.....1800 miles ago......

......Everyday there are things that a mother gets the chance to see that reinforces their littlest ones are growing up....some are slight, some are subtle....and then you get the big ones that really move you.....the ones you won't ever forget.......

.......Elsie had her first sleepover at someone else's house......yes, I was there too......but it was a real sleep over in her eyes.......Harper's house!.....Elsie was in a new place, new faces, a new big girl bed......and although bedtime was a little scary at first, she mustered herself together after hearing about what was to come the next day.....and she was so brave.....she wiped her tears and decided she was going to do this.....and she did...boldly.....

.....and Harper was so sweet and dear to her....and they became fast friends....

.....which isn't surprising considering the friendship I have with Harper's Momma.....

.....Becky and I used to live together in Austin......she is one of those people.....the kind that when I met her I knew that we would always be friends....we had that kind of connection that is tough to find for most....the kind of connection that extends past going through the same "phase" together.....the kind of connection where you know right off the bat that person is there for your present and future....and after time goes by- the past too because then they become part of your memories....

......A decade later, we have 1800 miles between us.....collectively we have 4 little girls, two great husbands, and share the craziness of life....taking care of toddlers, balancing career, motherhood and all of the other demands that pull us in different directions.....a time zone that isn't always conducive to catching up....but we still seem to pick up where we left off....and a full week in Austin solely at Becky's house wouldn't have been enough time for me to get my full share of her.....she's just one of those people that as long as time passes, I will well up with emotion when I see her.....

....she's just a loving, good natured soul who I don't get to see enough......

......and our girls all loved being together too......I couldn't get the smile plastered off my face....it was just darling......4 girls under 4.....and Harper taught Elsie how to be a big girl.....and big girls have sleep overs......

.......Elsie got so good at it, she wanted to do it again the next night......so she and cousin Zailey had another little sleep over at Mimi and JJs house.....this time she was well trained.....and knew that sleep overs mean staying up late....

........and as our trip started to come to a close, we had a little more time for cousin 

play......

.....and time for some sisterly fun.....

......and then the end of our visit showed its face....it always causes such angst when the goodbye arrives....as much as we love our NYC life, there is something to be said to have family so close.....the helping hands, the knowing glance during a difficult few minutes with a toddler, the reassuring smiles, the hugs for no reason, the laughter, the honesty, the family meals.....

......and with some of our family- we know the next visit is near because it's already in the calendar.....the tickets are booked......and with others, it's a little more hollow....the goodbye....because with some, we don't know when the next visit will be.....and the unknown seems too far away to bear....

.....so until then, we can hold the memories tight.....know that distance never wins in the game of keeping families close.......and be thankful for the love and joy we all bring each other.....

......1800 miles worth of love and joy....

....aint no place like Texas......

.......They say that all things are bigger and better in Texas......so it's no surprise that me and my girls showed up with a BANG.....car sickness, cleaning car seats more than once, 104.3 fevers, semi potty training at Mimi's house, we are making ourselves at home in a hurry....we are officially here and enjoying our family time.....the good Lord has blessed all of the cousins with health and happiness and it has been a sweet reunion.....

......we have colored......played with bowls, balls, & babies.....

........played with our pretend jewelry, rocked in chairs, read books......

.....and of course we have dressed up like the princesses that all of the girls are......

......and our prince of the bunch too.....

.......we have played on indoor playgrounds, determined to not let the grey sky and rain deter our quest for fun....... 

........it's been a time for catching up, telling stories and relishing in togetherness.......

.......a time for first time introductions of new cousins......

.......and it's just beginning.....the weekend hasn't even arrived yet....

........more rain in the forecast, but there isn't anything stopping this group from smiling, shining.....staying in our happy, chaotic place of togetherness.....

....our family....

....farewell cherry blossoms.....hello blue bonnets.....

......there's alway something about the prepration of taking a trip.....we leave for Austin tomorrow and the girls are beyond excited.....suitcases are strung around everywhere, piles of treats for the plane in many different nooks of the house, stickers, crayons and a DVD player tucked in the magical spot for passing time of strict confinement for a 2 year old.....the excitement of a new place, wide eyes as they hear their cousins and grandparents names that they will see in less than 24 hours....

.....for me it's the longing for family time- I can't wait to visit with my inlaws, laugh and drink wine with all of the ladies of the family, love all over my nieces and nephews and banter with all of the men in the family who are quickly being out numbered by women......I can't wait to see old friends- to watch our children play together and reminisce about our Austin days....the days in which our lives were carefree and flexible, but not filled with half of the richness we have today.....

....by the time we return home, the cherry blossoms will be gone....and we will have to wait until next year to see their breath taking splendor.....but the blue bonnets are blooming in Texas and they are also spectacular....their vivid blue sprawling on hills and grassy plains.....both beautiful, but both so different...

....so here is a little something that will help to remember NYC the week we are away......

Photography by Sara Blackburn

.....purge, store, swap, SPRING!!!

....As I write this, I am taking a break from the ever so dreaded winter/summer clothes swap......due to small quarters in our city living, we are forced to swap and store clothes as the weather changes.....we purge quite often and have become masters at having a place for everything.....

......it's been a complete craft learning how to be so organized.....and when the hours of countless piles are all put away in their spots, boxes of clothes we won't see for months are moved into multiple storage units, and plastic containers for the next season "on deck" are arranged on top of our closet; it's an accomplished feeling....a sigh, a collapse on the couch, a glass of wine to start not only the weekend, but the new season.....and for us, spring is here to stay......

....there is nothing like watching two sisters playing ball.....Elsie always looking out for her "Callie baby", Callie always excited to bask in the attention....

.....although I felt compelled to break all together from this chore....in the middle of reorganzing Callie's things, I felt the lump in my throat starting to swell....pulling out Elsie's wardrobe from last spring and summer made me giddy....remembering her 1 year old-ness....her first summer of running around parks independently, the grass under her feet, the popcycle stains on play clothes.....it was lively being brought back into the pages of my own memory book of my first born.....

.......and then to make room for the new, I started to put my baby's 6-12 month winter clothes in a pile and that's when the lump started.....and I felt compelled to capture my thoughts.....

.....it's a dreary, wet spring day.....my girls are at Barnes and Noble having the time of their lives with their friends.....and all I can do is focus on the future of two toddlers.....two sweet little girls....it's so exciting and I can say that I am living in the moment....trying to treat each day like it's own......

....however, this time around; the evolution of my second born to toddlerhood has been so bittersweet....perhaps I know how fast it all goes at this point....I am already seeing hair morph onto her perfectly shaped head....I have loved her 13 month baldness so much.....she is rapidly growing tall before my eyes and I can see the little rolls on her thighs disappearing....and it's moments like packing away her first Christmas dress, or her patent leather mary janes that look so small to me today that brings about the flood of emotions....

....and after the boxes are put away, the feelings will pass.....I can appreciate them for what they are, but relish in the little person that she is becoming.....and the first little crush she already has.....

....it's her William....he is Elsie's friend, but Callie and William also have a special bond.....Callie loves to go wherever William goes......and she is always two steps behind......

....and always excited when he is around......

......and so I settle into this Friday with the warm weathered clothes all put in their places.....a full size bigger for each of my girls' than we had last summer.....anticipation and excitement of what this new season will bring....

....taste a little or taste a lot......

.....I really could write about how much I love our little NYC building all the time.....the people who live here and participate with each other's lives have become like family to one another.....our little culdesac, if you will....

.....one of the women, Sara, just moved back a few months ago after purchasing and renovating the apartment next door....although overdo, we had a get together in her honor to remind Sara of what she was missing while she was gone.....why not have all of the ladies get together and taste some wine?.....twist our arms....we set a date!

.....it's nice to see Sara's big smile around again....

......Each of us brought a bottle of white since spring is here..... and there is nothing like adding to the light and airy feeling that spring brings.....we covered the wine bottles, started tasting, started chatting, started laughing, tried to keep up with the scorecards and remembering what number bottle we just poured.....had some food, a little more laughing....and 3 hours later, we had a favorite!

......It never ceases to amaze me how spending time with other women can be so fulfilling....so many perspectives, so many different backgrounds, so many opinions and points of interest to learn....I know that there will be many more nights to come of our building get togethers....a time to break from being wives and mothers and just focus on friendship....taking the time to cultivate it and relish in it.....

......so when I woke up thirsty, tired and groggy this morning, I was thankful....the house was still a mess, wine glasses are still piled in the sink, my face hurts from smiling so much, but I am refreshed.....

.....eggs, colors, peace and joy.....

......I have always loved Easter.....it's a miraculous celebration in itself.....life after death.....renewal.....everything is bright and beautiful.....awakened after a looming darkness....a promise fulfilled......

.....and then the part of the celebration of Easter that focuses on spring....I love that part of the holiday too...running through the bright green grass looking for the glowing eggs, all of them alone in their hidden spot.....waiting to be put into an oversized basket filled with treats, chocolates, and sometimes small gifts.......the anticipation of the day.....preparing to be revived by color.....it can create such awe......

......I just sat back, participating when needed by Elsie or Daddy.....but it was so loving to watch the two of them change the white box of eggs into a carton of color and delight.....with such seriousness Elsie carefully dipped each one.....looking up or over at her Daddy for approval that she was doing it right.....

......and then and there he taught her one of the rituals of Easter.....

....the eggs looked so fantastic....Elsie realized they might be pretty delicious too.....so she started to eat them.....and decided that yolks really aren't her favorite.....

.....and after 4 hard boiled egg whites hidden in the tummy, lots of dye on fingers and cuticles, decals and stickers on eggs and every where else, and talk of the meaning of Easter; it was time to see what Mommy's camera is all about......Daddy gave Elsie a lesson......

.....here is her first photo......

.......her Prince Charming.......

....but there was joy in our home on Easter morning......giggling, over zealous, happy sisters excited to find their hidden eggs......

  

......excited to wear their Easter dresses for Sunday school......

.......excited for our church Easter egg hunt after service......

........excited to have their Daddy home from a long few weeks of business trips.....

.....and excited to end the morning.....exhilarated from the fun, but sheer happiness over the thought of napping, cozy blankets, and family......

....and I hope we can do a good job as a family....to live each day that we are here with the same peace that we had this Easter morning.....it was such a gift....such a blessing....

.....a glorious day!.....

....hanging from the sky.......

.....There are a lot of things that I still haven't done in NYC.....one of them was walking over the Brooklyn Bridge......my friend Sara had the adventurous and exciting idea to take 5 kids over the bridge, to pizza and then out for ice cream....we had so much fun that we had to keep playing at a park in our neighborhood because we just didn't want the day to end......

......We got to the top and as I looked over the island that we call home, it was even more apparent that we are just a tiny spec in the city......so many buildings, so many people, so many tourists.....we are just one little family that is enjoying the beauty that the city shares with us....enjoying the landscape and the history that's in our backyard.....

    

......my girl was not happy about standing still for a picture....there was action she was missing out on......

.......but when it comes to sitting still with her baby sister and William......well, that she might hang tight for; just for a second.....before it was time to turn around and see Lady Liberty......she has no idea what she represents......it never ceases to amaze me how lucky we are to have the freedoms that we have in this country....

.....and before long, we had spent our time hanging over NYC.....playing on top of the bridge, dangling in the sky.....so much commotion happening below us.....north, south, east and west.....helicopters flying in all directions......so much chaos; if you take the time to observe it......but the kids didn't notice any of that.....they just enjoyed the moment.....inhaling all of it; the joy, the laughter, the sun, the bright blue sky,  the anticipation of pizza.....oh, to be young and free.....I take so much joy watching the pureness of their world......

....and then it was time for a first.....at least for Elsie....she had never eaten ice cream out of a cone before....and she was serious about making sure none of it fell on the ground......

.......and then she became serious about enjoying it with her buddy, William......

.....and it was such a treat to watch the two of them.....sweet sounds of innocence.....it brightened so many people's day....on lookers just stopped in their tracks to watch the two of them entranced by their cones.....between clicks Sara and I would laugh too, not realizing until seeing the photos how endearing it really was......

.....and after the cones melted and fell to the dust, it was time to head back home.....at least to a park near home, just so we could take in the sun and the sweet smells of spring for a bit longer....

.......to watch a tugboat pass by....to throw a frisbee.....to blow some bubbles.....

........for some good old fashioned chalk and a sidewalk.......

......and then it was time to end our gorgeous day....we were dirty, happy, wind blown, sun kissed, exhilarated.....and I was thankful......the day was wonderful.....thoughtful friends, good memories, the beauty of our city, a one of a kind play date.......Daddy was heading home in a few days and Easter was around the corner.....one of my favorite holidays....a day of new life, of promise and hope.....

.....savoring every minute.....