cherished moments

We spent the morning at a park last weekend with friends & during the puppet show my shy little girl jumped at the chance to be called on to get up in front of everyone. He called all three of the girls up at once & then she just stood there, not even paying attention & then pouted because she didn't get to say anything in the microphone. For the next half an hour she would jump up from the grass, hold her hand up high, & scream, "Me, me!" each time he asked the kids to raise their hands for volunteers to come up again. I have never seen her so persistent on anything before.

The girls had fun making hats, running through an obstacle course, going in an ambulance, eating ice cream, & playing by the water. 

They followed this guy around who was fishing & luckily he didn't care one bit.

*****

My great grandfather always made us homemade chocolate chip cookies; it's just what he always did for us growing up & for the last few years Opa has taken that over. It's incredibly simple but incredibly special at the same time.

Kennadie made Opa's famous cookies with him the other day & these photos are so special to me. I am in love with storytelling photography & I am working on putting them in album for him. Opa & Oma are my biggest fans & he may shed a tear when he gets the pictures :)  

Oh, the look on his face! It's obvious how much he loves her. 

random

Four & five year olds in little pink ballet slippers, looking at each other to remember what step they are supposed to do next, & singing as loudly as they can to I enjoy being a girl is probably one of the cutest things ever. We got ready backstage with our friends & luckily their dad & mom knows how to do one mean braided bun in a rush because by the time we arrived you wouldn't have even known I spent twenty minutes at home curling Kennadie's hair.  

It makes these recitals even that much more special with her being able to share this experience with two of her close friends.

We have been going through a phase where she doesn't want me to leave her. Ever. It started a few weeks back when I was getting ready to go out with some friends & she completely freaked out. I had never seen her like that before. I cried because my heart ached for my little girl & I almost gave in & stayed home but I knew if I did that it would only get worse & I knew she was safe with my mom so I went & she had a great time with my parents. She then began freaking out before school & before gymnastics & dance. This phase seems to be getting close to the end now, but after her recital she told me that she cried for me backstage. I told her it was OK to cry & that I was so proud of her for getting out there & dancing with her class. She rocked it.

post recital lunch at Hot Dog Annie's

It hasn't felt much like summer here with all the rain & cool temps we have been getting, but as soon as the sun does come out we make sure to enjoy the day to the fullest. We spent a few hours at the playground last week, kicked off our shoes, ran around in the field, she rolled down the hill, we played. These simple days are the ones I hope I never forget & that mean the most to me.

We played together for a while & eventually she went off & found kids to climb with & play tag with. I walked a few steps over to the bench to give her her space & sat under the tree taking it all in watching her climb & laugh & run around. I see the confidence that she is gaining & I love that.

mastering going down the pole on her own

She had her gymnastics Olympics last weekend & it falls slightly behind the recital in adorableness. She cried a few times for me, but I kept encouraging her & telling her that she could do this. She did. And I was so proud of her.

At the end they were all called up one by one to receive a rose & a medal. All the kids tied for first place :)

phone dump from last week-

camping day 2: the beach, ice cream, & s'mores

Camping was a blast. I loved everything about it-the hour it took Josh to make pancakes on the tiny stove, our dirty bottomed feet, not once turning on a TV, the quiet, the giggles, quickly sudsing up in the coin operated shower, not thinking about anything but the present moment.

After our pancake breakfast on the picnic table we decided to check out the trail through the woods that eventually led us to the beach. Not a single person was around & I enjoyed being together in that moment where all that existed was the three of us. 

As we turned left on a quiet road at the end of the trail, the view did not disappoint. It was beyond beautiful.

W pretty much had the entire stretch of sand to ourselves except for the few others who somehow knew about this hidden gem.

Hours went by & we were still happy just playing, running, finding shells & colored rocks, & watching her dance in the sand.

And I about lost my mind when we spotted a seal again. I ran far down the beach, following him as he swam & played in that ocean water.

We stopped at the campground for lunch & then made our way back to Provincetown for ice cream at the beach. I love it here- the rich history, everything is bright and colorful and happy, the friendliness, the way you can stroll in & out of shops with your dog.

I love the way my kid eats an ice cream cone- ice cream melting down her hands, all over her face & on her nose, ice cream dripping on the table & ground & on her clothes, her sticky fingers. She does this up right.

When she sees a beach she is just drawn to it, a force pulling her there as she kicks off her flip flops & plops her little body in the warm sand. I totally get it.

She was completely exhausted by the end of the day but we couldn't let her miss out on the last night of cooking on the grill & making chocolaty S'mores over the campfire.

We had an amazing time. 

Phone dump from our trip-