The Christmas season can be a challenging time. There are events to attend, meals to host, presents to buy, jobs to tend to, and children to raise. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming.

In the past I have struggled at this time of year. Thankfully, this year has not been as challenging so far despite even more demands. There are still moments of overwhelm or frustration but overall it has been a great start to the season.

Today my husband and I made three batches of meatloaf and (my husband) smoked six game hens. We hosted family lunch. I worked a little. We cleaned. And yet we still had time to sit around and watch the football game and enjoy both lunch and dinner together.

Best of all, both meals were full of laughter and sharing. At dinner my preschooler was singing Christmas songs with adorable mistakes, like "the one-th day of Christmas". The baby, in constant adoration of her big sister, was giggling and "talking" excitedly. And at one point we all had the giggles, including my husband.

I'm so grateful to laugh together. I'm grateful for beautiful family moments like this to cherish. I'm grateful for the love my girls have for each other. I'm grateful for a day of family and great food. I'm grateful to laugh. I'm grateful to be finding ways to take this season in stride. I'm grateful for all the ways my wonderful family helps me find the beauty and support in this season. I'm grateful o hear my girls laugh and to be able to join in.

What brings you joy this season? What makes you laugh? When was the last time you got the giggles?

May today bring light through laughter. May we find the beauty in the season and loving support from the ones we love. Have a beautiful day! 

Today was a great day! My daughter's first day back to school included a happy face and barely a wave as she marched into class. She had plenty to tell us when she came home after playing with her friends. 

The sun was shining. The grocery shopping went smoothly. And I even got the last box of Pumpkin Spice Cheerios! 

My husband was off today so we all got to enjoy lunch together. We ate out as a special treat and I even treated myself to lemonade instead of water. 

When we got home from lunch I talked to my daughter about how some kids do not have any books to read. She was shocked as reading is her absolute favorite thing to do. I told her that her school is holding a book drive to help collect books for kids who don't have any. She asked me how they do that and I told her that it means kids like her give away books they no longer read. At first she was very skeptical and said maybe we should give away some of my books. I showed her the stack of books I had pulled out to give away. She went through her shelf and found four or five to donate. I was really impressed because she even gave away one of her musical books. 

Last weekend we had written a letter to Santa. I explained to her that Santa, like Jesus, tries to bring things we need. He might throw in something we just want or he might pass that information on to moms, dads, aunts, uncles, or grandparents to handle the wants. I told her to think about what she really needed and then we would write a list. The picture above is her list; she dictated and I wrote. 

She had been emphatic about everyone having a merry Christmas. Today I got to point out that by donating books she was doing her part to ensure everyone would have a merry Christmas. It warms my heart and reminds me that I can give in more ways myself.

I'm grateful for a great day. I'm grateful for the beautiful ways to give during this season. I'm grateful to see my daughter growing into such a kind and generous person. I'm grateful to let her be a part of the giving. I'm grateful she picked a book to give to her sister for Christmas from her own collection. I'm grateful she is also offering to donate some of her toys too. I'm grateful for the ways we can help our community and other families have a great holiday season. I'm grateful to have my heart swollen with love.

How can you make a difference for someone else's holiday? Is there something you can give away you aren't using? Can you donate some time?

May we open our hearts this year to those around us. May we find ways to brighten the season and spread love. Have a beautiful day!

When I woke up today I didn't think about what lessons I would teach my daughters. I didn't write out a list of things to remember to teach them, and not just because it was a school day. My preschooler, in particular, will provide a million opportunities without me needing to even think about it. 

My preschooler loves learning. She loves soaking up new information and then telling it to the next person she sees. 

Today's lessons seemed extra impactful... to me. This morning I said I loved the sunshine. My preschooler responded "but not in my eyes. It hurts when the sun is in my eyes." Rather than just say "true" and move on; I felt a little stirring in my soul. Yes, that's right, my life became a musical as I informed my daughter there was a song about that very thing. Then I broke out in an off pitch rendition of John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders". She giggled and asked me to sing it again. 

Later when I picked her up from school it was warm and sunny. I decided to park the car and pick her up in person rather than in the drive thru. As she does on all nice, dry days she asked if she could have some time to roll down the hill. Of course! After a few times up and down the hill she surprised me. "Mommy, will you roll with me?" The playful child in me gave an instant yes as I plopped the infant carrier with the baby down in the grass out of the way. I will admit there was a part of me that looked at the long carpool line and even the dad picking up his daughter from my daughter's same class and thought "should I be doing this?" Luckily that voice was much quieter as I proceeded to roll down the hill in a race with my daughter to see who could roll fastest. Life is too short to not play and she is growing up too fast to miss these invitations over something silly like what other people may think. I hope I can teach that to my kids by modeling it every chance I get.

It isn't a one way road though. My daughters teach me too. Listening to a song in the car this afternoon I felt myself get a little emotional. I told my preschooler, "I want you to know that as you get bigger you will make some mistakes, everyone does, but that I will love you no matter what. I will always be here for you even if you can't see me. Ok?" She said, "Yeah, I know. Besides if I can't see you I can just look around or maybe call for you. Then when I see you I can run and jump in your arms!" She may not have a firm grasp on this growing up stuff but she sure knows what my mommy heart needs to hear. I'm grateful to be reminded that love can be so solid and unwavering.

And not to be left out my baby daughter taught me today that even though you've changed a full diaper that doesn't mean there isn't another explosion lurking a few minutes down the road. Thanks for the reminder baby girl. Haha! She also reminds me to be more present and enjoy the moments she is awake as she is growing too fast.

I'm grateful for a day of important lessons. I'm grateful to let go of opinions of others and do what makes me happy. I'm grateful to have this playful nature. I'm grateful to be invited to join in today. I'm grateful to do all that rolling without throwing up. I'm grateful to have gotten a little grass stain on my pants...its been too long. I'm grateful to see my daughters' joy. I'm grateful for their laughs that is the best sound in this world. I'm grateful for love and for all we teach each other as we grow.

Who is your biggest teacher? What lessons did you learn today?

​May today remind us that every moment is an opportunity. May we find beauty in the lessons. Have a beautiful day!

There are hundreds of milestones kids pass through as they grow. Many of these milestones happen the first year and a half of their lives as they grow and change so quickly. 

The last few weeks have marked several milestones for my youngest daughter. From rolling over and trying to make her first attempts at sitting to mastering blowing spit bubbles; she is changing every day. 

This weekend marked one milestone that I have been eagerly awaiting. This milestone is my favorite and makes my heart want to explode with joy. This weekend my daughter laughed for the first time!

It was the most beautiful, joyous, spontaneous giggle as she watched her sister playing with a stuffed unicorn. I don't know the joke but I laughed in delight along with her and even managed to record a little bit of it. It is my favorite sound!

I'm so grateful to have been present to witness to this beautiful moment. I'm grateful to have heard her first, adorable giggles. I'm grateful for ears to hear this wonderful sound. I'm grateful to feel my heart bursting with joy. I'm grateful to see her delighted face and see the love as she looked at her big sister. I'm grateful for the beautiful gift of my girls. I'm grateful to be their mama. I'm grateful for this life we live together. And I'm grateful for this milestone, this most precious gift.

What are some of your favorite milestones to witness in others? What are your favorite milestones in your current stage of life? 

May today bless us all with something that fills our hearts with such joy! May we cherish the little milestones that make us happy. Have a beautiful day!

Today I celebrated another birthday. Okay, let me be honest, this weekend I celebrated another birthday. I don't know how some people fit all their celebration into one day. 

I know people that stopped "celebrating" their birthday when they reached a certain age. To me, every birthday is worth celebrating because each one is one more wonderful year I was blessed to be here with my family and friends. And as luck would have it I was born during my favorite season so there is no shortage of festivals, pumpkin patches, trick or treat events, and just great weather. 

The morning started beautifully with my husband running defense with the kids so I could sleep an extra hour. When I got up I also was blissfully surprised to see he had made one of my favorite omelets for my breakfast. My preschooler sung me happy birthday and I got lots of baby snuggles. 

I got to have lunch with my parents and family at a delicious Mexican restaurant I love. I spent the afternoon dressed as Tafiti (from Moana) with my daughters (Moana and Hei Hei) trunk or treating at my preschooler's school. Then we all wrapped up the evening with some amazing steak made by my husband. It was an amazing day following a wonderful weekend of other celebrations!

I'm grateful to have a husband that is an amazing chef. I'm grateful he likes to cook for me. I'm so grateful to get to sleep in a little. I'm grateful to have a playful weekend full of celebration. I'm grateful to get to have so much fun. I'm grateful to have a birthday at such a wonderful time of year. And I'm grateful to be blessed to celebrate another year. I'm so grateful for my amazing family and my girls that literally are my dreams come true. I'm grateful to close out the weekend with some quality down time.

How do you like to celebrate your birthday? What is one thing you like to do every year? 

​May today be the first of another beautiful year. May we all cherish each moment we have with the ones we love. Have a beautiful day!

Today I would like to share some random things that make me smile. I have often been told I am easily amused. In my eyes, this is a great compliment. I enjoy being amused so the easier the better. 

Monday, while driving my daughter to swim lessons, traffic came to a complete stop. As it turns out some geese had decided to have a parade. And they were in no hurry to move along just for some silly drivers' schedules. I was happily tickled by their little shenanigan. 

The other night my husband and I were having a conversation over dinner. Our three year old, as three year olds do, was interrupting and proclaiming she had a question. We reminded her to use her manners and ask for her turn to talk rather than just interrupting. Then when we asked what her question was she was so excited for it to be her turn she just quickly looked around her to find something to talk about. The result was her looking around frantically just to shout "squirrel!" I laughed so hard I cried and now every night at dinner she says "Hey Mommy, squirrel!" trying to get me to laugh that hard again. 

Today as I drove home from work I pulled up behind three cars at a stoplight. The stoplight turned green and we sat. We stayed there for a good twenty to thirty seconds before the first car realized the light had changed and started going. What made me so happy about this? Not one of us in line behind this car honked, went around or in any way rushed. We all just sat and waited politely. It was beautiful! 

I'm grateful to be easily amused. I'm grateful when I can slow down and see these beautiful moments for what they are. I'm grateful for people who pause for animals. I'm grateful for people who are patient with each others' human-ness. I'm grateful for laughter and for my daughter who frequently provides this gift for me. I'm grateful for a new day and a new smile along the road. I'm grateful for those who smile and laugh with me.

Each day there are opportunities to smile, to laugh, and to enjoy simple things. It is up to us if we choose to recognize these little gifts. When was the last time you were easily amused? What made you smile today?

May today keep us in the moment and allow us to see its beauty. May we smile and laugh easily. Have a beautiful day!

Autumn is here! October is here! Technically neither of these started today, but it finally FEELS like Fall! 

Yesterday the temperature was 86 degrees as a high. Then the storm front rolled through and today didn't even make it to 60 degrees! Now, I will admit that my favorite temperatures hover between mid fifties as a low and low seventies as a high, but I'll take this drastic shift as a first sign of Autumn.

Autumn is my favorite season, full of pumpkins and owls and all the best holidays. My excitement over Halloween has not waned since adulthood. I absolutely love costumes and I'm extra excited when we can do couples or family themed costumes. My birthday falls during this season, always a bonus. And it ends with one of the best holidays, Thanksgiving! 

On top of all the celebration and merriment; Autumn offers the beauty of color changing leaves and the scent of campfires. I am eager to have some back deck nights with the chiminea warming us as my husband and I sit and chat. Hopefully some friends or neighbors will even join sometimes. It truly is the best time of the year in my book!

I'm so grateful to break out the halloween t-shirts. I'm grateful for Halloween and Autumn decor. I'm grateful for the cooler temperatures so I can bring out my favorite hoodies. I'm grateful for pumpkin spice...well everything. I'm grateful for yummy seasonal baked goods like pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I'm grateful for the excitement of planning Halloween outfits. I'm grateful to have a family theme this year. I'm grateful for the opportunity to celebrate another year of life.

What do you love about Autumn? What is your favorite season and why? 

May we celebrate each season and cycle of life. May we find beauty in nature. Have a beautiful day!

I was blessed to take a little trip this weekend with my family. It was our first trip out of town with our newest edition. We didn't go far, just three hours away to visit my mother-in-law. Yet in just two days, a couple hours from home, I found renewal. 

We were celebrating my daughter's birthday as well as my mother-in law's. We went out to dinner one night but the rest of the time my husband cooked his amazing meals for us. My mother-in-law went back and forth between helping him prepare food and helping me play with the girls. In return she received baby smiles and coos and preschooler love in the form of "will you read me another book?!" 

Somehow it felt more like my birthday. I got to sit and play with my preschooler as we imagined all kinds of things. My favorite was when she decided the whole room was a moon elevator! We had a lot of fun with that scenario. 

I also got to just spend time to sit on the floor with my baby and soak up her smiles and coos and really pay attention to her personality that is emerging. I feel like in the chaos of our everyday schedules she doesn't get the one-on-one time she deserves. (I do recognize that part of this is the unfair comparison to all the time I was able to just sit and stare at my first daughter...because she was my first and didn't have to share attention.) It really filled my heart to have this time to just be with her.

I'm beyond grateful to have made it out of town. I'm grateful for my mother-in-law's graciousness as allowing us to overtake her house for the weekend. I'm grateful for how well both girls handled the transition and being in new beds at night. I'm grateful to leave feeling renewed. I'm grateful to recognize the feeling of demands pulling at me now that I am back home so that I can take an honest look at what I can whittle away. I'm grateful to have a reminder of how calm and simple life can be. I'm grateful to look for ways to simplify our schedules so we can get more of these calm, bonding times here at home. I'm grateful for all my husband did to make this weekend go so smoothly. 

How do you recharge? How often do you feel yourself needing to recharge from your everyday life? How can you add more "recharge" moments into your daily practice so you don't have to "get away" from your life as often? This is definitely the question I will be pondering as I make some changes moving forward.

May today remind us to just sit and be in the moment whenever possible. May we consciously choose lifestyles that nourish our mind, body, and soul. Have a beautiful day! 

Tonight I had a last minute change in schedule. My last client couldn't make it and I was able to make it home by six o'clock. Now by six my children were just finishing up their meals and my husband was about to prepare his. By the time I prepared a salad topped with leftover steak and sat down, everyone else was finished. 

Even though I was the only one eating it was still nice to just be home for dinner. It was ok that my daughters took turns interrupting every few bites. It was nice to see their excitement to have me home early. 

It was nice to have food on a plate with a metal fork. It was nice to hear the business of the evening. It was nice to just be there for a "normal" evening.

After dinner was even better as my preschooler and I played Candyland using all the gingerbread men to represent our family even though we took all the turns. My husband ended up winning even though he was out mowing the lawn. Which was another perk of getting home early; knocking something unexpected off the to do list.

Even being on the receiving end of a volcanic milk explosion from the baby was something to laugh off. In that moment I knew my self-care adjustments are helping and the short work night was the icing on the cake. My gratitude abounds!

I'm grateful for an unexpected short evening at work. I'm grateful for the blessing of having a flexible job that I love. I'm grateful for the delicious salad I had. I'm grateful for steak and spinach to boost my iron. I'm grateful for the amazing, deliciousness that is parmesan flakes and crumbles. I'm grateful to get to spend extra quality time with my daughter playing a game from my childhood. I'm grateful to get to hold and snuggle my baby a little extra. I'm grateful to laugh as I dripped with milk vomit. I'm grateful to be there for the baby during this explosion to calm and comfort her. I'm grateful to even have a few minutes to shower peacefully by myself.

What little things make your day? How can one simple change in schedule make a big difference? How do you like to spend your quality time?

May we remember to cherish the little blessings. May we laugh off the messes and focus on the bigger picture. Have a beautiful day!