Mara and Skippy

I have discovered that having two girls (and maybe this is true with any same-sex siblings) so close in age sometimes causes the younger one to often feel inadequate. Because Kennedy is older, she catches on to things quicker and I think Mara often feels second-rate. They both played soccer last spring and Kennedy really took off with it ... Mara not so much. Kennedy has learned to read and Mara is just learning letters and sounds. They both play piano but Kennedy's hands are bigger and she can read so it is coming easier to her. The list goes on and on. This has kept me up at night as I want Mara to feel successful and valued in what she is doing as well.

So, I signed her up for horseback riding lessons. She expressed an interest in doing it and I jumped on that. She loves it. It's her own thing. She now knows how to do things that her sister doesn't and she feel so proud. Kennedy came with us to her last lesson and Mara loved showing her sister how she saddles and cleans the horseshoes and all the other things she has learned about riding so far. It was really fun and heartwarming to see.

Mara has a weekly lesson with Skippy (doesn't that name just make you smile?). Skippy is twelve and lets just say... doesn't have much of a skip in his step (which makes his name that much more amazing). He's a perfect learning horse for her.

I am a huge horse-lover myself so I have to calm my inner self because I am so excited one of my kids may share this love with me (that said, I don't want to be one of those crazy dance moms... but with horses). :)

Kennedy - Summer '16

My Project 365 has me shooting so much and while I only share one shot from a particular set, there are often so many other ones that I dearly love, too. Kennedy and Aiden are my early morning risers so they are my muses in the morning light.

K and 2

My sweet girls started school today entering kindergarten and second grade, respectively.
I am not typically a super, sappy mama but there are a few, certain things and moments on this journey of parenthood that have really tugged hard at my heartstrings and turn me into the sappiest of sappy moms. Today was one of them. Sending both my girls off to full-time school felt like a big milestone, a big transition for our family. Kennedy has been in full-day school now for two years but having them both enter this next phase really hit me. It's so cliché to say but my God, it really has gone so fast. And my mama heart knows it will continue to go so fast and that college... though far away... really isn't. I felt acutely aware today of the fact that these chicks will eventually fly our nest and that their school life and the relationships they form now will be a huge part of all of that. It's so sweet and wonderful to watch and I truly feel so privileged and honored to be their mama and to see where their lives will take them. Ok, putting down my Kleenex now.

They love going to school with their cousins and it was fun doing a little McKenna/Harvie pre-school photo shoot this morning. Mara and McKenna are actually in the same kindergarten class which is so cool for them.

I had been pretty on the fence about sending Mara to kindergarten but I think my gut was right in sending her as she had no qualms at all about going and was happy as could be in her new classroom. It made me feel so relieved and happy.

Wishing these girls of mine a wonderful school year!

GNR... ROCKS.

We had a blast at the Guns 'n Roses concert earlier this month. If you were at our wedding, you know GNR is one of Sean's favorite bands (hence his Sweet Child of Mine rendition at the very end of our reception!).

Anyway - there was a huge group of us at the concert and I only snapped a few pictures to represent but gosh it was fun. Sean and I both love, love, love music so nights out at concerts are some of our favorites and with this fun group of peeps, we couldn't go wrong!

 We unexpectedly had an extra ticket which was awesome because we were able to give it to my cousin, Seth, who I love hanging out with! So fun!