....sorely missed....

....we haven't had enough days like these lately....

.....days where I spontaneously grab my babes and hit the park.....

.....no texts to friends, no plans, no prepping snacks or bottles.....a day when we just go.....just the four of us.....

      Photo courtesy of Callie Anne

     Photo courtesy of Elsa Grace

.....these are the days that fuel me because I can savor and be fully present with my children.....and I haven't had enough of them in the last month......nor have I had any time to spend on my sweet little blog and I sure do miss her when I am gone.......

.....life has been hectic; our new school schedule has been hard.....not so much on my girls, but it's been tough on me....I have had days I wonder if I am capable of handling three children and the needs that each of them presently have, days where my eyes burn constantly because I am so tired, days when everything has gone wrong; when we are late for everywhere we need to be and I am rushed and tense and snappy and that isn't how I want to spend these fleeting moments....

....and when I retreat to this blog during times such as this, I am grounded.....I am reminded of the truly important priorities of raising three and can reflect on how abundantly blessed I have been....and so when things are out of sorts or I am in a phase of adjustment, I need this blog....

                       ....Rainy day lunch and ice cream play date at the Westchester Mall

....and so in between our trips to and from school, ballet, music class, play dates and gymnastics, I need to carve out time to spend on my virtual slab of paper.....not only to document our life in NYC, but to remember the out of the ordinary.....like a quick visit to Austin, Texas last week.....

.....and although this blog is usually about my family and our children, this trip was all about the kids spending time at Mimi and JJs so Stefan and I could have a weekend celebrating the marriage of old friends.....

....and although we missed our babes for the duration of the weekend; we also loved our couple time, family time and catching up with friends from afar.....

....a spontaneous decision to swim in the springs caused for a trip to Goodwill to buy clothes to wear when we made the cold plunge.....

     ....trust me when I tell you that the water is COLD.....but you feel like a million bucks the morning after a late night! Totally re-energizing......

.....and we weren't really missed as much as we wanted to be because there is always fun to be had at Mimi and JJs.....

.....and there are more good things in store for our near future.....more couple time with Stefan provided by other sets of grandparents willing to pitch in.....quick visits from family for field trips......party plans in the making for a 30+ something Momma and her college girlfriends and fall birthdays that remind us that this is always a special time of year.....

      ....Brody likes big sister's singing....

.....and vowing to visit this blog more often to document these days.....

     ....Brody's first time in a swing with Momma......he got his first push at his Mimi's house......

.....because these times are so sweet.....

.....Happy weekend....