refreshed...

there is something about just letting children be when you take their pictures...

for instance...

the four cousins together

and how they interact over several pictures...

I loved it capturing those minutes of them together

it made me laugh seeing them all sit together looking in all different directions and saying "cheese" over and over again

we spent the weekend just enjoying family at the lake

feeding the ducks one morning...

{the splotches on the pictures was from sprinkles of rain}

Hayley talking to the ducks

Madison was so excited over the ducks...

and Hayley was too...until one decided to take off and fly right in front of her...

and that was the end of that for her

 with any free time we had...

I was relaxing on the porch in the morning with coffee before our run

or relaxing on the porch in the evening listening to the boats, the waves, and the lake

and actually falling asleep to them

I swear I haven't taken so many cat naps than these past four days

to be honest...I don't ever take naps

but I feel so refreshed

and feeling a little better

but watching the girls together is always so fun

and taking pictures of them just being makes you smile...

Hoping you have a great week ahead of you...

***just a side note...

I know I'm not a professional photographer...

but this time last year one of my pictures was used without my permission
from the same vacation
so the only reason why I bring it up again

it's not okay to do so and thank you for your understanding....

***but on a better note...

check out French Larkspur...

Tracey is having a fabulous give-a-way in support of her friend's upcoming shop opening...

love is...

well lets first start off by saying...this is way late...but just know I didn't have internet all week where I was so I had it for well only for 3-4 hours one day...so I have sooo many things to catch up on

but thought I should still do it anyway...and by the way...thank you all for your love and support with my last post...your comments and e-mails I received were truly near and dear to my heart...and you know it was so easy to trust you all with my deeper thoughts and feelings...especially since I have kept it in for so long...you all are the best and some great friends:)

love is...

finding different ways to create hearts together...in the sand, nonetheless...

love is knowing your past of great and difficult times...
{now why this picture loading side-ways...I have no idea}

your present of great times...
and a future of both more to come together...

love is...taking your own pictures that never really turn out...

love is...having your husband make you feel comfortable in a picture by yourself...because it was hard...

love is...being able to just lay in the sand all day with your hubby and know that you don't really even need to say words...although I must say he would definitely remind me of lunch time:)

love is...having your husband laugh at you because it was so cold on the beach a few days that you stayed laying there with a towel {as your blanket} so you can still enjoy the sounds of the ocean...


love is...walking down to a little place on Valentine's morning to watch the sun rise so beautifully...

love is...a big ole' kiss

love is...your husband giving you a hug because you miss the girls...

love is...seeing the most handsome man look back at you...

love is...taking walks on the beach together...

love is coming home to your oldest snuggling with you when she doesn't normally snuggle...
and my youngest waking up and saying "Hi Mommy" over and over with a little miss you in there too

and love is...knowing you can trust, laugh, cry, and spend an entire day in an airport coming home on Valentine's Day and still feel like it's been a pretty romantic day...

Happy Valentine's Day!

For the fam...

A little turtle in my pocket you may say...

since the very first day we were there...Miss Madison wanted to sit on this stone turtle every time we walked by it...and that was many of times we walked by it! The time was right one evening {in the evening the stones wouldn't burn her hiney} we stopped and took some time for her to sit on this turtle...she loved it until the stones well just weren't comfortable to sit on because they were "bumpy"...hence her face:)

As we were walking ~ another consultant stopped us...and said she knew just the thing our girls would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to do...

Well we listened of course...and on the last evening we took a stroll to another resort within ours......and came to this spot where we could let little baby turtles go {just what she told us about}

Now my first thought...how neat...Madison will love it...next...Oh great...Hayley will try to grab every turtle there:)But this was Hayley...before we even arrived to the spot...gotta love umbrella strollers...this one is on its last leg though...she was out...completely out...Then I thought oh...GREAT...dinner's going to be fun tonight...you know the times where you KNOW it is coming...but nonetheless she looked adorable sleeping...we just let her be...so happy sleeping soundly:)
Anyhoo...we were waiting...and waiting....

So I got some sweet pics of Madison watching the waves our last evening there...she loved it...the sun was setting...the tide was changing...just perfect for the turtles...the little suckers were so cute ~ they had 4 small crates full~ ...pictures were difficult because they didn't allow us to use flash...and it quite dark during most...

Bobby was so sweet to let me do this with Madison...I know he wanted to...but like I said from my last post...really some bonding time with just Madison and I...I loved it...seeing her excited...seeing her smile...and seeing her hold that baby turtle...{that I had to explain to her...I asked her if she remembered how I picked up the toads to show her at home...she shook her head yes...well I said that is how you will need to hold this turtle...but very gently because it is a baby ~ her eyes just lit up...so excited}. She did great...she had to hold onto "MOON" for a good 20 minutes...pretty long time to explain that we couldn't let him go yet...but she did great!I got to tell you...what went through my head was...don't tell her that most and I mean MOST baby turtles will not survive due to predators...and will not be back in 20 years like they are telling us...{I was hopeful Madison didn't hear that part...because she remembers EVERYTHING literally...and I know if she heard that they were telling us they all will be back...I would have gotten "when" and "why" over and over and over again:)...for the next 20 years:)

I know...

That is pretty wrong, isn't it? {Couldn't help to think it though ~ just my realism...but I didn't want to ruin this sweet moment for Madison and myself together}...so I just joined in talking to her about the turtles and what they do...why they come back...

Personally...I love that she named him MOON...the actual moon was shining bright and just beautiful that evening...a perfect name...
And just before we let them go...those in charge...did a really silly dance to celebrate letting the turtles go...and off they went...Miss Madison looking down at Moon right before she let him go...one of my fav experiences with Madison that week.
And there he goes...right out to the water into the tide afterwards...and right when that happened...little Miss Hayley woke up screaming...oh I did predict this one...because she didn't know where in the heck she was...poor little thing...

Off to dinner we went...still with our little stinker...oh and dinner was FANTASTIC...yep...all Hayley wanted to eat was those stinkin' mini tubs of butter they bring out with bread...YEP...we really allowed {it was only one...I guess us justifying it in a way saying it was only one...we had to hide the rest}...we'll admit it...ever let your kiddos {well should I say the younger siblings get away with more than your 1st}...or maybe I just got more relaxed...hmmm....not proud of us doing that...just letting you know she did eat real food too...but all through us waiting for our meal...YEP she ate butter...and I'm okay with admitting it...because it kept her occupied since we forgot something to keep her occupied....because we were 30 minutes of walking from our room and a place just to grab food.

...honestly maybe not even 3/4 of a teaspoon of it she ate since we wiped it out as we snatched it away from her:)

The next day as we went through customs coming home into the US~ my oldest was asked questions from the customs agent...the same questions he just asked me...like 2 seconds before...YEP...and I prayed very hard...

that it wasn't going to be one of those times where Madison decides to make stuff up or say some untruths...among me thinking since when do 3 year olds get questioned...

Then as we walked through the last agent...we were asked if we still were glad we brought the kiddos...we were like ABSOLUTELY!!!! You know...this was our first vacation we didn't have to worry about a thing...it made me feel so proud to bring my entire family...because all of those late nights...my hard work {that I do love}...times of being away from them...it all become worth it when you see the results of your sweat equity and being rewarded with a trip for your family...{please know I am not doing a plug for what I do}

But honestly...the last day tears just welled up...at our last day at the beach...because I felt so blessed, grateful, thankful that I work for a company that not only loves on me with great people and all the other extras...but they also love on my family...and that is why we brought the kiddos...I wanted to show my girls just one thing...and yes even at their age...that whatever you are passionate about...go for it and do it well...the rewards are so worth it!
Blessings from us! ~ Oh and I have so many things to share very soon of recent projects too...so excited!

Dream a little dream....

Have you ever thought about if you are there yet?....I'm talking about are you still dreaming and making new dreams along the way?

...Or are you still waiting...to dream?...

Me...I think I'm pretty close to where I want to be in my big picture dream...and seeing them unfold right before my eyes...

Sure there are many things I still dream about...that I'm not close to being, having, or doing yet....

...Like refinshing my kitchen cabinets...or getting to where I want to be in my business...or already earning next year's trip again...

...But in the big scheme of things...I know my dreams have been unfolding right in front of me...my big picture dreams...

...Sure I dream hubby and I continue to get closer...

...I dream that my girls will always know what true faith is and have all they need right in front of them...

...I do dream for material things too...{lets be honest}...like decorating my home the way I see it in my head...

...and a home with a basement...we are definitely outgrowing our home...

...And when I think about the road that we have taken to get here...

...It has been rough at times...but that's a normality in life {for everyone}...our dreams have become...very, very happy times... They are reassuring...that I always have my handsome hubby with me...as we dream together.......Scary....when we didn't know what would result from our fertility issues...

....Breathtaking...like when I saw my girls for the very first time...

...And all those experiences worth every minute...

...Picking up the pieces after those hard times...
...Shoving them in your pocket...
...And smiling BIG to see you are past those times...and moving on with your new dreams......Just as the waves continue...up...and...down...so will my life be...a continual adjustment...

...But the downs get so much easier...I've always thought...
...The best part is....so many dreams are continually coming true...but my dream list continues to grow...there is so much I still dream about...

...with love, my family...and faith...

Dream a little dream...many little dreams...There's still so much more...I've always thought when you stop dreaming...you stop living...and I will never do that...
...I've become a great dreamer......that is my most favorite improvement about myself over these years...

I simply dream to just dream...

...I don't always think about the how's, when's, and plans every minute {well sometimes I still do}...

...But I've learned while dreaming...I will always dream until it's my time...

...When I pictured things 15 years ago with hubby...this is what I thought about...our life as we know it...right here...

with our girls...him and I together...

with lovelies in our life...

Dreaming a little dream....
because we didn't get to our family dream easily...not really at all...but it's all okay now...more than okay...your dreams always work out you know...at least faith + dreams has worked for me...but I wouldn't change it for the world...nope...

...I would keep it just the same...

...what I will do better...

...is my opinion of myself...

...I have some pain I carry with that...that eases up on me...when I least expect it...

...And tries to pull me down...

...But what I realized is that I have never been more prepared for those times...as I am now...

...That I now stand up for myself...sometimes not in the most perfect way...

...But I say what I feel when I feel it...

...and I feel good doing that...

...I've let go of people...

those that have intentionally tried to hurt our marriage this past year or so because of their issues...I've realized that their actions have nothing to do with us...it never did...they are not part of either one of our dreams...thankfully...

...I get less bothered when people judge me...when they think I look too young...and I now see how sad for them...they are missing out...

...So with the waves up and down...my dream a little dream is right here in front of me...I still have work to do in this life...
...lots and lots of it...

...I have more dreams...

...for hubby and I...oh do I love him...{sigh}

...for my girls...

...for our family...

...for my business...

...and even for my beachy vintage finds...{is that even a style...well if not, I'm making it up}

...BUT the most important BIG dream...the one I imagined 15 years ago with hubby...

we've gotten so much right...{and a lot wrong too...I think we all can say that don't you think?}

...the outcome...has been something marvelous for us these past 15 years...

{Because} our dreams ...have been ones we both can say...they have us right where we want to be...here

...they are near and dear to us...the things that make us tick...smile...laugh... appreciate...

...I'm learning to roll with it more as I dream my little dreams...that I don't always have to have a plan...

...I'm not 100% at that yet...but I'm getting closer and closer...and I'm really okay with not ever being 100% but getting as close as I can...because when I do...the rewards are wonderful ...{I've found so far}...

I continue to enjoy the view of life as I dream a little dream...

Whether the waves are big with good times or small waves of difficult...the view I will continue to enjoy...with hubby and I as we dream the little dreams together...
{a little behind with my blogging here...pictures from Day 3 here and Day 4}