Monday, September 10, 2012

Sunday Snapshot {walking}

Anyone who knows us, knows we've got a pretty high energy girl on our hands!
So, we do A LOT of walking!
Mostly to the playgrounds nearby...
But sometimes, just through the neighborhood.
Cadie has become such a "sophisticated" walker, that she waves and say "thank you" when motorists let us cross the street...
And says "Hi" to any and all neighbors that may happen to be in shouting distance!
We know just about every dog in the neighborhood, and they know us!
We have found some treasures on these walks...
acorns, leaves, twigs...

but mostly smiles and memories.
These walks were a big part of my girls 3 year old summer,
and I hope walking is something we will always share, no matter how old this mama gets!

 
Ni Hao Yall






Tuesday, September 4, 2012

{survivor}


While I’ve always preferred to keep our blog very light and much more like a memory book, sometimes the transition’s in this little person’s life are just too much to handle for her and she goes into survival mode.  So I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share our girl’s most recent challenge.  You see, today was Acadia’s first day of preschool. And while we have been really “talking it up,” she was having none of it.  This girl was really digging her heels in. She did not want to go to “pee-school!”  So after getting her dressed this morning and really cheering on her first day of pre-school, this is what I was up against…
 
How sad is that?  Can you see where I am going with this?  Right!  So, one hour of holding, several hugs, a hundred kisses, and a thousand tears later, we parted at the pre-school door.  I stopped by the office for a tissue and some encouragement from the staff, and made it safely to work where I counted down the hours and minutes until I could pick her up.  And when I arrived back at 3pm, she was so happy to see me that she ran and literally jumped into my arms!  Day 1…done, over, checked off the list, completed, and mission accomplished.  So, we came home and promptly posed for this picture…
 
While I realize this isn’t the most optimistic, positive viewpoint for most parents, for some kiddo’s this is just how it is.  Survival.  Not joy, not excitement, not fun.  Just surviving, minute by minute, fearful of the next big change or unknown.  But hopefully, this will be the last transition for her for quite a while.  And hopefully, she will continue to thrive as she has been and maybe someday, she will be excited to be part of something new and different.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Sunday Snapshot {the recap}

So, I foolishly thought I would be blogging every morning on the previous days adventures while on vacation in Maine...

So when I shared my plan with friends and family, they all looked at me like I had 2 heads! 

"Really?" and "We'll see..." were the kinds of responses I heard.  "But I did it last year," I thought to myself.

By now, you must be laughing, right?

Well, I blogged one day...

And then started a post the next morning!

Not a  bad start...

But then I hit a wall.

A "tired from work and driving 12 hours and vacationing with a 3 year old, a house full of people, kids and dogs..." kind of wall.  Do you know what I'm talking about?

So, I put my camera down and closed the computer...

And just tried to enjoy the days...

away from work...

away from our house...

and away from our usual routine.

To enjoy the days with no particular plan...

and no particular goals...

except to laugh...

and smile...

and forget about the real world for a little while.

Which isn't very hard to do when you get to vacation in Maine every summer.

Because life just seems to slow down a bit up here...

And makes you really appreciate just spending time with somebody special...

not doing anything in particular...

really does a heart good, and makes the most special vacation memories!  Thanks Mom and Pop, Holly, Eric, Jackson, Chip, and Gracie for a great time in Maine. Hope to see you all there next summer- and Pammy, Jenny, Danielle and Nathan too!  
P. S. I'm just a point and shoot camera girl, linking up to Ni Hao Ya'll just for fun--those of you who link up, know what I'm talking about.  Happy Sunday Snapshot!
Ni Hao Yall

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Acadia's Big Adventure Vol. 2 {the walk}

If you've ever been to Acadia National Park, you know about Jordon Pond.  Its a pristine lake with a beautiful, flat 3.2 mile walk around its perimeter. 

Naturally, its a great way to warm up for some more difficult hiking and an easy walk for the kids.  It's also a great place for the little ones to get close to nature and and see some wildlife in the process.

And it doesn't hurt that there are scrumptious popovers back at the Jordon Pond House just out of the oven and waiting to be devoured by hungry hikers!

But we still took our time to play in the dirt...

 To stroll along the path...

And play on the rocks.  Because you never know when you might see something you've never seen before!

Because one the best things about being on vacation in Maine...

Is that you don't really have to be doing anything to be doing something!

In Maine, nature provides the entertainment.

And dictates the "to do" list.

It "recharges our batteries," so to speak...

And renews our friendships...

And makes us as giddy as kids!

And the cool night air, just gives us another excuse to sit around a campfire...

And just hang out together!

Ahhh....vacation is finally here!

Ni Hao Yall