Maelani's Birthday party

We try to make it to the ocean for Maelani's birthday every year. We sing her happy birthday and read books. Throw some cake and play in the ocean. We collect seashells. It's alway a perfect way to spend a birthday. 

Maelani's 6th birthday

Today is Maelani Rose's birthday. She would have been 6 years old this year. People always write all the amazing traits their child has on their birthday and I have to say that in Maelani's 16 short days she has done so much good and continues to do much good it's really hard to believe.  Because of Maelani we have donated around 300 -500 dollars of toys each year to the Children's hospital at University of Iowa. This year we donated 550 dollars of the book Anchored by Kayla Aimee to the  Nicu. That book is so special because with Maelani being on this earth for just 16 days she made it into that book. Spreading hope to Nicu parents and helping them along their long journey. I  have yet to be in a book and I have been on this earth 39 years. Because of Maelani we have raised around 2000 dollars each year since 2010 for the March of Dimes. This is for  research make more advances to keep the little ones healthy if they do arrive too soon or keep them in a safe womb longer. That's around 12,000 dollars Maelani has raised with your help. That's amazing and as a parent I could not be more proud. I wish everyday Maelani was still around, so I could tell her how proud I am of her and give her one more hug, but since I can not I will just continue to make a difference in this world by spreading kindness and giving when I can to add to the ways that Maelani changed this world we live in. Happy Birthday my sweet girl. 3:33

Vegas

Our View from our room 

Bedroom redo

I wanted to share my bedroom redo. I am so proud of it. I had help with an amazing designer Erica. It is my happy place and perfect in every corner. 

http://prairiehomeinteriordesign.com/about/

First day!

Can you believe it! Kai and June are both in school. The girls are attending Bambini this year and I am so excited to have them attending this school. I hope it holds up to all I have dreamed it would be. The space is beautiful, bright and fun. I think the girls will love coming here during the week and making wonderful memories. June barley had time to wave good bye to me this morning. She was busy playing the moment we walked in the building. Kai was a little more cautious. She let me hug and kiss her good bye. Both the girls picked out thier own outfits this morning much to my dismay. I would have fancied them up a bit, but whatever they like makes my heart happy. I love you girls to the moon and back. Go make your memories:)  

This is what end of day looks like. They survived the first day:)

Things I love for me

Things I love 

My Kids, my husband and family are a given to make my heart skip a beat, but what about the other thing that make my heart soar. Not the mommy heart or the wife heart, but the my heart for me. This heart is easy to forgot once babies enter your life and is often forgotten for a while, but it is good to rediscover that heart and find out if you can still make it skip. So here is my list. I am so thankful that I have craved out time in my life again to find it.

Wakeboarding 

I love it. I don't get to do it often, but when I do there will be a smile on my face and a laugh in the air. I will walk away with jelly legs and a smile. 

Photography 

When I capture that image that makes me feel proud I smile inside. I love the feeling of "I did that" I made something that makes me feel proud. 

Art

I  sometimes will make art. I  just got done with a ceramic wheel class and I like to paint a little or redo some furniture and love the joy I feel that I created something beautiful. 

Jet skiing 

I love going fast and bounding over waves. I love the smell of the water moving though the air and my arms wrapped around my husband. I love boating too.

Scuba diving 

Seeing the life under the water  we don't see until you are in there with them. It's bright, serene and relaxing.

Sitting on a ocean beach. Enough said about that one. Who's heart is not happy sitting on a beach smelling the salty air. 

I also love pushing my comfort zone and trying new things. I love getting an adrenaline rush and finding time to read a book.

Lighting over the lake, taken with iPhone 

A rainbow listed us while we were jet skiing. Happy time

Rainbow

My girls

My girls are the most amazing rays of light I know. They almost sparkle.

What Kai likes right now
Kai enjoys swimming and anything art, including play dough, water painting, and assembling collages. I have had to sharpen my negotiation skills as she is alway trying to make a deal with me to get more candy or cake. The girl loves her sweets.

What June likes right now

June is enamored with Kai. She will do anything that Kai is doing, including the things that Kai should not be doing. June is still a climber a bit of a picky eater, but loves milk.  She carries a bunny and sucks her thumb. She like to say "pick up me" She loves her "mobies" including the Minions. 

This girl

This girl brings so much joy to this heart.

Summer time

Summer time is about ice-cream cones and sunshine. Both out in full force this day. Perfect:)