The dog days are over...

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 254

     This day was beautiful. I can't wait for it to get just a little bit colder! We had a lovely day. Had a birthday party in the morning for my grandpa. It was a sweet little party. Then, this evening, Patty, Casey, and Sophia came over for dinner. As I was chopping tomatoes for the salad, "Dog days are over," started playing on the iPod. We had the windows and doors open, and a sweet, breezy wind was blowing through the house. I couldn't help but think how very, very thankful I was that it is Fall. And the dog days of summer are over. Literally. As I continued chopping, Adelyn came in and started dancing. I had to stop and join her.

     Thankful for beautiful days like today. Thankful for dances in the kitchen. Thankful for the way the sunlight filters through the trees. Thankful we got celebrate my grandpa's birthday. Thankful to have been able to spend time with both my grandparents today. And my mom. And my sister. And Matt. And all the kids. Any time spent with my family, is time very well spent.

35 years.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 253

     My parents just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. How awesome is that? 35 years! One thing I love about my parents and their love for each other is that it is constant. And unwavering. They love each other, and that's that. I've never had any doubt in my mind that they are in it for the long haul. When they said, "I do," they meant it.

     Thankful for my parents. Thankful that we had such a lovely little party here tonight for them. It was great to celebrate them. Thankful for constant and unwavering love. That's the best kind.

You know what I love about Patty...?

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 252

     Patty and I have the kind of relationship where we can fight, and it doesn't matter. One minute we're in the worst fight of our lives, and the next, we're laughing about how stupid our fight was. I can do things like hit her with a baguette at Wegman's. And even though it probably hurt, she doesn't mind. Because when we were leaving, she swung the same baguette at me like a baseball bat. Threatening to hit me with it. I love Patty because she understands me. She understands every thought that runs through my head. Probably because I've discussed every thought that runs through my head with her. If I've thought it, she knows about it. And even though she knows every thought and every secret, she loves me anyways.

     Thankful for Patty. Thankful that she loves me. I'm blessed to call her, sister. I'm blessed to call her, friend. I'm thankful that when we are together, it always feels like the good ole' days. I feel like a teenager when I'm with her. We can run around Wegman's together, being silly. I forget that I'm 31 when I'm with her. I forget that when you're 31, you probably shouldn't go running around Wegman's swinging baguettes at people. Thankful for Patty. My other half. When I'm with her, I feel whole.

Devotion

 Project 365 * 2 -- Day 251

     Tobin and I spent the morning at my parent's house with Patty, Sophia, and Shane. We played with the babies, and got into all of Shane's old toys. Every toy we pulled out of the bin, we were all like, "wow, I remember this!" "Awww, remember this one?!" It was a trip down memory lane. Being eleven years older than Shane, I have had the unique privilege of watching him grow up. Most siblings are so closely related in age that they grow up together. Not me and Shane. I had quite the head start on him. I remember holding him as an infant. I remember "helping" change his diapers. And watching my mom nurse him. I have vivid memories of all his years. Maybe that's why what I saw today struck me.

     Shane is one of the best guys I know. He has a huge heart. He's sweet and humble. He's hilarious. Always making us laugh. He's amazing with his nieces and nephews. One of the things that I love most about him, is that our happiness is his happiness. Our sorrows are his sorrows. He's laughed with us. He's cried with us. And perhaps the thing I love most about him is his devotion to his family. And Dixie is no exception.

     Dixie was Shane's birthday present one year. She was a perfect bundle of chocolate lab goodness. She loved to run and play in the backyard. And she brought joy and happiness to Skipper in his last years. She is the only dog I have ever known that gives hugs. If you sat on the floor in front of her, she would sit up on her hind legs, and wrap her front legs around your head. And she would sit that way for a long time. Her furry paws holding on tight.

     Today, as I watched Shane washing her off in the backyard, I felt sad and proud. Sad that Dixie isn't doing so well. Proud that Shane loves her so deeply. Proud that he and my dad carry her in and out of the house when she has to go out. She can't walk. Most people wouldn't deal with her. I watched him from the window, and I felt proud to be his sister. Proud of who he is. Proud of his devotion to family. Proud of his devotion to ones he loves. Even the furry ones.

     Thankful for Shane. Thankful for the man he is. Thankful to be a part of his life. Thankful for Dixie. If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have Roxy. Patty wouldn't have Greenie. My parents wouldn't have Goose. And seven other families wouldn't have a family member in the form of a sweet, black lab. I'm thankful for Shane's devotion to Dixie. I'm thankful that he cares enough to carry her in and out of the house, every day, multiple times a day. I'm thankful for my parent's equal devotion. I suppose that most people would say, "it's time." And yes. For every being on this earth, the time will come. But, until her time, there is love. There is devotion. There is caring. And concern. There are tears. There was the beach. There is time with family. And there is Shane.

Dixie, relaxing on the deck at the beach.

Tobin, wearing Shane's old Kindergarten graduation cap and gown. 

I always have a helper in the kitchen. 

She loves to peel carrots. 

But, mostly, she just picks all the tomatoes out of the salad and eats them. 

Tobin, watching us cook and dance. 

Here's the rundown...

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 250

     Okay, so here's the rundown of everything that made me happy today:

1. Addy's first day of preschool went well! No tears at all because mama and dada were leaving. Oh no. Tears and the beginnings of a mini tantrum because she didn't want to put her lunchbox in her cubby. She much preferred to carry it around like a purse. Not too sure when she finally gave it up.

2. Addy has named her two favorite babies. I was wondering when this would happen. The names she chose? Casey and Sally.

3. Spent time with my two boys today. It was really nice to lavish all my love and attention on Tobin. He actually seemed kind of confused. And he especially didn't like riding in the car all by his lonesome. He's used to seeing Addy the whole time.

4. Had the most delicious lunch today. Like seriously, the best sandwich I have ever had in my entire life! THE. BEST. At Bozzelli's Deli. One of our most favorite places to eat. Matt and I both got a steak and cheese. It was so good that when I was done, I so wished that I could go back in time and eat it again.

Addy's teacher, Mrs. Kim, talking with Addy about the whole lunchbox situation. :)

Is 10:58 am too early for a beer?

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 249

     I don't think so. Two minutes away from 11:00 am is practically lunch time. Had a lovely lunch with my sister today. We ate early, so we could eat without having to feed the babies at the same time. And we decided to split a beer with our lunch. I guess we're still on beach time. And at the beach, anytime is a good time for an ice cold beer. After lunch, our kids played in Sophia's room while Patty and I searched through boxes and boxes of our childhood. Barbies, kitchen stuff, ballet stuff, old school stuff. It was great fun until our babies decided they had had enough playtime. Oh, babies... Always needing something, right? :)

     Tomorrow is Adelyn's first day of Preschool. She's super excited. I wanted to make this last day before school starts special, so we had a picnic in the living room while Tobin was napping. We ate together, and watched a movie. And every couple of minutes, she would look at me and say, "I love you, Mama," or, "Mama loves Addy."

     Matt took off for Addy's big day tomorrow! So, while Addy is in school, I get to spend the day with my boys. And, actually, I don't think Matt, Tobin, and I have ever spent any time alone together. I'm excited to spoil my sweet Tobin with 100% attention tomorrow. And all this year actually, while Addy is in school.

     Thankful for beer. Especially when shared with my sister. Thankful for boxes of our childhood. I can't wait to look through each box thoroughly. Thankful for Addy's big day tomorrow. Thankful that Matt gets to spend it with us. Thankful for all the time I will be spending with my boy tomorrow, and the rest of this year. It's going to be a good one. Full of firsts and new adventures.

The blue tunnel, and the brights indicator light.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 248

     It's funny the things that trigger memories. Today, while playing at the playground with Adelyn, Tobin, Casey, and Sophia, I remembered not too long ago, when my oldest was my baby. And I first brought her to the blue tunnel. Our neighborhood's playground has a blue tunnel. And for some reason, I don't know if it's the way the sun hits it, or just because it's a cool shade of blue, children look beautiful inside that blue tunnel. And pictures taken of children in the tunnel always turn out really cool. The blue of the tunnel almost has a filter like effect. Anyways, while I was snapping pictures today, I missed those first times in the blue tunnel with Addy. Tuesday, she starts school. Just a few years ago, we spent our days doing things like crawling through blue tunnels. Man. I'm going to miss her.

     While I was driving home from Wegman's tonight, I flipped my brights on. The road to Wegman's is two lanes and quite dark at night. When I saw the brights indicator light flip on, I was instantly taken back to driving home from my grandparent's house in Maryland. They had 13 acres in the country. No street lights. Two lanes all the way to the highway. I loved riding home in the dark. The stars were outrageous there. So many. Almost as if there were more stars than black sky. I would watch the moon and question my dad relentlessly as to why it was following us. He explained it, but I never believed him. I knew. The moon was following us. We would see deer crossing the road. The car would be cool, and quiet. And there was a cool blue glow coming from the brights indicator light. I loved that blue glow. I loved those car rides home.

     Thankful for blue tunnels on playgrounds. Thankful for the brights indicator light. Thankful for the ice blue glow it emits. Thankful for sweet moments with my babies, and my niece and nephew. Thankful for dark car rides. Way back then. And tonight. Thankful for stars so numerous it's hard to tell if it goes like this: stars in the night sky, or night sky in the stars.