P365 - 2015 - Day 243 - The surfer and The Professor

P365 - 2015 - Day 243 - The surfer and The Professor

Today was the first day back to classes for the Fall Semester for My Wonderful Husband.  The kids and I have another week of Summer that I am trying to savor in between doctor appointments, practices, school shopping etc...  But My Wonderful Husband is back to school and this photo is the perfect depiction of his two worlds colliding.  The surfer and The Professor - one and the same.  I hope his students know how lucky they are... we sure do.  xo

P365 - 2015 - Day 242 - don't mess with #5....

P365 - 2015 - Day 242 - don't mess with #5....

On day two of The Princess' tournament with her team, the TRFC Lady Gunners, they played both games on turf, lost one game and won the second.  And did I mention... you just don't mess with #5.... ;-)

P365 - 2015 - Day 241 - Love that #5

P365 - 2015 - Day 241 - Love that #5

The Princess had the first day of her two day tournament today.  Unfortunately the girls suffered two close losses, but on the bright side, one of the parents got these great shots.  Love that #5.

P365 - 2015 - Day 240 - ready to be a fifth grader

P365 - 2015 - Day 240 - ready to be a fifth grader

And just like that....he is going to be a fifth grader.  It's official, the letter arrived, he knows his teacher and he didn't waste a minute going to get all of his supplies.  He was so stinkin' excited to shop for his supplies and he is ready to be a fifth grader.

P365 - 2015 - Day 239 - cousins

P365- 2015 - Day 239 - cousins

It's always nice when I get a text from my cousin saying that they are "down the shore" and are stopping by our beach.  It was a beautiful beach day and a ton of fun with cousins.  :-)

P365 - 2015 - Day 238 - dog day everyday

P365 - 2015 - Day 238 - dog day everyday

After taking this photo I looked back at the blog from last year to see how we celebrated the auspicious occasion that is National Dog Day.  It turns out that I posted a photo of The Pooch in the exact same spot last year... in full disclosure this is where he sits to get his treats and if you really want a photo where he sits and stays this is the best place to take it.  Yes, he got a treat after this photo was taken... it is National Dog Day after all.  Although I am pretty sure that it's dog day everyday for this furry baby.  Love this pup.

P365 - 2015 - Day 237 - two down, one to go

P365 - 2015 - Day 237 - two down, one to go

I took The Bear and The Princess to get their school supplies today.  The Boy hasn't gotten his list yet so I took the 7th graders while he had practice.  After a small mortgage payment we made it out of Staples with everything on their lists.  Two down, one to go.

P365 - 2015 - Day 236 - 18 Years

P365 - 2015 - Day 236 - 18 years

Every year I say, " I can't believe it's __ years.." and that was the first sentiment that I had today as I sat down to type.  I really can't believe that it's been 18 years that we have been married....on the one hand it feels like yesterday that I walked down that aisle towards my future.  But on the other hand, I can believe that it has been 18 years because so much has happened.  That future that I was walking towards was out in front of me 18 years ago and for the past 18 years we have been walking together through life.  Homes, jobs, children, losses, accomplishments, and the daily chaos that is life.  I don't know exactly what I saw on that horizon 18 years ago but I know what we have seen, what we have done, where we have been, and I continue to see where we are going.  Life is busy and hectic with kids and work and everything that goes along with all of that.... but here's what I know - I love this guy and he loves me.  What more is there to it then that really?  Here's to 18 years of the journey...may we travel this road together for many many many more years to come and like today always find the time to just enjoy each other's company.  xoxo  Happy Anniversary to us.

P365 - 2015 - Day 235 - ready for 18...ready for more?

P365 - 2015 - Day 235 - ready for 18...ready for more?

I printed out my registration form for the LBI 18 mile...ready to do this again.  My theory is I keep running this island until I can't.  I have been training this year with a friend who is going to run it with me which has been an added bonus and the two of us have been toying with the idea of continuing on for a marathon... The Philadelphia marathon is 6 weeks later and I am seriously considering it. Still thinking but putting it out there to keep me honest.  Ready for 18...am I ready for more?

P365 - 2015 - Day 234 - Sky Blue game

P365 - 2015 - Day 234 - Sky Blue game

It was The Princess' turn to see a women's professional soccer game.... so we took the kids to a Sky Blue game.  She was very excited to see several of the US Women's team play each other.  They played Portland so she even got to see her favorite player, Alex Morgan.

P365 - 2015 - Day 233 - how this kid rolls...

P365 - 2015 - Day 233 - how this kid rolls...

Yup, this is how this kid rolls.....  "hey guys, let's roll down the hill and into the water... I'll go first!"  No other words....

P365 - 2015 - Day 232 - Joe Pops

P365 - 2015 - Day 232 - Joe Pops

I am lucky to have an awesome group of friends on the beach in the summers.  I look forward to the days spent on the beach talking and laughing.  We clean up pretty well for a night out too...  we have such a fun night at Joe Pops laughing and dancing even if we were missing someone....  I will miss this group when summer ends...

P365 - 2015 - Day 231 - #timeslowdown

P365 - 2015 - Day 231 - #timeslowdown

Remember when summer used to feel like it lasted forever?  I remember being a kid and having that feeling of all of the days running into to each other.  I woke up, put on a bathing suit, and fell into bed at the end of fun, endless days spent swimming and playing.  I don't know exactly when that feeling changed but I imagine it was once I had a firmer grasp on the passage of time and could read a calendar.....  Then the days would still drag leading up to my birthday in July and then simply fly by after and leading up to the start of school.  Summer is my favorite time of year.  I love the warmth, the sun... I've explained this before...  But I also always loved the freedom.  As a kid, it was freedom from school and obligations and as an adult freedom from work (as a teacher) and then with my own kids freedom from the routine....  Even with all of the soccer commitments this summer (and there were a lot), there was still the freedom from the routine of the school year.  But this summer for the first time since living my summers through my kids, I realized that they are numbered.  Our carefree summers have somewhat of an expiration date... call me a pessimist or a realist.. either way, I realized this fact this summer and it has been hard to swallow.  The kids are getting busier with sports, friends, and interests of their own.... soon it will be summer jobs... and in the blink of an eye we will be looking at their last summer before they leave for college.  I have always seen summer as a marker of time.  This summer I am seeing that all too clearly.  Gone are the days of sand castles and digging big holes on the beach.  They are growing up... and while that affords me more time to sit, read, and talk to friends on the beach it still makes me sad as I realize that we have turned a page to a new chapter.  When I took this picture for the day, I was thinking of all of the people we knew in different states (including our old school district in PA) who had started school already.  I had posted this picture on instagram and said "Still Summer here #summerslowdown" and at first that was all I meant... thankful that we still had weeks of summer to look forward too and silently wishing for it to slow down.  But as I thought about this photo and that post I realized that I also meant #timeslowdown.  Please.

P365 - 2015 - Day 230 - Ram Pride, here we come!

P365 - 2015 - Day 230 - Ram Pride, here we come

Today was a big day!!  Middle School Orientation!  They got their teams - The Bear is on Team Seahawks and The Princess is on Team Riptides.  They got their lockers and met a few teachers while walking around the building to find their classes.  I kept having flashbacks in my head of Kindergarten Orientation.....but as I said in my last post, my babies are growing up.  They are on to the next adventure!  Ram Pride, here we come!

P365 - 2015 - Day 229 - My babies are growing up

P365 - 2015 - Day 229 - My babies are growing up

It seems like yesterday that my first babies went off to school full day for the first time.  I had to get used to the concept of them not being home with me, the change in our routine and schedule, and how much The Boy and I missed them while they were gone.  Somehow the years march on quite quickly and what seems like yesterday was really 7 years ago.  Now we are preparing for a new change in routine and schedule and I will undoubtedly miss them while they are away for the long days that they will have with middle school and sports.  Tomorrow we go to their orientation at the middle school to learn their team, their schedule, and their lockers.  This is as big of a deal as all those years ago when they left the comfort of home for full day kindergarten.  Soon they will be leaving the comfort of the island we now call home and crossing the bridge to middle school.  They are starting the next 6 years of their academic careers that will ultimately bring them to high school graduation.  That sound you just heard?  That was my very.heavy.sigh.  My babies are growing up.

P365 - 2015 - Day 228 - tournament weekend

P365 - 2015 - Day 228 - tournament weekend

This weekend both The Bear and The Boy were in the Marlton soccer tournament.  The Boy's team played awesome and walked away with two wins and tow losses.  Unfortunately they also walked away before I got a picture of all of them... or maybe we walked away because we were rushing to the next game.  Either way, no photo of the team and The Boy refused to pose later....  The Bear's team won all four games and were their division champs.  The Bear was all about posing with the team trophy.  Congrats to both The Cannons and The Gunners on a great tournament weekend!

P365 - 2015 - Day 227 - me, myself, and I

P365 - 2015 - Day 227 - me, myself, and I

The boys had day one of their weekend tournament today.  I had to run 9 miles for my training so The Princess and I stayed behind.  After my run, I got some things done around the house, The Princess ran a lemonade stand with some friends then met me at the beach later.  After two hours of swimming in the ocean, she came out and went home to shower leaving me by myself on the beach.  Now, don't get me wrong... I love having my kids at the beach, love when My Wonderful Husband can make it too, and I am super lucky to have some awesome friends that I can sit with all summer on the beach.  But I am just as happy at the beach with me, myself, and I ... and a good book.  I am at my happiest with sand in my toes, sun on my skin, and the ocean breeze in my face.

P365 - 2015 - Day 226 - Here she is...

P365 - 2015 - Day 226 - Here she is...

Much like The Boy, I haven't really had individual photos of The Princess lately. (or The Bear for that matter.... look for that another day soon...)
Here she is... my beach girl complete with sun kissed cheeks, sun streaked hair, and freckles on her nose. Here she is...twelve and a half and ready to start middle school.
Here she is...love that braces smile!
Here she is...not sure where the time goes.  She is growing up before my eyes!
Here she is...my daughter.  xo

P365 - 2015 - Day 225 - Congratulations

P365 - 2015 - Day 225 - Congratulations

To be fair and honest, I am a couple of days late on this.  It came in the mail on Monday and we all went out to dinner that night to celebrate but I didn't get a photo of it that night.  So, better late than never I say.  Congratulations to My Wonderful Husband on getting his NJ State Youth "E" License!!!  He set a goal to do this this year and he did.  He is now able to be a paid trainer at the soccer club.  I am super proud of him and the great job that he does coaching and training.  xo

P365 - 2015 - Day 224 - Just because....

P365 - 2015 - Day 224 - Just because....

Just because... you and your sister have been pouring through the blog books from years past.
Just because...you asked if I still take a picture every day.
Just because...I don't think I have taken a photo of just you in a while.
Just because...this is the only summer you will be ten year old.
Just because...you are going into fifth grade.
Just because...I love that floppy, surfer hair.
Just because...the time goes by too fast.
Just because...a photo stops time for that one moment.
Just because....

P365 - 2015 - Day 223 - at the end

P365 - 2015 - Day 223 - at the end

After a day of rain, sun, and more storms..this was the beautiful sunset at the end.

P365- 2015 - Day 222 - Things we learned today

P365 - 2015 - Day 222 - Things we learned today

The kids and I had a fun day at our friend Stacey's pool club.  The kids worked on their diving board skills and there was a fairly intense ping pong tournament.
Things we learned today:
Stacey is a very good diver thanks to those lessons she had as a kid.
The Bear needs to stick to soccer and being cute and give up professional diving.
The Princess is on a quest to recreate all of the Pinterest images she has pinned.
I cringe every time the kids leap off the diving board and I can not be peer pressured into jumping.
The Boy makes up ping pong rules that benefit him and can flip through the air with the greatest of ease.
 A day hanging with Stacey is fun whether on the beach or in the pool.  :-)

P365 - 2015 - Day 221 - boys' night/girls' night

P365 - 2015 - Day 221 -boys' night/girls' night

It was a boys' night/girls' night kind of night.  After some time on the beach together, My Wonderful Husband took The Bear and The Boy to a Red Bulls game complete with tailgaiting.  The Princess and I went out to dinner and did a little shopping.  Fun night all around...

P365 - 2015 - Day 220 - I love sunflowers!

P365 - 2015 - Day 220 - I love sunflowers!

I love sunflowers!  I started some from seeds this spring and am finally seeing the fruit of my labor.  Next year, I think I will have to plant more!!

P365 - 2015 - Day 219 - National Twin Day

P365 - 2015 - Day 219 - National Twin Day

The Princess informed me that it was National Twin Day so she convinced her twin to do a "photo shoot" for the occasion.  These are the photos she sent me....

P365 - 2015 - Day 218 - soon to be 7th graders...

P365 - 2015 - Day 218 - soon to be 7th graders...

These soon to be 7th graders met at the Festival of the Sea for some fun.  They had a great time.

P365 - 2015 - Day 217 - Summer fun continues

P365 - 2015 - Day 217 -  Summer fun contiues

I mentioned my kids' extensive social calendar...  days at the beach and friends' houses, kayaking on the lagoon, swimming, sleep overs, concerts, and this....  This group met for the water park and an impromptu pizza picnic.  Summer fun continues.

P365 - 2015 - Day 216 - like it was yesterday....

P365 - 2015  - Day 216 - like it was yesterday....

I am feeling nostalgic lately... summer does that to me.  I have mentioned before how I see the passage of time most clearly in the summer.  Maybe it's the bright sunlight or the long days...  I don't know, but the ghosts of summers past are all around me here.  Lately, my kids' sports schedule as well as their social calendar has me going in three directions.  I sometimes feel like a chicken with my head cut off.  I am proud of their achievements and happy for their involvements and friendships, but there are days when I feel selfish and want to go back to the days when they were all mine.  This photo reminds me of those days.  This was five years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.

P365 - 2015 - Day 215 - I love my new hat

P365 - 2015 - Day 215 - I love my new hat!!

I started the day with an awesome beach boot camp class and then had a fantastic business meeting while the kids were busy at friends' houses.  I even got this little treat from my friend and business partner.  I love my new hat!!   Over a year ago I started this journey and haven't looked back. :-)

P365 - 2015 - Day 214 - August already

P365 - 2015 - Day 214 - August already

There has been a lot of running around lately... practices, tournaments, surf lessons, etc... so it was nice tonight to have dinner together as a family of five and then relax in front of the fire in the backyard with some s'mores.  We really needed that tonight.  It's August already and the days are numbered....m ;-(  We have to make the best of them and the time to just chill and be together.

P365 - 2015 - Day 213 - CRUSA FC Bucks Invitational Champions

P365 - 2015 - Day 213 - CRUSA FC Bucks Invitational Champions

The Bear and his team The SSC Gunners were the CRUSA FC Bucks Invitational Tournament champions.  Three games - three wins.  Congrats to a great group of boys!

P365 - 2015 - Day 212 - island time...happy girl

P365 - 2015 - Day 212 - island time...happy girl

For the first time in two weeks, I had no where to run to.  No practices to rush off to.  Nothing pressing that had to be done.  For the first time weeks, instead of being the first one to leave our circle of chairs at the beach I was the last.  I relished it and planted myself on the sand with a book... Mind you there was still a practice but My Wonderful Husband finally had a break in his crazy schedule to take The Bear so I was on island time!!  My favorite kind of time...  after a long afternoon at the beach I celebrated the "blue moon" and the month of July with friends - drinks on the beach under the moon.  And I was a happy girl.