This season.

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My seasons have shifted and not in just in the form of the teardrop puddles collecting on my front porch whispering the promise of fall. This is totally happening right now, btw.  I am listening to it all out an open window, wine in hand, with a smile the size of Kansas. Tiny droplets of joy.

But this life season? Well, it blossomed about 2 weeks ago, and I am wrapped waist deep in this warm embrace of new and pleading with myself daily to not forget this feeling.

In case you didn’t know this, first grade is a whole lot different than kindergarten. As in, I’m no longer rockin’ the newbie spot and I get it this time around. She gets it… and more importantly, nobody is crying. Okay, so maybe I cried a little but I promise it was for half a second and nothing more than a boatload of pride for my gal. She’s just so brave.

Two teeth down, one pound heavier and billowing over with confidence, she’s an expert on school.  I mean, “Those kindergarten kids are just so little and scared all the time”. Ha. How quickly she forgets. And yet, she didn’t even need Mommy to tag along on her first-day-daddy-drop-off date.  It went beautifully. So maybe she doesn’t forget. She just grows.

Surprisingly, we’ve had a lot of this

And very little of this.

First grade? I like you.

There’s something to be said about this new season. And while, it seems so trivial (and rather embarrassing) to say it out loud… I walk around this space with the mentality of a survivor.  I made it. It’s no secret that last year wasn’t my golden one in the sun. I struggled. 6 years of kids in a 7-year-old marriage will do that. We’ve been busy and tired for a really long time. That can really wear on your spirit some. To finally have a moment to stop and feel grounded on familiar territory feels like victory. For the first time in a really long time, I am kid free for several hours a week. And while I miss them all like crazy…they were ready. 

We all were.

I finally went to the eye doctor, met a friend for lunch without securing a babysitter and took at nap at 10am in a quiet *read- empty* house. If you are there too, you get it. In this season, just calling and making an eye doctor appointment without all the added planning feels like a present. A very welcomed present. And P.S--- new, LONG overdue, contacts are quite wonderful too.

So, I haven’t been blogging.

And I haven’t been running.

I probably didn’t call you back yet.

But I’ve breathing. And listening to rain. And state-size smiling.

Perhaps, I’m growing too.  

Backyard bonanza!

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Molly's birthday party this year was totally and completely planned by her. All the way to writing the invitations. And while, I know that she completely loved the autonomy of 6-year-old party planning... It at times took everything I had not to giggle. This girl has her own sense of style.

Our only other attempt of an at-home birthday party was back in February of 2009 for Gabriel's first birthday. A crazy late winter, cold-front blew in the morning of keeping temps hovering at around 45... and the party was outside. So, it seems fitting that our second attempt gifted us with monsoony torrential goodness a mere 45 minutes before the party started. Molly's plan? To blast some happy music through the house (thanks, Millers!) and wake up the sunshine. You know what? My kid is a genius.

Besides, a little rain never hurt a 16 ft inflatable waterslide.

Especially when you are born with a need for speed!

Such a fun day celebrating this little miss...

Happy Birthday, Mo! We sure had a blast celebrating you!

Six.

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Molly,

I'm not quite sure how we have crossed over to two hands now, but look at us--- we're here. And yet, somewhere in the squeenchy bottoms of my gut, it feels right. You look like you're six. While dainty in size, you are ever so mighty in this world. You walk big, talk big... and wow, you think so much bigger than big.

At times, this year was a little hard for Mommy. You knew it... and you kept those extra snuggles just for when I needed it...bony elbows and all. I am constantly blown away by how in tune you are to those around you. You have some great gifts for this world, Molly May. You sure are such an amazing gift to me.

Tonight as I tucked you in bed, you sweetly whispered after prayers, "Goodnight 5-year-old, Molly" to yourself. And while, I am sure that you couldn't see the tears that instantly welled up for this sack of feelings... I know that you felt my celebrating love too. Celebrating you is my favorite.

So goodnight, sweet 5-yr-old... can't wait to meet this big ole' six-year- old you in the morning. I hear she's down one tooth and was so special that the tooth fairy stopped in for the first time to celebrate six-yrs-old too.  Fairy sure picked a perfect person to celebrate.

Love love love times six.
Mommy


Molly's six! from Julie May on Vimeo.

Hey!

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So, I'm alive. I'm glad we got that awkwardness out of the way.

I, ahem... took a break? I moved... have been therapeutically decorating... sifting through some medical gunk with some fibro-funkypain-in-myalgia. It's been a bunch... of life. But you know, while at times a little sticky and muddy... I'm doing well and have never felt better supported. There are some pretty amazing people that love me.

Which is good because guys,... it's a pretty big week. I need to be doing better. Someone is about to be two hands old in age. In 3 days. Not that we're counting down or anything. It's going to big.

It's going to be FANCEE.

Rosie George is ready to party...


































how bout' you?

Stay tuned for a week of favorites.

P.S. it feels good to be back on the grid.

Chasing July

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July. You do it to me every year. Remember?

As soon as the crickets arrive in full force and the sun stays up way past its bedtime, we are already well  into our summer stride. We soak up every last minute of it. Fall is just around the corner--- already the beachy umbrellas at target have been replaced with aisles and aisles of school supplies. Oog. Not yet...I still have my glass half full of summer lemonade. I better drink it up.

This year, we shook our summer up just a bit more and threw a move in the middle. I mean we just hadn't had enough opportunities to build box cities, no? So, Austin  helped us out with a week worth of rain. Kids played, I unpacked and Lucy repacked a little more.

The week of rain was a new home balance that settled us in our space. Although, my OCD self needs our stuff completely unpacked to truly feel home. This up and coming escape to Dallas tomorrow couldn't come at a better time. Get me out of this space and away from Pinterest because while, yes I do need to take on all sorts of crafty projects, I don't need to do it all at once.

So this is me checking in. I'm alive. Chasing sunlight.

More and better to come!

Little Sister

She sticks her finger in my ear after fishing out a booger.

She loud and fast and full of gas…

Steals my legos, fronts with sass…

Quite the little pain in my a…

Oh! That little sister.

She steals my breakfast every day

NEVER follows my rules.

She makes my dinos dance and prance

She pirates all my tools.

For all the time I tell her no. And stop. And don’t. And go…

She’ll just look at me with this little smirk

Like she’s the boss… you know?

My mom tells me that she’s just small.

That soon, she’ll play my way.

She’ll learn to roar and stomp and race

Stop driving McQueen out of his space…

She’ll throw a spiral with ease and grace

Perhaps... that time's today?

My sister makes me crazy head…worse than any other…

But for all her noise and smells and fits...

She’s sure cuter than a brother.

Pool Hair

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So the next three days have us hovering around 106 without a drop of rain in the forecast. I'm sweating just thinking about it. I see a lot of dates in the pool... as if we weren't already swimming twice a day.

Lucy has been rocking some pretty sweet pool hair this week.

You know, it works for her...

All that added volume goes great with her "say cheese" face.

Lots to catch up on this week! Think cool thoughts for us!