neighbor's advice

our next door neighbors are pretty wonderful.

kelly and mike.
mike and kelly.

like us, they have 3 kiddos.

but their 3 are all grown up.

they tell us often how seeing our family do life brings them back,

how fast it goes, and how much we need to remember that.

a few weeks ago during a mailbox chat,
kelly sweetly asked how the start of school was.

i shared it was going well,
though the calendar on the kitchen wall was a wee full.

she said she remembered those calendars.

then she said, "save your calendar pages".

that she did this.
that she has a box of them in her attic.
she said that when i look back, i won't be able believe what we did,
what life looked like week to week and month to month.
that i would miss it crazy like she does.

i meant to do that.

to save the september big wall calendar.

it was a good one for sure.

but we were away for the weekend,
and while away my eager helpful kids ripped it down.

maybe in anticipation of what october holds.

maybe just because ripping something off the wall feels pretty darn good.
especially if it's mommy's.

so i will hold on to the october one i think.
and along the way capture and hold on to more of the bits and bobs like these one here.

final golden hour ice cream outings

and warm golden hour walks

morning walks to the bus

ella loving middle school

and bennett loving 2nd grade

even if phonics is soooo booorrriiinnggg

and janie loving pre-school...riding the bus on her 1st field trip

and loving time with her friends so much, she barely eats her lunch

anniversary outing to the apple orchard...grateful to be his mrs.

our little apple crisp bakers

last of our backyard farm tomato haul

ella and her cuddle buddy george

boys who are bonded

chicken chores in her chucks and nightie

a piece of the farm coming to practice...soft touch girls, soft touch

coach mom and coach dad who maybe wish they could use whistles at home too

shorter days with lights out for practice

cheering for the home team

packing for san francisco, thanks to dear fashionista friend

wedding weekend get away to san francisco / berkley

a beautiful wedding

and the beautiful couple

happy bridesmaid, happy couple

and time with the redwoods

and an afternoon in wine country

we heart you san francisco

then back to wrangling kiddos...mama headlocks and lots of LOVE

living, wrangling, adventuring, loving.

yes, kelly it sure does go so so fast.

here's to gratitude
and how it turns everything into enough.