Quiet day today even though I went to work for lunch and had to coordinate with Jake and then David went to a playdate so I barely had time to snap photos. But I got one of Nathaniel with his beloved blankie.

And then I tried to get another photo but he wouldn’t accomodate.

despite all my acrobatics, this was the best I got.

when David came back, I snapped one of him. He was considerably more accommodating. This is one of my favorite photos of him.

I am starting to believe that maybe the peace I crave so deeply is becoming more and more a part of my life. I don’t want to say it out loud in fear I might jinx it but I do feel peaceful lately. I feel like I am working on goals I’d like to work on. I am trying to read, exercise, do art, spend time with my family, journal, scrap, and of course work. I do almost all of them every single day. I also rest.

I am learning to find ways to deal with my weaknesses instead of putting myself down for them. I ask for help when I need it and I don’t worry about looking bad. I pay attention to how things turn out so I can remind myself next time I find myself leaning towards worrying. I let myself off the hook more than I used to. I work with my strengths and don’t fight my shortcomings. I try not to beat myself up as much as I used to. I am learning that I am exactly who I need to be. I will work on things slowly because I want to but not because I need to and not because I have to.

I am also trying to be more patient with myself. Not needing to know the answers right away. Waiting for things to unravel slowly and take me down their path instead of designating the path each time.

And finally, I’ve been thinking about the fall and working with my kids’ schedules. David starts a new school. So does Nathaniel. Their schedules will mean coordinating new nap times (Nathaniel), exercise time (me), moving some meetings around, and making sure I am there to support them through possibly some big transitions (especially for Nathaniel but also for David since it’s a new school and new friends.) It will also mean trying to figure out how to do my work efficiently with this new schedule, especially since my work will get considerably busier right on the same day my kids go back to school. While all this really stressed me out for a few days, I decided to just let it go. I planned a bit and then I set up some help in case things go unexpectedly. And then I told myself I needed to let go and enjoy all the days between now and then. That’s that.

So I’m working on it. I think I’m truly embracing my word this year.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a nice lunch at work.
2. I am grateful that I will meet my friend Holly at a bookstore tonight.
3. I am grateful for a few more weeks of summer.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I watched Harry Potter at Ece’s house. * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I traced my Pokemon cards.
3. I am grateful that I played with my legos.

Well the calm, peaceful days continue here. I love love love them. I love how Nathaniel plays right next to me. Creating his own lego constructions.

And David played for hours with his legos today.

He wanted to be in his room so he could spread out and do what he likes. I went up there to snap a photo.

and then around dinner time, they get to watch a bit of a movie. This is a terrible photo, I know, but it’s just to give you context for the next one.

nothing like tiny toes that sneak out of the covers.

Love my boys. Love these peaceful days. Feeling wistful since I know the fall, school and more chaotic schedules are coming up really soon. Alas, time moves and we move with it. The goal for now is just to enjoy these blissful days while they are here.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for getting a ton of work done today. Feeling more organized and in control.
2. I am grateful for giving myself permission to skip Nathaniel’s class today. I feel too much guilt with those decisions but today I let myself off the hook.
3. I am grateful for being in the “can’t put down” part of my novel. I love when I get to this place in a book where I am completely absorbed in the story and really cannot wait to read more.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I played with my Legos. * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I watched Stuart Little.
3. I am grateful that I came up with a few lego designs.

Happy Sunday. This morning, I exercised and then it was family photos time. I now snap a few as I set up.

That’s how I get these gems.

See Nathaniel crying? (cause he didn’t have the remote.)

and then getting antsy. He did not want to sit still today.

so we started the tickles early.

but even that was more challenging today so we just took a few. you have to go with the flow with these.

Then David went up to his room to play and Nathaniel lined up the legos.

One fell so he grabbed it.

I just love the way he’s so focused.

And I love that he loves playing with legos.

After a bunch of surfing and reading and napping, I finally got up to sketch and do some art. I love that Nathaniel read next to me while I worked.

And David finally decided to grace us with his presence so I snapped a shot of him, too.

Then it was dinner time and family night time. We played the Dino Math game my sister sent me (thank you Yona!) and then a few rounds of Boggle. Now the kids are doing their bedtime playing and I am going to have a little more snuggle time with Jake before he leaves for a dinner. My plans tonight involve either reading or doing some art, I haven’t decided yet. Maybe both?

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a super-relaxed day even though I didn’t get any of my todo list done.
2. I am grateful for family night.
3. I am grateful for a few more hours on this Sunday night.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we have family night. * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played connect four with daddy.
3. I am grateful that I played with my legos.

Our day started with exercise and then family shots.

The little boy wasn’t looking at the camera.

Then he was obsessed with my watch.

even when I got him off that, he still wouldn’t look.

so we just gave up and called it tickle time.

during which no one looks at the camera.

Then there was naps, art journaling, wii, sketching, and when Nathaniel woke up, I tried to get him to let me take a photo. This is what he did.

I told him there was a bird behind me and snapped one more.

His older brother was much more accommodating.

We made a trip to the grocery store and filled the fridge with fruits and salads and protein. Then the kids took their baths and now I am off to read to Nathaniel and then it’s Jake and Karen cuddle time. Yey for lovely Saturdays.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I made an art journal page.
2. I am grateful for Bones which is what I watch when I sketch and do art journaling.
3. I am grateful for cuddle time with my awesome hubby.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I Lego Star Wars, Clone Wars on my Wii * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that it was Wii day.
3. I am grateful that I got a candy at the store.

Today, all I got is smiling photos.

of my wonderful kids.

with their funny smiles.

and sweet faces.

Oh how I adore them. All is well here. Quiet. I am playing with my kids, watching movies together, walking, art journaling, reading. All around wonderful days. I wish you a super-awesome weekend.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for smiley-face photos.
2. I am grateful for a lovely book.
3. I am grateful for a quiet weekend.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I had a private soccer class * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I watched a movie.
3. I am grateful that I played with my legos.