{good-bye august}

This is the first year in my memory that I can say I didn't enjoy August.

August is my birthday month and so it has always been one of my favorites. But in the past few years that has changed with having children in school {that starts WAY too early} and my biggest work event smack dab in the middle of the month.

This whole month has been a huge contradiction of emotions. The boys started school on my birthday and that day represented pretty much the entire month...tears mixed with joy, anxiety rubbing up against gratefulness.

In many ways I'm happy to say good-bye to August. It was filled with tears and nervous stomachs and a mind so full that I really didn't know what to do with myself.

I said goodbye to a beloved pet {rest in peace my sweet Melvin} and hello to a schedule way more full than I would have wanted.

I gratefully and humbly accepted the love and support of family and friends when I was hanging on by a very thin thread.

It wasn't all bad, that's for sure. I said hello 36, to being the mother of 1st graders, and to new art adventures.

I'm so very thankful for the constant balance of difficult and defining moments.

But I've felt so out of balance and at war with the state of my life right now. One of my new goals is to find a way to balance my obligations with the very best things that I want to do, all while finding time to rest. Easy enough right?

I can't say I have much confidence I'll find a solution anytime soon, but it is a daily challenge that I need to fight for the sake of my sanity.

So, good-bye August. Hello September. I'm thrilled to see you. And I welcome you to be just as boring as you would like.

XO,

{Instagram Friday}

It has been a weird week, hasn't it? Such a mix of sadness and grief over last Friday's tragic shooting, blended with joy and anticipation for what we are going to be celebrating in a few days.

I've struggled this week with a lot of anxiety...worried about the safety of my boys...taking them to school for the first time since the shooting. I know it was a similar week for parents all over the country.

And then there are those parents that didn't have their children come home to them a week ago. And well, there are just no words. Just prayers and tears. A lot of both.

And so I look back through my week of photos with an abundance of gratitude, and I'm also humbled by the blessings I continue to enjoy. Here are just a few...

We took the boys to Burger King and Landon said "I'm a wise man!" Love how they talk about the Christmas story on a daily basis...

Landon enjoying his "negg nog"...

 My teeny tiny bathtub cowboy Ben...

It doesn't get much better than staring a morning off with donuts and Home Alone...

I love this goofy boy...his sense of humor is already beyond his years...

Enjoying some lap time with Miss Chloe...

The boys had a PJ party at school and requested footies...they were SO cute! They haven't worn footies since they were babies. :) And I promise they were excited. ;)

I made some fun gift tags for our Christmas gifts...

Landon was mesmerized by the washing machine..."look at the bubbles Momma!"

I enjoyed a "new to me" necklace yesterday...

And a fresh hair cut and color...MUCH needed :)

And Melvin got some lap time last night...I love how he always has his paws crossed...

What did your week look like?

Linking up with...

{quite an adventure}

I don't talk much about our cats on the blog, but for those of you who don't know, we have two furry members of the family. Melvin is our 11 year old orange tabby, and Chloe is a 5 1/2 year old Siamese.

They are indoor cats, but since we moved to this house, we started to let them venture outside a bit. Melvin always stays close to home, but Chloe tends to wander father away. 

On Saturday I let her outside around lunch time.

Fast forward to last night when she FINALLY came home!

Oh my goodness that cat about gave me a heart attack. I thought for sure that she had either been taken in by someone else {that is what I had hoped}, was lost somewhere outside or that the worst had happened {we don't need to go there}. I was completely prepared for her to never return, but last night, I opened the front door, and in she ran! And not a hair was out of place.

This was the best picture I could get of her...she was all over the place!

After hugging and squeezing on her for a few minutes I scolded her and asked her where she had been all that time. I sure wish she could tell me. Turns out that one of our neighbors is also missing their Siamese...a male. Before she came home last night I was picturing the two of them out together, like rebellious teenagers, hunting for mice and begging for food at random stranger's houses. I hope that their little guy comes home soon too!

Love that little girl of mine...and I'm glad to not be the only female in the house again!