30 Bits // Life is what happens when…

It’s been a busy month! Phew! Our household has been a flurry of activity from spring concerts to egg hunts, trips and visitors. I also participated in 2, yes, TWO back to back 7 day Social Media blackouts. The first was to support the attendees of the Cultivate Workshop while they spent time putting their new plans into action – distraction free. The second was to support the attendees of the Delight Retreat so we could reflect on the days we spent together and be more tuned into their own purpose, thoughts and ideas.

As much as I truly enjoyed the break, I really did miss sharing these ordinary moments that make up the story of our life. Every “bit” tells a tale and documents our family in our online scrapbook of sorts on the internet. These kids are growing WAY too fast and I know that with every post I make they are closer and closer to getting their own access to the internet. I hope one day when they google their mama they won’t be too horrified by what I have shared of our lives together. But it’s real life – and it’s ours. The good, bad and the ugly. And I want them to cherish it all.

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”. Oh John Lennon. You hit the nail on the head. But even more than “making other plans”, life is what happens when you are busy just putting one foot in front of the other. Daily bits. Ordinary moments that make life beautiful.

Here’s to “30 bits” of our recent life: (and now you are singing that Black Eyed Peas song, right? I know… I totally am too.)

(To see larger images – scroll down to the clickable slideshow).

: Greyson sizing himself up. Looking like a big kid on a random Tuesday.

: Beth Daane in LBI squeezing some oceanside work in before the start of the Cultivate Workshop

: “THE” Ocean & Oceans – the song. Nuff said.

: Our budding artist, Greyson Jude. Kindergarten Andy Warhol – maybe. (A piece he titled: Cat thinking about a Hermit Crab).

: Wondering where Greyson gets it? His Daddy. This is a 5 second sketch of “Greysonasauras”. You should see what the man does with a paintbrush. Or a real pen. It’s not funny.

: During her visit to NJ, I took Beth Daane to my favorite hang out – Room full of old cameras. Joey Tribbiani lives there. You should totally come visit me and see him.

: Harmony gives Beth an at home Mani. She was thrilled to finally have a different customer other than her mama.

: A stop at my Bookbinder’s shop. Making final decisions togethers. Choosing the cloth, paper and special details for my custom client journal to be released soon! I cannot wait.

: Harmony’s biggest pet peeve is that I schedule all of my newborn sessions when she is at school. On newborn shoot days she RUSHES in the door begging to see the previews and asking all of the details about the baby that visited that day. So when she actually gets to hold one she is OVER.THE.MOON excited. This is Ms. Addy, daughter of our church’s Children’s Ed Director. And she is precious.

: It’s 4th grade friends. It’s BIG TIME. We have a flute. We have sheet music and we know how to read it. This is the Spring Concert where Harmony played her flute and then ran over to the stage to sing with the Chorus. OH and she was totally mortified by my camera so I agreed to only my phone. And that was mortifying enough (as you can see in the pic). lol

: Speaking of concert. Yes. We are THOSE parents. The squealing ones with the mom who is all misty eyed for no reason at all. And taking selfies of our proud parental moment. Yes. That’s OUR kid up there. And by the way, when did we get old enough to have a kid OLD ENOUGH TO EVEN BE in a concert? Yikes. OK I can see why she gets mortified. A misty eyed squealing mama taking selfies with Daddy at the Spring concert. Ok that is probably super embarrasing. Point taken kid. 😉

: Prepping for my trip to Virginia for the Delight Retreat. He decided that he wanted to come with me. Not so much because he would miss me, (because he said he would) but because he knew I would also be seeing Ms. Beth (and Trevor and Reagan). And that was just too much to miss.

: I don’t care what they say, I LOVE THE TRAIN. And it’s not because I hate flying. I don’t mind flying. I just don’t like the hassle of airports, long lines at security, 3 ounce limit on shampoo, cramped seats, and so on. I will fly anywhere I need to, but when I can, I would take the train ANY day. AAAAND…. it’s a fraction of the cost to boot. FREE WIFI. CAFE CAR. RECLINING SEATS WITH TRAY TABLES – what more can a gal ask for? Choo CHOO.

: Speaking of train. I arrived in Charlottesville, VA where Beth just couldn’t get away from me this month. I got to see her precious little blonde children again and we took some backseat selfies in between games of I spy.

: AND THEN there was the wine. OH Virginia wines you have my heart. And my money. Steve and I quickly enjoyed that bottle I brought back. Worth the trip back just for another one of those babies. Yum. The Daane Family and I stopped in for a tasting at this winery after we finished up their Family Portrait Session earlier that morning.

: The sweetest message from those beautiful little blonde children. Miss you too guys. XOXO

: THAT. ROOM. Amazing things happened there and with these beautiful ladies in it. The Delight Retreat was amazing from start to finish.

: One of the many beautiful displays from the talented Emily Gluntz who served and cooked every meal with a smile. What a beautiful soul she is. So thankful to have met her.

: Last day in “that room”. That was a day of celebration and joy! I took this quick pic just because I wanted to remember that feeling…with these ladies.

: This is how I was greeted when I returned home from a week in Virginia. Having gone to bed at 5 am the night before, and longing for my bed, these sweet faces perked me right up. What a way to come home.

: Random GIANT apple from the grocery store. Greyson was amazed. Can’t you tell? This is the stuff blog posts are made of folks. This is good stuff right here. I mean, look at that face?

: This is how she rolls. When not in a session, she reclines and keeps watch and makes sure I’m working hard. And fluffing her pillow.

: The adventures of T-Rex. I get it. The role playing. The imaginations run WILD in boys. They could sit for hours and have adventures with their toys while begging you to play with them. After an attempted few “Grrrs” and “roars” Mom gets reassigned to photo duty. Of course. Seems that Greyson has a much better dialogue for the scene and I am better at documenting it. No problem kiddo. I agree. #idontspeakdinosaurbutIwillplaywithyou

: The secret is out. The Rainforest Cafe is my favorite restaurant. I love a fancy candlelight dinner with tiny food and a waiter with an accent, I really do. But most of the time, I would rather be in sandals with sand between my toes listening to the sounds of THUNDER and RAIN … WHILE I’m having DINNER!!?!?! SAY WHAT? I’m sorry. But the concept never gets old for me. I love theme restaurants. Bring on the fishes. And the real life scuba people in the tank while cleaning the reef. And the comets. AND THE RAIN! AND THE WATERFALLS!

: Needless to say. We went there for Easter Brunch. But of COURSE we did! And no it was not actually ON Easter. And yes, that bunny is super creepy and I made my kids sit with him/her anyway. They lived to tell about it.

: Let’s just say this is all Tiffany Farley’s fault. It just is. She knows why. And it’s STILL her fault. It’s been a year. And we still blame her for this. And every project this has spawned since. SOMEDAY I will be able to document this journey in a full blog post all on it’s own. Hopefully we will be finished by the end of this century. The tile is not her fault – we do love the tile, but WHY we are tiling – totally her fault. (and Just in case people don’t know – yes, I’m joking.)

: Did I mention we were in a dinosaur phase again? This happened a few years ago and he moved on. But one viewing of the movie “Walking with Dinosaurs” and we are hooked once again. ALL. THINGS. DINOSAURS. Now… do they make LEGO Dinosaurs? If not they totally should. They’d make a bundle.