intangibles

I probably have lost most of you by now...

Last night I actually did a quick blog visit looking for something on my blog

I wanted to find

and then I also found a post that i did 2 years ago this month of a video

when my youngest was 1 1/2

and I cried

that age is so sweet and I just miss it

even though I love the ages both of my girls are at right now too

it was just a reminder of how time just flies by

often before you want it to

I really miss posting on my blog

yes, I've said this before

but I really realized it more than ever last night

I miss reading my friend's blogs

I miss the connections I made with all of you

I miss many of things

but I just had to take a break from writing

sharing

posting

I just needed to live life for my family

some things are hard to say...

this past year has been wonderful for so many of things

but it also has been an extremely difficult year for my family too

that's hard to say

not just my immediate family

but also in my extended family

 and if I would have written

it would have been painful for me

that's why I stepped away

and of course because lack of time as well

I've really been off the wall busy with my family, kiddos, my business, etc.

I just couldn't make my blog a priority

 I chose to focus on other things

and I am happy with that decision

I wanted to look at my life and still appreciate the wonderful blessings

that I have no matter what

because I have so many blessings

that I'm just so thankful for

anyway,

I want to get back on track with sharing...

so as most of you know

Christmas is in my top 3 holidays of the year

the giving and celebrating family/friends is my favorite part of the year

and it also means that I have guaranteed time that my hubby is in town too:)

we have already had some wonderful christmas celebrations

a couple of weekends ago with my in-laws

this past weekend was Christmas with our friends

and i made pumpkin candied cranberry tarts

yes, I made tarts for the very first time
I loved it!

and I'm still pretty darn excited about it
although, it took me forever

I may just be going through a tart phase now
they are just so cute and pretty

obviously, I'm sidetracked with my tarts now

which I do plan on sharing the recipe because I loved it

both of the celebrations were wonderful

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays

it has been that way since I was a child

my sister and I always, always loved it

Miracle on 34th Street

and we would watch it almost on a daily basis

{almost}

yes, I've talked about that movie a lot on this blog in the past

my sis and i would watch it so much when we were younger

that I think my parents had to buy us 2 vhs tapes:)

we would literally wear this movie out:)

yes, "I believe"

and that only makes sense if you have watched the movie

So...

as I was going through my blog last night
I was reminded of my favorite quote in my very favorite Christmas movie

Miracle on 34th Street

I thought I would share it once again

 I took some Christmas photos of the girls yesterday afternoon

it was a blast

we had lots of fun

smiles

silly faces

dance moves to celebrate at the end of our little session

we all celebrated
the girls were great

actually fabulous

and wonderful

{that's because they were bribed with freezy ice pops}

we don't know how to get through a photo session without bribing in our family

just so you know...I am not above bribing to get photos :)

i almost put this picture on my virtual christmas card just to be reminded of all the silly things the girls and I do together

hopefully you will love this quote as much as I do

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

"Someday you are going to find that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn't work, and when you do, don't overlook those lovely intangibles. You'll discover those are the only things that are worthwhile."

and I found that quote true so much of this past year
hold on to those intangibles

Thank you everyone for your patience

and thank you to my fabulous friends that over the past couple of months kept asking me when I was coming back with my blog

it was just nice to hear your sweet words to me

it didn't go unnoticed

Happy Holidays!!!

"Whatever is good,

whatever brings you joy...

May it be yours during

this magical season and the

throughout the coming year."



I've tried...

To Let THEM be...

Hmmm....as I finish up vacation pics...some anxious family waiting to see the rest {I'm told}...I've had a difficult time really finishing up...it means that I must get back to the "real" world...I must admit that it is now fall...{I love fall usually...don't get me wrong....love that I can wear jeans and boots now:)}...but I miss where we were already...

Let them be...came to me this morning during my run...as I was viewing the rest of the pics last night...I was thinking...what do I think about when I see these pictures?....I didn't know last evening...

Let them be....a perfect description...

Lately...well awhile now...I really cannot even remember when it started...but one thing I do know...is that it has been hard...you see...those that know us well...often think...Madison is seriously almost a clone of me...{you read that right}...so alike with me...it's almost nuts:)...{poor Daddy,right?}

And why is that important?...well...it has been distance...one of the hardest things for me to deal with as a mother so far...distance between us in that she tests me more than anything...she's 3 1/2 ...yep...you read that right too....3 1/2...and yes...I know it's the age too {finding her boundaries...the attitude starts friends have told me}...but I tell you it is hard...so hard sometimes tears well up when the day is finished...

Hubby travels a lot these past 4 or so years...so when I think about it...during the week...I'm the comforter...I'm the discipline...I'm the cook...I'm the one she has to listen to...But also I try to love on her in her language...when she needs it...I'm the one who determines whether she gets those stars...I'm the one she is so similar too...I'm the one who tries to make it okay when she says she misses her Daddy...I'm just the one...and I honestly LOVE that more than anything...that is why I do what I do...so I can have this...but like I said it is hard sometimes...

...At 3 1/2 she pushes me away...quietly...just like her mommy does sometimes in life...I see her pulling back...I feel her challenging my every word, question, request...and really that's okay...

She's only finding her boundaries with me...it's a part of motherhood...I know...

I also know that maybe since I have had her sister...she has wonderfully become a Daddy's girl...I say wonderfully because oh their relationship melts my heart in so many ways...I love it...from the way she looks at her Daddy to when he comes back in town and she runs to greet him...I treasure that for them...because I know...

I just know that a daughter and her Daddy's relationship is a very important one...experience I'll say...

{So} this trip...wow it did wonders for us to spend some quality time together...just the four of us...and we each had some quality time with each kiddo while on the beach...it's important...it's wonderful...and she now is reaching for me again...maybe because I've {tried to} Let her be....I've simply tried my best ~ all I can do, right?~...accepted those challenges she has given me...and have gone at her pace as much as I am able to...I've tried to be as patient as I can...I know her love language...and I have tried to love her like she needs...{obviously not always perfect or patient with it...but I've done my best}...

I'm trying to set the foundation now...that when she needs her space...I'll allow it as long as she reaches back out when she's ready...

that when she needs me to be silly and embarrass her to make her laugh...I'll do that...she hates when I dance to embarrass her..."Stop Mommy"...she says with a giggle...
when she is having a hard time expressing herself...I'll {try to} help guide her...

when she needs some boundaries from me...I'll have to set them for her...

...because I love her that much...

to let her be Daddy's girl...because there are times when she just needs only him....and I truly love that...

...and when she needs her Mommy...I'll be right here too......and times when she wants to experience life by herself......and when she needs her sister...I'll show her how to ask...I'll let them be together...
...there will be times later when she only needs Hayley...
And times where Hayley needs to stand alone too...

Times where Hayley sees she needs to also discover...{just a note~plain pineapple juice in that cup:)}

 She needs to know how much Hayley looks up to her...

for the past few weeks Hayley is obsessed with using the big girl potty...

already at 19 months...no joke!...

and it's all because she looks up to Madison...she loves her...and is inspired by her...

She wants to follow her footsteps...

But explore on her own...finding her own cadence in life too...

Times when Hayley needs only Daddy and Madison...



And times where all four of us...just need us...that's what this vacation did...it gave us renewal...at a place we all love and cherish...the beach...we all grew together...while we didn't even realize it...

I've {tried to} let them be...{although I know for sure...that is something I will have to remind myself everyday as a mother}...Let them be...

...And Hayley...this morning was a big morning for me...her first day that when I dropped her off at school...

she didn't cry...not a sad face...

she reached right out to her teachers...and said "Mommy Go"...{not telling me to go...but she was saying Mommy will go...{because that is usually what I tell her}...and Mommy will come back}...and she smiled...

...Let her be...

I promise not too many more vacation posts...just one more...a really fun experience with turtles for Miss Madison...