amazing things

This one is a little blurry but I think it's a great message. 

Image from Pinterest.

It's a (5th bday) party!

Before the party....

Party...

After the party...

(Yes, this is the same day...you just got your shirt wet in the Playscape and had to change.)

Someone is turning 5!

Miss A, you turn 5 years old tomorrow!

You are having a My Little Pony Party tomorrow at Jester Park.  Your favorite is Pinky Pie, the pink one.  I am planning to make you a layered pink and sprinkle cake and put a little Pinky Pie on the top...hopefully it goes a little better than last year's sand castle cake.  Although you remember that cake and asked me to make you a castle cake this year!

The photo above was all you :)  You picked out the shirt and wanted to wear the glasses -- I happily snapped the pictures.  You enjoy dress-up and this summer we usually find you in a skirt or a dress for at least past of the day.

This photo is exactly you at this age.  You love to laugh and your sweet smile is infectious...I remember when you were much younger Grandma Twila said, "This kids just loves to laugh."  And I think that is a great way to describe your happy and carefree demeanor.

You opened your gifts from us tonight before supper and you got a scooter from us.  You were riding all over the living room and then put it near the kitchen while we sat down to eat.  Half way through the meal you said, "I can't stop thinking about my scooter, can I please move it [so I can't see it]?"  Too. cute.

You are smart as a whip, sweet as chocolate, kind and a great big sister.  You can do absolutely anything you set your mind to.  We love you, sweetie!  Mom

lapping

Friends Forever

You two make my heart melt...

Your Way

There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way.
~Christopher Morley

(image via MorgueFile)

What you might choose to do...

Just some thoughts (from Mom) as you begin your jouney into adulthood...It probably won't seem very important now, but as you mature and decide what profession you would like to pursue, keep these questions in mind:

What is your passion?  What do you enjoy?  What would you love to wake up and do every day? 

Love you both to pieces,
Mom

Dr. Seuss

via Pinterest

How we got here...

Well since Grandpa and Grandma didn't go to college, I definitely wanted to do that.   And I did...and I loved it.  College was a great experience for me and I definitely want you both to experience it too! Then, I wanted to work for a big company and have a good job...and I did just that.

Then my sweet little A came along and everything changed.   Your dad and I crunched the numbers and it was just too close to try to make it with one paycheck. So, I trudged on, I kept switching jobs and taking promotions, thinking more money would make working in the corporate world OK.  I looked at going part-time but the right opportunity never came along.

Life continued on and soon my sweet little M was born.  And life got even more hectic and I became even more unhappy in the job and lifestyle I was in.  So I switched jobs one more time...to a different field at the same company.  And I was still unhappy.  I kept looking at part-time jobs or a full-time job with variable hours that would work around our family schedule better.

I was only seeing my sweet kiddos for a couple hours in the evening.  Every weekday morning I would have to shoo you away as I was getting ready for work and then I would beat myself up all day over it.  So, I piled on some more work and opened up my own business selling handmade things on Etsy. 
Finally, finally I came to a point where I had to make a change..My own business had grown a little and was keeping me busy at nights after working all day and putting you both to bed. 

I had also been applying for lots of part time jobs and finally got an interview for one that paid decent and had the hours I was looking for!  It was a scary step for our family, but it's been almost a year now and we're doing great!  While I'd love to be able to stay home and run my own business full time, it's not in the cards for us [yet]. 

I got one great year with you at home, A, before you start Kindergarten this fall.  And M, you and I are having a great time spending our mornings together.  And then we both get some interaction with others (our age) in the afternoon. :)

This is a 'to be continued post'....I want to open your eyes to some career options that might provide you some flexibility...things I wish I would have thought of before making the choices I made.

imagination

chalkboard fun - June 2011

this too..

(image via MorgueFile)

This too shall pass.

this is YOUR LIFE

I found this a while ago, and it is so inspiring.  I look at it often.

Commitment

Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer.

~Marcia Wieder

 (picture via Morguefile)