Was in need of some great quotes

I needed a good quote session this evening. They always make me feel content.

"I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning."

-J.B. Priestle

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it our you can use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something you have left behind...let it be something good."

- Author Unknown

When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature."

- Sydney Smith

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."

- Carl Bard

"I have always felt that the moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the 24 hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. And the fact that it practically always doesn't, matters not a jot. The possibility is always there."

- Monica Baldwin

And this one.

 I will force myself to read this one every morning until I can recite it perfectly to my children in the AM.
I will probably change the word henceforth. (I spit a little, a lot when I say henceforth)

"I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way: yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart: yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge reward for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge."

- Og Mandino

Bring it!

Is it Thursday or Monday?

September and October have flown by.

I thought having a kiddo in school all day would give me soooo much time. 

Wrong!

My days are busier. How did this happen? 

What crazy realm did I enter?

A year ago my days started mellow and slow.

Now they start full speed and I'm constantly saying "wait for me" to this little nugget.

While her brother and sister color and write amazing stories, Molly is usually bouncing, jumping, running, swinging, leaping around them.

Breakfast is pretty easy since I can still strap her in.

Then we are off again to the races...

Races being dropping Colin off at school.

Even though the bus stops right in front of my home I'm not ready to say goodbye to Colin for the day there. I love seeing him walk into is class. I love seeing his sweet smile one more time. 

The same smile that I will miss all day until I see him at that  same door at 3:40.

Then I turn around and see these cuties waiting for me in their best Pacific Northwest attire.

Smile...

then remember that they will run me rigid today, tomorrow and a week from now.

On this beautiful fall day I got to have this one all to myself. My best friend took my littlest for the morning so that I could  hug this one with both of my arms.

Her favorite part of the pumpkin patch was the animals. 

She LOVES animals. 

Emilie has a very sensitive spirit. I think...I know that the unconditional love that animals give is just what this little miss needs. I'm sure that's why her and Max (our dog) have become so close.

He gets her and she get him.

She tries everyday to be the very best Emilie.

Some days are just a little too hard.

We will always be here to remind her that we love every Emilie.

This is the only time of year that I make treats.

It's so much fun to make something "cute". 

I can finally get away with my stuff not looking so great because it fits in with the season!

 I've been trying to let Molly do more "crafting."

I'll let you know how it turns out tomorrow. It is still drying.

It might take more then 24 hours...

Then I look behind me and see the amazing creations that Colin made.

Sometimes I get overly focus on Molly's craziness and Emilie's sadness that I miss out on Colin and all that he has to offer.

Everyday his mind is growing by leaps and bounds and I want to see every leap and bound.

So amazing.

And so darn cute.

(I love his shaggy hair. I promise him we would get it cut Friday)

I know this post is little extra mushy for me but these last few months have really aged me.

I found out who my true friends are. 

The kind of friends that you can call at 2 in the morning and they show up no matter what.

I found out who I am...

And I really like her.

I was reminded that my family is amazing and I am so lucky to have all of them (you) in my life.

I realized that I really do hate fall sports in the Northwest but this little miss doesn't.

She LOVES soccer and is amazing at it. 

She is one tough little chick.

Which means this mom-ma needs to learn to love soccer too.

At least tolerate it.

And this little dude tolerates soccer.

But loves being outside with friends.

Even in the windy, cold Northwest rain.

I think. I know I am back to blogging. It felt so good to get pictures up and words typed up.

This is really all of the pictures I've taken this month. Between the rain and the marathons that Molly likes us to join her on its been too hard to lug Nikon around. I need a cute little pocket camera to capture her mid race.

All in all it has been a great, hard, emotional roller coaster but fun month.

I'm back?

Every day goes by so fast and by the end of the day all I want to do is sit down with my glass of wine and watch another new fantastic show that my DVR magically recorded. 

Which is exactly what  I am about to do. 

Castle is calling my name with a side of Raising Hope.

Between TV shows I've been having way too much fun with friends.

Watching Emilie master her bicycle. 

Thankful that Molly is finally loving to paint...on her paper.

And admire Colin's tower skills.

Since school has started I amazed at how busy we are.

but everyday is a ton of fun and loving every minute of it.

Time to go, Castle is starting!!

Have a fantastic Saturday!!

and......I'm back....

This poor, little ole' blog has been lonely....

No worries...I'm back.

I spent the last week with these lovely ladies in Mexico.

No kids. No husbands.

Just great friends, family, conversations, drinks, sleep, sun and no place to be but poolside. 

And releasing baby Tortuga's into the Pacific ocean.

Yes! It was amazing!

These little cuties are collected when they are still in their soft white shell and transferred to a safe location. 

There they spend 45 days give or take a day.

The evening that we watched the above turtles hatch, we helped release 300 little Tortuga's to be free in the Pacific. 

So cool!

Go, Go Go!

Don't laugh too hard...

I was super excited and the picture was taken with a iPhone.

Once home I had to figure out how to be a mom and a wife again.

It was hard...

For 5 days I always had somebody saying "Whatever you want."

Now I know what it is like to be one of my kiddos.

Thank God she she waited until the day I came home to do this.

She is such an amazing little 4 1/2 year old. 

Tuesday she told us that she didn't want training wheels on her "princess bike."

By Wednesday she was riding around the skate park like an old pro.

Amazing...

I love my vacations but I love being home with my family even more.

Now off to bed...

first grade....

This awesome kid started first grade today.

And there where tears...from me.

Colin was totally cool about the whole thing.

He was a little nervous. 

The only way I could tell was that he was very quiet and picking at his thumb nail.

This year he {we} are lucky because this super cool dude is in his class with him.

{note the thumb picking. Totally my fault, I will admit it}

Off he went to his future of all day school, packed lunches and more time away from me then with me during the day.

{cue: sobbing}

Once at his desk he found a bag of treasures his super cool teacher had left for him.

Teachers are so awesome.

6 hours and 40 min. later his school day was over and with camera in hand I was the first mamma waiting outside the classroom door.

Phew...Only more then I can count days to go.

Next stop, our new tradition {thanks to Aunt Sally for the awesome idea}.

Chocolate cream pie. yum, yum, yummy!

We all made it through the day and are ready for tomorrow....

Maybe...

such a great kid

I linked this post up over at mama kats
and
JDaniel4's Mom's back to school link up
There should have been a cute picture here for their link ups but blogger wasn't cooperating 

Perfect long weekend...

Our weekend started out perfect.

Leftover donuts and tea{water}. yum.

Next stop was an amazing cruise around Lake Union and Lake Washington to Celebrate Doug's parents 50th Anniversary.

Molly came for pictures at the beginning and then went home with my sister.

The boat ride would have been way to hard with her.

Colin and Em did awesome.

Can anyone guess who's home this is.

Here is a hint...Microsoft...

One of the many great parts of the cruise.

Even Emilie's doll {Dora} got to drive the boat.

Can't beat the Seattle skyline.

{taken on my iPhone}

The next day Doug and I left the kiddos with my mom and headed home to get ready for a dinner party with  5  fantastic couples at the amazing B family's home.

It was such a great night!

Fantastic food, drinks and company.

Sunday we heading back up north to get the kiddos and head over to a fun BBQ with family.

We then spent Monday doing nothing but enjoying the sun.

I was also trying not to think about the fact that Colin is starting first grade Tuesday.

First grade....

At school all day...

There is going to be a lot of tears flowing for this Mamma tomorrow.

Before that happens Doug and the kiddos had some more backyard fun.

Hope everyone had a great Labor day weekend.

I know we did.