She said, "Mom look! We both have rainbow dresses!!"

Lily is forever looking out for her little sister.
She gets Poppy out of bed (before even a whimper is uttered) and brings her to me in the morning.
She shares all her food, breaking it into tiny pieces, and sneaks her treats under the radar.
She is always dancing around the house with her little sidekick.
And in return, Poppy reserves her biggest smiles and laughs for her sister.
It brings me inexplicable joy and peace to know that these two have each other.
It is a unique, and fiercely loyal bond of sisterhood.

We took photographs as she was moving from her childhood home.  Mostly we shot outside because the house was in boxes, but at the end, we ran upstairs to her room and I'm so glad we did.  Her mother died unexpectedly when she was a little girl in elementary school.  And as I walked into her room, left mostly as it was designed by her mother, I was overcome.  It was beautiful, peaceful, a cozy hug.  Love in every well thought out valance and sconce.  No detail overlooked.  I was just a photographer that day, lucky enough to witness the loving connection between two amazing women.  In a few more weeks we begin house projects at my own home.  I've been gleaning inspiration from the usual sources (magazines, blogs and pinterest).  But also, I've opened this folder many times as a reminder that creating a beautiful home with things is possible, but when done with love for the people inside, well, the effects can last forever.

xoxo

just me, the kids, and the laundry

 

just taking an opportunity to see.

my life.

10 years

We ate pizza, topped it off with ice cream, waltzed around a museum and then bought ourselves some new clothes.  The later because it was discovered earlier in the day that neither one of us really had suitable 'date night' attire.

I understand that a post like this can be cloying, so I left most of that for our face to face conversations.  But if this blog of thoughts is read (by say, our children) some day in the future, let it be recorded that we are great partners.  And after 15 years together, know each other well.  Also, that level of love and respect feels wonderful.  Totally worth the effort.  Also, also?  I still really like him.  Like goofy, lovey-dovey, want to be around him all the time, like him.

Our humble celebration was probably the antithesis for 10 year anniversary revelry.   
And not because we felt some calling to be simple, but more that we are overrun with the daily.  I had no expectations, I was just happy to be alone with him for a few hours.  And actually, that might be why it turned out so well.

We sat down to dinner with a big exhale.  Next, smiled ridiculously at one another.  Then he said, "There are some things I want to tell you..."  And what he said will keep me going for at least another ten years.

What a whirlwind.

This summer for sure, but probably my life in general.

This is what ideal days are made of right now.

Clothes: optional, obligations: minimal, play: magical.

I have to fight for those kinds of days.

I actually have to plan for them.

Say no to things.  Good things.

An internal wrestle wherein I weigh my options...

20 minutes while the children are occupied.

clean bathroom, and fold laundry

or

on my bed (hopefully undetected) with instagram or my camera.

And then at night, when I am putting that basket of laundry I was supposed to fold, 

back on the floor, 

or I turn off the light in the kids bathroom because 

I can't stand to look at the smudgy mirror and toothpasted sink one more minute...

I try to remind myself that these photos, these memories, are my consolation.