birds... it's fantastic in the spring!

when the jasmine is in bloom so are my senses... it's the most beautiful scent you can imagine! It's intoxicating and makes us so happy! To take in the scent is enough... there is something about scents... with them comes memories, happiness, and love.

usually a little bum finds it's way into our garden... clothes get lost... and feet get mucky... childhood

egg fun!

2011-04-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

don't you love Easter...
I remember as a kid having the purplest fingers on the street! My brother and I would try to get the brightest eggs... my favorite is always the robin blue ones. To see our little girls making their own memories... turning their fingers colors... comparing colors... making cracks... it's such fun!

always nice to have something pretty on the table, don't you think...

some treats from the bunny...

I almost forgot... our poor Isabelle...not only has she in the past 2 weeks gotten stitches in her sweet chin... (split it at a friend's house... slippery little girls out of the pool + running on wooden floors = a trip to the ER) then Friday before the big weekend our sweetie wakes with the stomach bug... iyyy! so finally by Easter morning she was almost herself again... what a rough few weeks!

so here are the girls after Isabelle took a little rest from the Easter basket fun... she was then ready for the egg hunt!

Cecilia was quite good this year... found so many all by herself! without the help of her big sister! :-)

table all set for a nice Easter lunch... we did it Swedish style! a little Swedish Schnapps and herring!

how it looks!

our sweeties in their Easter dresses... their Uma made them special for them! cute huh!

our little helper!

what a nice day we had... best part... at the end of the day... Isabelle said, "wow, thank you Mamma and Pappa... I had a really nice Easter..." so sweet!

Odds & Ends...

2011-04-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

just some fun little odds and ends...
we have been felting so much lately... my fingers hurt!
it's so much fun and so satisfying... I have accepted that I cannot knit but man oh man can I get into felting!

egg water felting fun!

2011-04-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

our girls get such a kick out of these wet felted eggs we make every spring! I think it's all the water soapy messiness! perhaps? We LOVE felting ... love the handicraftness about it... love how it's such an old craft but yet our girls are obsessed with it! We put Isabelle's washboard to use this time around... she got it for this particular project from Santa Claus.

But this year we invited some friends over to join in on the fun! it was quite cute and all the fluffy felt was all over the place... lots of bubbles... lots of giggles.. lots of fun!

best of all at the end you get a pretty little egg... looks so nice on our spring nature table!

Happy Birthday Mama!

2011-04-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

My Mother turned 60 a bit ago! We made such a special dinner for her! real champagne and shrimp parmesan risotto! YUM!
lots of pretty decorations! girls got all pretty and helped wrap her gifts! it was a sweet night of celebration!

a little bubbly for the wee ones! (apple juice & club soda)

a little bit fizzy!

Happy Birthday Mama!
I wish you a beautiful year with lots of love!
you're like my best friend and I'm so happy to have you in my life!!!
xoxoxo

a lagoon kind of day...

2011-04-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

one of our favorite places in our town to explore is the lagoons on Longboat Key! when we go we feel so happy... we feel it's a little piece of paradise that we are so lucky to experience!

not a care in the world... just need a bathing suit... an open heart and some light stepping! so many things to see... to explore! I grew up in this very town so I remember going to these same places... going with school... collecting creatures to look at and discover tides... sea life is beautiful... living by the sea is a life for me! How I feel so connected to nature feels fantastic! Teaching our girls an appreciation for nature... how to live green... how to step lightly... how we are all apart of one Earth... TOGETHER... it's beautiful!

One of my favorite thing at these lagoons are the heron birds and the little blue crabs and all the mangroves. We sit and watch and spy for creatures... listen to the tides coming in...

I love this guy! I love how the girls find pretty flowers to put behind Pappa's ear...

this is the life...

the many many times I go to the beach or the bay and I still am always amazed by the beauty! I really takes my breath away... I never get spoiled or take it for granted... I appreciate the beauty in this nature and we teach our girls to do so as well...
I just cannot believe how clear and aqua the water is...

after the lagoon we stop at the beach for a little sand castle making and swim

happy rainbows!

2011-04-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

we've been really into rainbows lately... painting them, drawing them, blending colors, seeing them in crystals... rainbows make us so happy!

just hanging out around the home... being cozy cozy... painting... decorating for Easter... little projects and crafts... it's been so fun and so productive!

This weather that we have been given lately has been making us all so happy... enjoying every minute of the freshness fills us up!... cheers us up... makes us smile!

we have some fun weekend plans such as 2 birthday parties... a drum circle... an Eco Fest... and sitting in the garden listening to the birds. The girls are wrapping presents right now for their friends... making cards... tying ribbon... getting excited!

What things are making you happy this weekend...?

life is wonderful...

2011-04-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

A CUTE SLIDESHOW... CLICK HERE!!!

sometimes I really have to pinch myself...
my sweet sweet friend was having a monumental birthday... so to honor her in so many ways all of us girls got together and had a magical evening on the beach!

the decor was everything Ashley! She loves the beach... blues... pretty things... flowers... candles... sea shells... lovely food... cocktails... it was fantastic!

amazing friends celebrating an amazing girl...

one of the girls has this private beach access which was fantastic for set up... tables... and our own private beach! how fun!

me, Nicky, and the birthday girl!

still needing to pinch myself!

I NEVER EVER take for granted this water I live close by... the waves make me so happy... the sunsets... the cool breezes in the spring... the sand in my toes... I know I am lucky ... but really this evening made me really want to pinch myself... I have some amazing friends nearby that make me so happy! To have an evening like this just laughing and remembering and being together in this beautiful nature was a dream!

can I also say that we saw maybe FIVE yes F I V E shooting STARS!!! AND AND AND... there were scents of jasmine in the air... jasmine are in bloom in April and if you are lucky enough to surround yourself with beautiful friendships, shooting stars, and jasmine scents... well you are LUCKY ENOUGH!!!

movie night!

2011-04-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

about every other Friday night we like to have a special movie night for the girls... it's so cozy!

We don't let the girls watch TV or movies through the week only on movie night... Our oldest used to watch television here and there but then we noticed she got obsessed! She wanted this and that on the commercial... was cranky when the TV was on.. would not play! was a zombie to the television... wouldn't play with her little sister who is not interested in the television... I don't think she would even blink. Then we tried to limit it... to only one show a day... well after the 1/2 hour was up... there were meltdowns... tears... so a few years ago we said ENOUGH! NO TV except for movie night! and there hasn't been a bit of fuss since!
It's actually been quite fun! She loves to do crafts! Play make believe! entertain herself!
before when it was quiet time and she didn't feel like a nap we would put a show on so we could all take a break and be quiet...
well now that the TV is off her little mind is going...
it's really nice!

So through the week we talk about which movie we will choose... which snack and treat we will have. A lot of the times we pick up a movie from the library along with a stack of books! Sometimes Pappa will stream in a Swedish film from his childhood... Pippi Longstocking is a big hit! But this week the girls were quite excited to see Tangled!

We gather all the cozy pillows and feather blankets! bathe and then put on cozy clothes... get all of the lovies... pop some popcorn... pour our wine... and start the film!

usually about half way they conk out but it's quite nice to pile on the sofa and be so close and have fun treats!

something pretty coming soon...

2011-04-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

Hope you all are having a beautiful weekend! Ours has been full of relaxing and pretty things... Today I had an early morning shoot at one of my favorite places in town... where my love and I got married actually! It was such a pretty morning... the air was a bit cool... spring birds were singing and the sky was incredibly blue. I love April in Florida... L O V E!!!

After my shoot I came home to my sweet family getting set for the beach... The little ones in their proudly mix matched clothes and bikini bottoms... wedgies... shoes on wrong feet... what a giggle to come home to... I love these funny girls.

We hit the beach and swam in the calm gulf... about 7 or 8 dolphin thought they would join us... they were so so close! We bumped into some sweet friends and played some frisbee... ate our bananas... and headed home to a family shower and some cozy clothes...

Then something beautiful caught my eye... our orchids BLOOMED! we have about 4 different orchids that are blooming just now and they all decided to greet us this weekend! I didn't pick up my camera the later part of the day so you'll have to wait to see these gems perhaps tomorrow! They are absolutely amazing!

Now for a funny movie and a late flounder dinner with my honey bunny while our sweeties are dreaming... crossing fingers they snooze until morning time... our jasmine vines are right outside their window so hopefully it will fill their dreams with sweetness!

Happy Weekend!

fun surprise!

2011-03-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

since some of our very BEST friends have moved allllll the way to Hawaii... weep weep weep... we look forward to fun surprises in the mailbox!

our families are very close and our children have grown up together so our little ones send little notes and fun packages... it's such a sweet surprise!

The other day a fun package came for our oldest Isabelle's birthday... There were fun shells... a fancy skirt... notes... but for the Japanese Girl's Day they sent these amazing little treats! They were delicious Japanese candy puffs and were so nice! not BRIGHT colored... or artificial... instead they were papaya, strawberry, leeche, lemon... oooh so tasty!

our girls LOVED these puffy sweet treats! (and so did mamma and pappa)

I think perhaps we will put together something fun to put in the mail this week... I am a big fan of the old art form of writing letters!
When I was in school I had several different pen pals... it was such a treat to help get the mail... different looking stamps... special hand writings... learning about the different states and countries. It really ties us all together... the sweetness of a letter keeps people grounded and close with their feelings for them... at least in my humble opinion. I know the world is full of facebook and emails but to just sit down and write a letter feels wonderful.
what kind of surprises do you like to get in the mail... do you still write letters?

I had a special pen pal in high school from Germany and actually we are still pen pals... when my husband and I went backpacking in Europe one year we made a plan to stay with her and her boyfriend. It was amazing... after so many years of communicating through letters to actually talk in person was unreal! I have saved all of her letters and envelopes. Yes, I do also like the envelopes. Something about the way the stamp is stamped... all over there are different symbols, dates, inks. It's just beautiful. I have a shelf in my craft closet with nothing but paper, stickers, pens, stamps... when I feel the need to write to someone I love... I take down the boxes... find the right paper and pen... and let my heart pour onto the paper. My favorite pens are fountain pens... the ink flows perfectly! I think tomorrow a letter will be written...

laid back spring break...

2011-03-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

we have been on spring break this week... long days of sitting in the garden... sipping smoothies.. making gorgeous dinners with LOTS of cheese... and mostly being with each other.

recharging batteries is a MUST! everyone needs a vacation... you don't have to go anywhere ... just be.
I think the best way for my body to recharge is with the sun... growing up in Florida my heart goes to the sun. Just an hour at the beach or in the garden letting the sun warm my body is the best remedy for vacation recharge! we also have been eating well... lots of fruits... each morning I have been eating only fruit... chopped apples, bananas, berries... I feel so alive! so energized! I also have been trying to wake early and go for a run! that feels really good! makes me so happy when I feel healthy!

lemon and thyme tea... we are in pollen season in Florida just now... it makes our throats sometimes a bit scratchy... but this tea really helps... taste yummy too!

there has been a lot of dollhouse play as well during the long days at home. lots of little conversations with the little girls... it's so cute to lay reading a book listening to their little stories...

don't you love eating lunches at home... we do

some crafting and a little coconut football!

2011-03-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

lately the weather has been just dreamy! makes us realize why we live here in paradise!

a little coconut football is so fun!

don'tcha just LOVE glitter! the sparkier the better! the way it shimmers and shines and gets lumpy when mixed with glue... puffs of glue with glitter stuck to your fingers... the more glitter the better!

a little fence climbing... I love how we let our children be children.. climb fences, play in mud, toss coconut footballs... it's the simple things that we remember... I was reading something the other day and it said... "looking back at your childhood and remember back... the most popular things that people have for a memory is being in the nature... being a KID!" first on the list was laying in the grass looking up at the cloud formations... then come climbing trees...

what is your favorite memory of being a kid??? why not do it again!

for me a memory of my childhood is playing in the mud... being covered up to my elbows in mud... barefoot! then rinsing off in the creek... building a boat with some junk us kids found... and finishing off climbing trees and swinging from branches to branches like monkeys... My wish for my children is to have this simple carefree life of being a kid... just as I had...

market day...

2011-03-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

a day at the market is one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday... especially springtime in Florida...

all the farmers bring the most amazing vegetables and fruits... there are plants, honeys, flowers... it's a feast for your senses and I truly love to feast! I love to run my hands over the soft tomatoes... smell the leaves of the basil... sneak a grape... test the citrus... say hello to friends and families and dogs we recognize... it's a beautiful day for all!

we let our girls pick out things to try... the bright colors of all the vegetables is hard to resist! they feel quite proud when they pick out something... and they love to try most things... especially the berries.

we love to take our purchases and find a tree to sit under and indulge! This pepper that I sliced into was so juicy and perfect we ate the entire thing like an apple! almost wanted to eat the stem! It was so red that it stained the girls clothes but I don't mind a little red pepper stain... it adds character!

best of all was the baby green surprise inside! made us all giggle!

we can never resist a stop at our favorite French Cafe... they make the most amazing pastries!

just outside of our town's toystore was this adorable band playing! check out the guitars made of cereal boxes!!! wow... they sounded amazing!

so yes, spring is here and we are truly feeling so happy to be out in this weather! the days are hot with a cool breeze... nights you need a sweater... the trees are covered with little spring green leaves and beautiful flowers... I feel so happy!

a gold hunt...

2011-03-23T13:07:00.000-07:00

a tad late on posting... life has been busy... but I do promise to keep up with this fun space... it clears my mind and helps me appreciate all the littles in my life...

St. Patrick's Day

Miss. Ashley hosted a "Gold Hunt" in her backyard for St. Patty's Day... it was so much fun! hunting for gold was a BLAST! The leprechans came and hid bunches and bunches of gold for the children to hunt for... it was so cute!

lots of green treats

lots of little leprechans!

easy evenings...

2011-03-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

this is one of our favorite ways to spend the evenings... feet up... bellies full of good food... wine... and eyes on our silly little girls... happy laughs... smiles.. giggles!

they love to dress up... dance... play music... twirl..
we could sit here for hours... and so they could play

love that little ruffle butt!

Pappa Bear's little girls can talk him pretty much in to anything... and that is why I love him so...

Alice in Wonderland Party!

2011-03-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

oh my oh my... what an amazing birthday party! our little Isabelle has been loving the story of Alice in Wonderland... she also loved the Johnny Depp film... so it was no surprise when she said she wanted a "wonderland" party! I was quite excited too!

some fun details... there is something so magical about this story... takes me back to my own childhood where I just LOVED the story as well!

We had SO SO SO much fun setting things so for the garden party! Isabelle got to set the linens out... tie ribbons.. put flowers out! I love how she loves to help... quite helpful!
but I know this setting looks a little like it took me weeks... but all it was, was borrowing tea cups/ pots... from my mother... fabrics... flowers... everything is so hodgepodgie and madhatterish which was a bit hard to let loose of a color theme... perfections... but that's just how our garden is... very whimsical and eclectic... and to me.. the madhatter tea party was a perfect theme for our not-so-perfect but in our eyes perfect... garden!

for me... Alice in Wonderland... the new Tim Burton movie is a MUST see for ALL little girls!!! to start.. it's so magical and will lift everyone's hearts... but what stood out to me as an important film for little girls to see is it shows little girls that they can be adventure girls! in the film Alice did not want to get engaged... did not want to wear fru fru dresses... she wanted to be a strong woman.. back then it was a bit unheard of... maybe now too perhaps... but Alice is on the verge of becoming a woman and her heart is swaying toward adventure and a free spirit... not a happily ever after. In the end she sails the world... that's her HUGE defeat... not finding a prince. THIS is a happily ever after... don't you think so...

little Alice... Happy 5th Birthday Sweetie!
Uma made this beautiful dress for the birthday girl... look at all of the fun details... I love the different swatches of fabrics... looks truly like something Alice would wear... Isabelle LOVED it!

classic party games were played...

that's some happy hair!

Uma & Umpa made this fantastic Cheshire Cat pinata for the party! all handmade!

Pappa Bear always makes his girl's birthday cakes... this year it was a Queen of Hearts strawberry cake with the White Queen on it! yummy! the 3 layered cake had vanilla custard, strawberries, and bananas inside with a gelatin & strawberry top!

playing a bit with her new sweet gifts..

what a day this was.. one I know she'll always remember

put put...

2011-03-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

what fun to play put put (mini) golf! it was seriously one of those magical days, that when we left my cheeks hurt from laughing so much! and I was so happy that this magical day happened to be on our little girl's birthday!

I mean look at that tongue... such concentration!

of course there were alligators at the pirate themed mini golf place!

our youngest is quite the big girl now... has to do everything herself... no helping! climbing big steps... putting on shoes and clothes... washing her hair...

a nice breeze makes the palms rustle so nice... when the breezes start getting crazy the pounding of the palms feels amazing!

this is one happy birthday girl!

a little birthday jam for her big sister...

sweet day... love my sweet family

she's 5.....

2011-03-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

my little baby is 5! as the day was approaching I felt that thud in my heart... that gulp that won't go away... that weepy feeling of ... how can this happen... so fast. I mean it does seem right... it has been a very FULL 5 years... but 5... really!?

Then the other night... two night before she turned 5... I decided to embrace our children growing up... push the sappiness aside and really let them be wildflowers... There is nothing I can do but enjoy this life... I cannot pause it... I cannot make them be 1 again... I have to let the days happen and be happy about them.

This sweet sweet big girl was laying on my lap the other night... our stories were finished... the windows were open and the crickets were chirping.. the night air was coming in... I was stroking her back and of course that heavy heart feeling was taking over me... our youngest was falling asleep on Pappa bear... then as we were about to take our girls off to bed... She softly whispered up to me, "Mamma, can I stay here forever...?" of course... of course I said to her! we stayed there for long after that... the girls fell asleep in this perfect night... we just laid there noticing how long they were getting... and how fun it has been... and how fun it will be... this little golden life we have here!

This white dress in the first pic above is very special... every year on her actual birthday I take her picture in this very dress... it is my dress.. and one day will be hers... I think it will be fun to see how much she has grown through the years in this particular dress... already it has stopped puddling on the ground.

so I am embracing 5... more 5 year birthday pics coming soon!... an Alice in Wonderland party! stay tuned!

Spring has Sprung in Florida!

2011-03-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

it is officially SPRING! it's just gorgeous out! THIS is why we LOVE to LIVE HERE!!!!! The birds are tweeting so many different songs! the air has a tiny breeze... there are fresh orange blossoms in the air... the skies are so blue and the trees are so green! most days are spent outside... ALL DAY!

to sit in our garden and have our heads back with a view like this as the children play... is so relaxing... how did I get so lucky!

we appreciate the simple things... that's what makes us so happy. We may not have a lot of things... but what we DO have we LOVE... and is HUGE to US! Our LOVE... our CHILDREN... and our sense of APPRECIATION for NATURE and BEAUTY fills our hearts with JOY JOY JOY! We love to take our time in life... eat long gorgeous meals... laugh until our bellies hurt... and sit back until the crickets come out and let us know it's getting close to bathtime... this is really what life is about... enjoying it... enjoying the spring is making my heart run over with happiness just now... what things are filling your hearts just now... I would love to hear...

what a morning...!

2011-03-12T10:53:00.000-08:00

a few more pics from waking up as a 5 year old...

paper and ribbons curled all over every which way..... the smiles and the squeals remind me of my own childhood... the wonder in their eyes is what I love to live for.....

it makes me laugh to see them both fit under this breakfast in bed tray... their little toes peeking out... I love that even though it's one's special day... the other wants to share it... share the happiness with their best friend.

Isabelle's day fell on a school day and she was very excited to do just that... to be the special girl at school... to share with her friends the news that she is FIVE! At her school when one has celebration day they get to do everything first! it's a big deal! they get to sit next to their teacher at circle time... get snack first.. get to choose which activity to play... it's a lot of fun... and the birthday girl was glowing! maybe I was too...

they get to hold the globe and circle the candle which represents the sun... so she has gone around the sun FIVE times...!

each time she circled we would pause and share photographs from that particular year and share stories of that year... it was a little tricky to remember but it was nice to reflect...

once they are done they blow out the candle.. the sun... and it is time for a healthy treat!

Uma came along too to wish Isabelle a happy day!

birthday morning...

2011-03-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

birthday mornings at our home are full of whispers... pitter patters... scamperings... hurries... then a deep breath and we sing! I love our tradition... We do birthday mornings like they do it over in Sweden where Pappa bear is from... we make a nice breakfast while the birthday girl is fast asleep... or pretending... while we pluck flowers for the tray... find all the cards and gifts that have come from all over... find a special pretty napkin... light a candle... and then all of the family softly opens the birthday girl's door and begins to sing to her the Swedish birthday song. She wakes with a happy smile and and gets to open her special birthday presents..

such nice flowers just now in our garden... my favorite geraniums!

I made this sweet card for her with drawings of special things she did during her year... a way of reflecting and perhaps thinking of what she will do in her 5th year... she loved it... looked at each and every drawing and could figure out each one... and remember...

the happiest part to me of course... is these sweet girls... the love they have for each other...melts my heart! Isabelle just thinks her little sister is adorable and often says... "awe, Cecilia, you're such a cutie.." and little Cecilia just thinks the world of her big sister! love them!