all morning.

Before school on the morning of someone's birthday those who aren't birthday-ing that day sneak down to the kitchen and put together a little breakfast in bed for the person (people) who are birthday-ing.  It's really nothing fancy...cold cereal, a glass of milk, a piece of cinnamon toast (the menu today) and a little birthday card.

We flip on the light and sing "Happy Birthday!" as well as you can after only being up for a grand total of 10 minutes.  (It's not something the world should be subjected to).  Sleepy heads rouse from their pillows, eyes half closed, and big smiles on their faces remembering that, "Oh ya! It's my special day. Yay for me!"

I love birthday mornings.

This morning was especially fun since it's Miriam's AND Emma's birthday. 

And because they were both taking turns singing to each other, "You say it's your birthday?!  It's my birthday, too!!"

I can't help but be really happy on the inside that I have these twin daughters who are sisters and the greatest of friends, too.  They're entering double digits and I'm hoping they get to be even better friends all through high school and for the rest of their lives.

How does it happen that your tiny little 4 and 5 pound babies grow up to be this age?  From dependent baby to grown up independent girls who have no problem telling you just what they think?

I love them with a love that I had no idea I had in me. 

deep. LOVE.

Meet Kirsten.

I love our American Girl Book Club.  The moms in the club do such a great job with their daughters of putting together a really fun experience for everyone.  Melissa and Laura thought of so many fun things to do for the afternoon that we were all together.

The day was pretty hot and humid and clouds were threatening rain.  We had hoped to be able to have all of our activities and fun outside but the weather kept us inside.  Kirsten probably had to endure extreme temperatures without air conditioning so we talked about how grateful we were to be able to be inside where we could stay cool and out of the sticky air.  Kirsten also wore layers of clothes and a long dress.  The girls couldn't imagine having to be outside all day long in the dresses they were wearing. They peeled them off the first chance they got.

Kirsten sailed across the ocean blue with her family and her friend's family from Sweden.  While on the water her sweet friend died.  I love getting to discuss the sorrow of losing a friend, the difficult times that Kirsten endured with joy, and the sweet way her family interacted as we sit in polka dot form all around the sofa and carpet talking about the book.

When we arrived at Melissa and Laura's home there was wheat to grind into flour and beans to shuck.  Just like Kirsten, there was a lot of work to do before we could even eat.  We had some delicious Dutch oven potatoes and fruit cobbler. There was also quilting and butter making and feeding a baby squirrel a bottle of milk.

Stay tuned for more...

sweet. LIFE.

in the city.

I love seeing my kids so excited about going into NYC...I love NYC.

I love how fun it is to go on the subway.  My kids were aching, literally, to go on the subway after having walked all day.

Grace kept asking when we were going to go in a Taxi.  I loved that she thought that was one of the funnest parts of the whole day.

I love hearing from my kids what their favorite thing was of the day when I get to talk to them just before the drift off to sleep.  Emma said, "My favorite thing was the jug of ice cream we each got at Serendipity." It wasn't really a jug but it sure seemed like it to Emma.

I love that the weather was absolutely perfect.

I love that my dad knows his way around NYC and can be our personal tour guide.

NYC. LIFE.

road trips.

I love a road trip...once I'm on it.

I love listening to my kids be so sweet and agreeable to each other for the first 10 hours of our road trip.  It's so fun to hear them have so much fun together, filled with anticipation, and talking excitedly to each other.

I love singing along to my favorite mix of songs while I'm driving.

I love when we get to stop and go to the bathroom, stretch our legs, and Emma needs to give everyone the hugs that they've missed out on for the last 3-4 hours.

I love arriving at my parents house and hearing that they tried to sleep but couldn't because they couldn't wait for us to get here...at 3:30am.

I love seeing all of my kids nestled in sleeping bags, completely excited, thoroughly exhausted, and oh-so-happy to be spending the next however many nights having a sleepover party at Grammy and Grandpa's house in their super cool attic.

happily exhausted. LIFE.