Our Five Ring Circus: A Bittersweet Ode To Summer: Thoughts on Motherhood & Seasons of Life

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

A Bittersweet Ode To Summer: Thoughts on Motherhood & Seasons of Life

A Bittersweet Ode To Summer

We are currently enjoying the last week of hot weather in Pennsylvania. Summer flew by far too quickly, and I still can't believe we are already several weeks into a new school year. The next time we feel temperatures like these ones, two of my kids will be one year older and the school year will be almost over. That seems too far away yet too soon at the same time!


The passing of a season sometimes serves as a cruel reminder of just how fast time goes by. And the older I get, the more sentimental I become. I wish I could just hold onto these moments with my kids, just as they are now! But seasons will continue to pass by rapidly, my kids will continue to grow far too quickly, and all I will have left are memories of what once was.

The point of having kids is to raise them, help them develop into GOOD human beings, and send them off into the world on their own.  As their mom, I'm selfish. I want them to be my babies forever!

I think the reason I take so many pictures is so I can remember all these simple, everyday moments with my kids that make life so special and worth living! Some may argue that it's better to LIVE in the moment instead of document it, but I disagree. I fully believe it's possible to have the best of both worlds.


When you live in the moment, you experience it and make memories. But one day those memories will fade, and all the little details will disappear. THAT'S why I document those everyday moments through pictures.

I want to remember how the sunlight hits Liam's pale eyelashes and turns them to gold. I want to remember how Lily's thumb goes into her mouth the moment she gets sleepy. I want to remember Lexie's beautiful profile as she reads a book. I want to remember the way Dylan twirls his hair - or mine - when he gets worried or sleepy...just like he did when he was a baby. Those moments are worth living AND documenting!

Although this Summer went far too quickly for my liking, it was full of so many moments that I want to remember! I will hold onto those moments forever, and these pictures will serve as a reminder of just how wonderful life really is!


We celebrated and fell in love with a new family member who seemed impossibly tiny and oh so perfect!

Family

Family

Baby

We connected with cousins.

Candid Childhood

Family

We showed people how to be brave (and how to give mom a heart attack)!

Down Syndrome Blogs

We spent hours splashing in the tub.

Nuby Bath Links

{Nuby Bath Links - Available on Amazon}

Instead of wishing the rain away, we enjoyed it!

Childhood

We flipped through hundreds of books and flashed the cutest smiles ever!

Down Syndrome

We celebrated the fact that baby wearing is still possible!


We jumped for joy!

Childhood

We viewed the world from different angles. (Stop, Drop and #DownwardDude!)

Down Syndrome Blogs

We enjoyed simple Summer pleasures.

Trendy Bubs

{Shirt from Trendy Bubs}

We made creative fashion choices.

Down Syndrome

We spent the Summer learning and exploring...and lost one fingertip in the process!

The Lucky Few

We spread joy one smile at a time.

Down Syndrome

We healed and proved that fingertips really DO grow back!

Childhood

We jumped in pools fully clothed!

The Lucky Few

We spent hours in the backyard.

Down syndrome Awareness

We did our own stunts!

The Lucky Few

The Lucky Few

We danced like nobody was watching.

Childhood

Childhood

We celebrated the first big Summer birthday!

Father and Son

Father and Daughter

Father and Daughter

The Lucky Few

Husband and Wife

We enjoyed spending time together.

Siblings

We laughed a lot!

Down Syndrome Blogs

We took family walks.

Motherhood

My kids got candid!

Summer

An unusual visitor crawled across Lexie's foot, which scarred her for life.

Cicada

We cooled off at the spray park with friends.

Best Friends

Brotherly Love

Down syndrome

Spray Park

We logged in many hours on Papa and Nina's deck.

Down syndrome awareness

And we played at home.

Down syndrome awareness

We went swimming as often as possible.

Siblings

Summer

We eagerly celebrated a 6th Birthday! (Birthday Interview and Recap to come!)

6th Birthday

We bonded with extended family, had fun and got messy at our annual family reunion.

Family Reunion

Down syndrome

Childhood

The Lucky Few

Family Reunion

Family Reunion

Family Reunion

Down syndrome blogger

Family Reunion

We explored our town.

Brothers

Siblings

We spent a week at our favorite place: Virginia Beach! (Yep...stillllll recapping.)

Virginia Beach

We celebrated the most special little boy's 4 trips around the sun!

Down syndrome

We ended our Summer Break with a pool party to watch the eclipse!

eclipse

And just like that, Summer Break came to an abrupt end when my kids headed back to school. It was a great Summer, and I sure am missing my days spent with my little tribe!


Summer


A Bittersweet Ode to Summer: Thoughts on Motherhood & Seasons of Life

3 comments:

  1. It looks like you all had the very best Summer! Ours was pretty awesome, too! I felt like we finally got our groove this year - no naps, no potty training. Nothing but big boy stuff for Summer 2017.

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  2. I’m ready for fall like temperatures! It was 80 degrees at 7 am this morning. Not cool Texas, not cool. I agree 100 % with everything you said in this post. I am all about soaking in and preserving the memorie sand the everyday. I love all of the photos and the sweet memories.

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  3. You all had the best summer!! I am totally with you about taking pictures, I am always snapping away and then so thankful later for capturing the moments! My sister is always yelling at me and my mom for taking too many pics LOL

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