While some things stay the same...

With all the change and transition we've had these last few months, our Fourth of July tradition held strong again and was another fabulous celebration and gathering.

This holiday at the island with our family continues to be one of my very favorite weekends of the entire year. The weather, the food, the small town parade, the red-white-blue for days on end, Moscow mules, slip and slides, ice cream making, cousin adoration, late night fireworks...such happy, happy memories.

 

 Sisters.

 

 

 Until next year...

Big changes.

 I am finally sitting down to write. Finally feeling somewhat settled. At least for the moment...

 

It's been a summer of change and as much as my creature of habit self has fought against it at times, I'm learning, or perhaps it's more accurate to say- trying to learn, how to embrace it all.

 

I write this as we are two weeks into apartment living, and I've gotta say- most everything about it is really great! Really. We are fortunate enough to be renting our close friends' basement apartment which comes with some major bonuses: fairly cool apartment during Seattle's hottest summer ever, impromptu dinner gatherings, slow Saturday mornings of coffee on the deck, across from Greenlake for easy access runs, baby snuggles and playmates as neighbors. Sure, we're a little cramped but we are used to cozy...so it's working great for us. And I think Max is finally getting used to his new surroundings.

 

Saying goodbye to our little house was hard...I'm not going to lie. That house had been everything to us. The house we came home to as a married couple, spent our days doing who knows what before we had kids (am I right?! Can anyone tell me what exactly we did with all our time pre kids?!). It's the house we brought a puppy home to. The house we dreamed in. The house where our dreams came true when we welcomed both of our baby girls through its doors. Hard days. Happiest of days. Life. It's all happened for us so far within those walls, and letting that go is like closing a chapter on a certain book of my memories.

 

 

But I will say, I think the buildup to leaving was perhaps the hardest. The anticipation. The unknown of saying goodbye.

The goodbye part was of course hard, but with it comes a big wonderful HELLO that we are also dreaming of...so it's all good. We sent the girls to Walla Walla for a week of fun with Grammie, while we packed the old girl up. And after a sweaty day and numerous trips to numerous locations...we were ready. Me and Buggie were the last to leave, and in true Courtney nature I had to leave the place fully cleaned and ready for its next set of memories.

 

Good bye old friend. Thank you for being so, so good to us.

 

 

And as we are speaking of change, let's not forget that a big ol' pre-K graduation that happened...bringing with it a sprinkling of change and a reminder of the big dose that is about to hit us in a months time.

These kiddos. This family. Majority of these kids have been together since they were infants and there is something so incredibly special about that. Every day was easy. Secure. Safe. Nurturing. And I know and I pray and I hope this is what lies ahead on our future path as well with our girl... but this goodbye is perhaps even harder than the house.

Because with the house, those things that made it up- the people, the stuff, the everything- it all comes with me.

This approaching good bye from Fairview is an entirely new path. It's goodbye to the school life we've known and hello to new. It's going to be good, I know it. It's just bittersweet right now. I'm so eternally grateful for the day we made it on the list after much stalking on my part to becoming a part of this community.

 

 

 
 

As I finish up this post and re-read my previous words, I realize something.

The things that make up ALL parts of our life...the people, the stuff, the everything...it ALL comes with us.

In our memories.

I will treasure them always.

The week of Five.

Everyone always says it, but they say it because it's just flat out true...where does the time go? How is it that we have a five year old? Weren't you just doing that hilarious one legged hook crawl thing that had us all in stitches as you were learning to scootch across the floor? Now we are preparing for kindergarten?! Come again?!

But celebrating this big birthday for you sweet girl was such a treat...you were SO excited to turn 5. One hand, all fingers. Big stuff.
We celebrated as we always seem to- with multiple gatherings and parties. We really like stretching out the birthday gatherings in this family it seems.

First up, your actual birthday. The morning started with a tower of donuts and ended with Grammie, Kay Kay, salmon (because "salmon and any other kind of fish except spicy fish" is your favorite), ice cream sandwiches, and a test run on your new bike.

 

 

For your friend party this year I gave you the choice of having an activity at a location of your choosing and being able to invite all your friends, or to have it at the house and just invite your special girlfriends over. You chose to have it at our house. No wavering. I think a part of you knew it would be special to complete your fifth birthday where we've had all your parties at our little house one more time.

Once again, our good luck charm on weather- it was a most gorgeous day, and thankfully not too hot for the kids since it was all outside.

The theme: Fairies. We even had a real life (wink, wink) fairy come to transform you each into individual fairies and perform some magic! Watching you girls with the wonder and amazement in your eyes, was for me the most magical part of it all.



 

 

Her Lily girl.

 

I just saw a Fairy. Right over there. Check it out!

 

 

 

 Lily, Charlotte, Mary Lou and Siena.

 

 

"All you need is faith and trust...and a little pixie dust!"-- Tinkerbell

 

And lastly, your family party at an afternoon Mariner's baseball game. It seemed a good way to round out all the glitter and sparkles from the day before, and one of the things I love so dearly about you my girl. You are a great many things: dressing up in frills one day, and naming each of the players on your favorite team the next.

You were surrounded by family who love you and support you and celebrate everything that makes you YOU. All while sweating profusely on the hottest day of the year so far in our bleacher seats.

Somebody isn't quite as big a fan of the Moose as you are yet...

 

 

I love you so much my big kid. My heart explodes for you.

I am eternally grateful for the day you were born, and I'm so very lucky to be your mama.

 

Happy birthday my love.

xoxo