State Fair

State Fair 2016.
It was actually a really, really fun way to celebrate my Birthday this year.
I think the livestock part is still our favorite but the carnival will always be my most favorite place to photograph at the Fair.
I think I have a few new favorites in here!
After not posting for nearly 5 months now, I could talk about the memories and how big the kids were the last time we were here several years ago, or the stage of life we are in right now or birthdays and how some years they are a lot of fun and others...they just aren't.
BUT  instead, I'm just gonna let the pictures do the talking and tell you that the lemon shake-ups never, EVER disappoint.

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Life Lately...

Life lately has been Spring sloooowly, slowly creeping in.
It has been longer evenings and the start of soccer practice(for both kids this Spring!)- the first couple practices were FREEZING but it seems like that has changed now. Thank God.
Life lately has been swimming two nights a week and purging + organizing this old house of ours.
Life lately has been picking flowers and playing in the backyard.
Life lately has been basketball games with cousins and finding a $20 Starbucks gift card from Christmas you forgot all about.

Life lately has been little reminders that my boy might be growing up but he is still super sweet to his Mama. Usually.
Life lately has been lots and lots of books and little succulents everywhere.
Life lately has been exploring on of our very favorite parks with cousins and finding a small field of blue bells.

Life lately has been my first Sunday morning coffee on the front porch and new magazines to drool over.
Life lately is the sweetest dog ever and finding him(once again) in the funniest places, thinking that he is more human than animal.
Life lately has been EVERYTHING in bloom- flowering and green and growing.

Life lately is reminding myself everyday to find the beauty in the busy, stressful and sometimes ugly.
It is stepping back to see how much there is to be thankful for and happy about every single day and to teach my kids to do the same.

Life lately is good.

Daydreaming...

Current daydream:
Pack the kids and dog up in a yellow VW bus and tour the United States for the next six months.
I'm thinking... Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Oregon, California, Washington, Maine...
The ocean, the mountains, big cities, small towns and all the State Parks and campgrounds in between.
Making memories, seeing new places and experiencing one huge adventure right from the front seat of  a bright yellow bus.

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Creating Good Habits

If you need advice or tips on cultivating bad habits, I'm your girl...I can tell you exactly what NOT to do. If you are looking for a little cheer leading on breaking your own bad habits or starting new ones- again, I'm your girl.
The trouble I have is starting and sticking with my OWN good + positive habits and letting the negative ones go.

That is the tough part and that is the part I need the most work on right now. Lord help me.
I know I am not alone.

I always have the best intentions, and usually keep the majority of these intentions to myself I might add, because who wants everyone else to know when they fail? Not me. Not every time anyway.
And sometimes they last for a few days... Or a week... or less.
Sometimes I really do stick with them- that actually does happen sometimes.
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When school started this year I decided that I was going to make lunches ahead of time(the night before) because I absolutely did not want to be making two lunches every morning, or even think about lunches at all in the mornings anymore.
I decided I was going to prep everything for the kid's lunches on Sundays and that they would pack their own lunches every night before school and stick them in the fridge... And guess what?
I started that in AUGUST and we are still doing it. Seriously.
I realize the super-organized, prepared mom would laugh at me for thinking that is such a big deal, but for me it really is. It works, it is so much easier on me and + the kids and it actually makes my life easier. And I have stuck with it for like 6 whole months. That is an actual miracle.

Tomorrow is the first day of a new month and brings with it the chance for a fresh start, in many areas for me.
Back to setting my alarm extra early and for daily personal challenges this month.
I really wish that  just deciding that changes need to be made was enough for me- But it's not. I think it takes a lot of starting over, pep talks to ourselves and trying again and again.

A goal of mine is for more writing-for my own enjoyment, for keeping track and for accountability.

Hope you had a great weekend- And a great January!

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Nine Random Things On A Sunday

1. Coloring as meditation, 2. THIS sunset...You have no idea how HAPPY this made me! , 3. Stacks of magazines to look through at the book store- one of me + Charlotte's favorite things to do.
4. I have spent way too much time hibernating in my bed lately, 5. Coffee in bed(See #4), 6. Sunlight, praise Jesus!
7. Twinkle lights forever, 8. Still no snow and it's January. Crazy., 9. Little Reminders everywhere.


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