Friends

Well, the hubs decided to escape diaper duty for a night last week and get in more holes of golf with friends in 36 hours than interest me in...well...more than would ever interest me, ever really.

So, a special guys only trip resulting in a pretty nicely sunburned neck and forearms all around meant some special time with family not seen in far too long. 

And we did our own share of sunbathing.
On blankets instead of greens.

With motorcycle trikes instead of carts.

Nana's homemade V8 popsicles instead of clubs.

Playing instead of competing.

Aunt Mary's story time instead of scores.

And obviously
freshly renewed cousin friendships.

Because when they left, El quite concerned,

questioned, 

"But, mommy, where did Miss Mary and all my friends go?"



And, to those who might be concerned that my own diaper-changing-tallies might have exceeded
those accomplished by my hubs due to his absence,
No worries.
My children have made sure to even the score.

It's all good.

P.S. I continue to dually blog, keeping up with  my photography blog here...
Recently finished up a precious newborn session that made me just ache for own little nugget due in less than 10 weeks now! 

Moments

As mentioned before,

moments lately have been part of a new routine.

Breakfast together, make lunch for the hubs, morning workout, naptime, outside, quiet time,

 lunch, clean-up, books, play, quiet time, naptime,

momma's work time, clean-up, play, dinner prep, family time, and 

winding down to start it over again...

The moments I'm sure will adjust themselves as my days go on, fitting in things, leaving things out, some moments full with discipline, others with more giggles. 

But, as for now, we're just living the moments fully 

Blessed.

Starting this blog, the whole idea was to share moments, just glimpses of life with the Frenchs.

My photography is much the same way, your life captured by the Frenchs. Would love if you checked it out.

But here are our moments lately.

1. Swimming with Grams 2. Broccoli and hummus lunch 3. Noodle food fight with the boy 4. El's total swimming extent, nothing past sitting on the edge 5. My sweet niecie 6. Niecie and T in the car together, holding hands 7. Playtime in the backyard 8. A girl and her daddy 9. The hubs

New

Honestly,

Those who know me best know I love my routine. 

Not that I would ever use the "boring" word to describe my life,

but there's a sense of calm that comes with planning and carrying out a certain sequence, 

even if it just means checking the fact that I've folded a load of laundry off of a very thorough to-do list.

Many a day has been carefully detailed and effectively accomplished,

yet,

it can also be somewhat of a weakness, somewhat a struggle.

And around here, we are establishing a brand-new uncharted adventure of a new routine.

One with a little more time at home, although nonetheless as busy.

One with a little more diaper changing and just as much teaching.

One with a little more dishwasher emptying, although I have a feeling my floors and counters will be just as littered with dishtowels, groceries and momentarily abandoned toys. 

And so, the last few days have been a little out of the routine...
or should I say we're establishing a new sort of routine.

With a much needed face time with many old friends 

new babies

and new-found friends.

Play time

with conversation that's reached a new level

a new affection

new cooperation

new fascination

Oh it was good.

And more newness,

a whole morning spent with a precious little girl

quite possibly more cuddly than both of my littles combined.

Pretty sure the sum of our snuggle was just about heavenly.

Completed with time in our new backyard,

with a new bottle of bubbles.

My little girl, quite the big girl

entertaining,

doing her own share of babysitting,

and duly rewarded.

And the little man?

Well, this new routine fits him just fine.

His zeal is yet to be contained.

Part of this new routine has included lots of new postings at my photography blog here. You really don't find me without a camera these days.

Summertime

For me, summertime is truly here now. 

4:00pm yesterday marked this momentous occasion.

A little more momentous this year, but more to come on that. 

A Target run included sunscreen, swim diapers, and a pair of flip flops.

My class gifted me with a pool bag a few days ago.

The hubby and I dated last night with sushi, shopping and ice cream. 

My sisters (now just living minutes away) are also living the summertime, 

finals have been graded, lost and found accounted for and report cards sent home for good.

So playing is in full drive mode around here.

And let summertime commence.
(Please know that I am refraining from ending this post with, "And may the odds be ever in your favor." Those who recognize this line from an overly popular book or movie can just smile and shake their head at this point.)

Bellies

Just a few pictures

to document our growing bellies.

My baby sister and me, seven months preggo, due four days apart. 

There's nothin' like being swollen and achey and sweaty except being swollen and achey and sweaty with someone who totally gets it. We are so blessed.

Side note: I've also been blogging here to share my photography. Check it out!

Sweet

We're slowly, slowly settling in,

finding our routine, our places, our niches, our sweet spots.

One of which, I have a feeling will be in the shade of my very favorite tree of our new home.

And if not there, here, I imagine.

The warmth of steps outside the door.

Which we enjoyed the other night.

When I brought cupcakes home,

just because.

And if one might be curious as to how four ginormous treats could be so safely guarded through a day and commute,

let me just summarize. 

A student brought them in as a part of a year-end research project. 

And, being mother of all creativity, I needed a quick, secure home to hide my treasures away for later.

Sweets for my sweets.

So, discarding leftover crackers from lunch, just a few snips of elementary scissors and I think my end result actually was just about perfect.

In fact I'm a little proud of my ingenuity.

I mean, seriously. 

Look at the reaction.

You'd think the poor girl was deprived.

She's been eating sweets like this, with tender loving care and delicate picks since her first birthday.

A savorer to the fullest.

And with just a little convincing, the sweet little thing shared with the littler one.

The sweetest part of all.