I was reading a book today about an island town in Washington state that has golden and beautiful Septembers, as if to make up for the rainy rest of the year. Could I do that? Have such strikingly beautiful early autumns even at the expense of every other season?
I couldn’t.
I’d spend the whole month thinking that time is going too fast, and then you know what? It would be over. Onto 11 months of cold rain or snow. Luckily I live in New England and we do get 6-9 months of solid good weather, factoring in strange tornados and October blizzards and the occasional two weeks of rain. It comes back around. Summer always arrives, whether late to the party or not.
I’m trying not to panic that it will inevitably end in two months. Through humidity and bugs, I still hold onto so much.
I could panic about how summer will end and my children won’t always be so young and I won’t always have such energy and my husband might not always be as youthful and hot as he is now, and my hair might go gray and my metabolism might slow and my kids may get acne and foul attitudes and maybe, maybe, maybe. Inevitable tides of change. Summer finds its way back to us.
Celebrations do too.
Des had his first wedding last month. Scarlet was lucky enough to be a flower girl once at my sister’s wedding and she watched Cassidy marry his two friends in wine country when she was a baby. This summer, we were invited to two weddings that not only allowed kids, they welcomed them. For the first wedding we chose to leave the kids with my sister. For the second wedding, we decided to take them. Scarlet was entranced and kept asking us to “kiss me how brides and grooms kiss.” (yikes!) And Des?
He was just Des. Although there’s no “just” there. Des was wonderfully Des.
(Those are bubbles in the top right corner)
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And Scarlet? She thought it was just like a fairy tale. So she wore her “Alice” dress.
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We had a lot of fun with friends.
He’s actually two months older than her, and he’s taller. He’s sitting in a ditch and she’s sitting on a little bump.
One day I’ll sob about how he’s taller than me and Scarlet’s too far away, but for right now – I’m going to enjoy this summer of their childhoods – these sunny smiles and sparkly eyes and glowing hair and growth, growth, growth. The moments. It’s all a big game of peek-a-boo sometimes. Every new trick and saying. Every childlike mispronunciation of a word. The cuddles. The mood swings.
Peek-a-boo. Now you see it. Now you don’t. There’s always a new season around the corner. I find such comfort in that.
BEAUTIFUL pics! My oldest is going to be a flower girl in a wedding next month, and I can't wait. Want to come along and take pics?!
I sure hope you show these to the bride and groom! My kids have not attended a wedding…yet…we always find someplace to stash them! I love that scarlet was entranced by the kiss. I would be too! LOL
Oh I have shown them! Now I'm working on the ones of the actual bride and groom. Perhaps I'll share them as well!
Oh, these pictures are SO great!! You really capture the moments and their personalities!! Yes, before you know it he'll be taller than you. I know. Bobby is now 4 1/2 inches taller than I am, and his feet are much bigger than mine. How did that happen?! –Lisa
Oh man – how did that happen? I'm four inches taller than my mom. After 14 years of being a peanut, I think that was rather surprising for her!
Gorgeous pictures! My kids love weddings. I'm always sad when we are invited to "adult only weddings" because I know my kids will be sad to miss the fun. I get why many don't want children there, but I have to say, children can be the life of the party!
I agree! We had children at ours. Many chose to leave them at home so they could party more. Others brought 'em. It was fun either way!
Kids are the best thing to capture in photos at weddings!
I always thought so! Too bad no dance floor at this one.
You forgot to say that Des was dressed as Dr. Who! I adore Scarlet's stripes beneath her dress, it is just SO HER. xo
haha..I didn't even notice. I never do anymore! And yes, Des is kinda Doctor Who and kinda his own thing.
I love all of these pictures!! You are so right – enjoy this season now because my oldest (14) is the tallest in the family and the 12 year old is fixing to pass me! I love my life now but do occasionally miss those days when they were little and cuddly!!
I can understand that! I do panic about it but I imagine it will have some great parts too. Like..maybe I'll be able to write and edit photos for more than a half hour at a time!
What beautiful pictures as usual. I love that one with Des falling asleep in his stroller too cute. We haven't been to a wedding as yet and I can just imagine what that experience would be like with a toddler who doesn't know how to be still. 🙂 Enjoy the season and your beautiful kids.
I hear you! We took Scarlet to a wedding when she as 14 months. It wasn't kid-friendly so much but since my husband was the minister of the wedding..we took her. She was awesome during the ceremony. She did yell, "Dada!" which was cute. I had like four boxes of kid snacks. That helped.
I love how Des found his own comfort spot! He's like feet up, slouch down, now I'm chillin'! LOLSuch a cute group of kiddos!And my dear sweet Scarlet…..she has the BEST sense of style! I LOVE the freedom that you give her to make choices. As always, your pics have made me smile!
Thank you! And yes, he's the king of slouch! The king of comfort!
That is what I am discovering as my children grow, too. Even though we leave one moment, one stage behind, there is another one waiting around the corner with its own joys and challenges. There is never a dull moment. So I try to enjoy each one as it comes, for a new one will come along soon. 🙂
Exactly. It's an endless circus of wonder.
My kids will go to their first wedding in September, and although I think they are good looking kids, they are no longer squeezably adorable like yours. Watch out, Tamara – your little man has got the moves already!
hahaha – he totally does!! And yours are still adorable, even if they don't let you squeeze them all day like Des still lets me..for now.
Dez is so precious in his little suit! You're right about summer and time whisking away. I'm already thinking about fall and the holidays. Time for me to enjoy today and let tomorrow come when it comes. The kiddos are adorable!
Thanks! It was actually a suit we bought for a sci-fi convention months ago and it was even more huge then. We're such nerds!
JDaniel went to the nursery offered at his first wedding. It was in the evening and he was a little fussy. He loved dancing at the reception. I love your photos. It looks like the wedding was a lot of fun.
We had a nursery offered at the other wedding they were invited to, but since they were with my sister we didn't take them up on it. He looked fun, though!
My friend lives in Port Townsend, Washington, a hippie town. Is it the one?And, I always hate a season to end, even winter but what you say is so true and so nice…there's always a new season around the corner.And, change is good!
I think it's fictional but based on a real island! I can't remember the name. Bainbridge, maybe?
Des is beautiful and Reagan is the same way with all the other kids. She looks like she is four when she's only two and just towers over everyone.Enjoy the two summer months you have left mama..¤´¨) ¸.•*´ (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxoRaising-Reagan.com
Thanks, Mama – you two! And yes, now that you mention it Reagan does look older than two!
So much cuteness! My oldest used to stick her feet up out of the stroller just like Des is doing. I had forgotten about that until I saw your pictures!
Aw, I'm glad you now remember! It's one of his many signature moves. The King of Comfort.
Such gorgeous photos and post! I love that Scarlet wore her Alice dress. And Des? Such a cutie. You're right though – it is peek-a-boo and then another season is upon us. It catches me off guard sometimes but I also wouldn't have it any other way. I mean, one season all year? Don't think that I could handle it. Except if it was in Hawaii. Then I might reconsider 🙂
Oh yeah – Hawaii? I make all exceptions.Thanks for the compliments!
So funny that she was rooting for a kiss from the two of you! I'm glad you took them. Personally, I like including children. Family is everything to me and I wouldn't want to exclude the kiddos when they bring me so much joy in my daily life.
I agree. It's a tough call. With our wedding we made it open to children but many people left them with sitters because they wanted to party all night. Some had the kids there for part of the evening. It worked out well, I think!
Oh, that happy/sad toggle of trying not to rush time but trying not to hold on too tight to each moment either. I feel this every day! I wouldn't even rush winter – and I'm not too fond of it. Because despite the cold and the snow, I'll blink my eyes and it will be gone and all of the great things we did despite the awful weather will be gone too. This looks like it was the most delightful day.
I totally hear you. The first winter I ever tolerated well was the first winter I had Scarlet. She was just a baby – I wanted to freeze every second.
These pictures are just too precious for words. I'm trying to soak in this summer as best I can. Today's my oldest son's 8th birthday. How time flies. But I'm enjoying it.
Happy Birthday to your son! 8 is great!
You captured so much joy here–what a fun day! Sweet pictures–I love how you capture the feelings. There's so much around every corner, isn't there? You will be delighting in these kids forever.
Thank you so much! It was a day I wanted to remember forever – luckily these photos will always be around, I hope!
Awwwww, your son looks so cute in his bow tie! I love seeing all the kids at weddings. Love how you are capturing to slow down time just a little bit….
Thank you – it was some cheap bow tie for a sci-fi convention! I like it on him, though.
The pics are beautiful! I love fall and spring. I don't like cold and I don't like hot. I love a happy medium that I rarely get!
Oh, I'm so the same way. I loved living in San Francisco because it was always warm or cool. Never ever hot or freezing!
I do! That sounds divine. My oldest was a flower girl at 15 months old but she wasn't very into it and she happened to be sick at the time.
These pictures are like a glass full of sunshine. I agree, let's just enjoy this summer, this season. <3
Amen! And that day…so beautiful. It wasn't hot or humid yet here. Just a perfect late spring/early summer day.
I LOVE the bowtie! It's the cutest.
Thanks! Bowties are cool.
Know what I love about you? Well, aside from the great writing and awesome photos … it's that you can miss the fleeting season, but embrace the season you're in as a mom. That's important. Otherwise, you miss things. Like, a ton of things.(It helps to take awesome photos).
Your comments just get better and better! Yes, I totally likened the weather/time to seasons of childhood. Stormy times. Sunny times. All times.And I'd rather not miss things..
These are such gorgeous pics! Has the bride seen them? She is going to love them! I love summer and I want to enjoy it as much as I can!
Awww he is so cute! These are great photos as usual 🙂
thank you for reminding me to be eternally grateful to live in southern california, where i never have to panic about summer ending 😉 (although i do tend to get a little melancholy in december/january when the days are just WAY too short)great pics, as always. love both kids' wedding attire selections!
Oh, I love the picture of him that looks like he has fallen asleep! Absolutely so precious! Time just goes so fast doesn't it. The bow tie is adorable. Thanks for stopping by The Sticky Mom as well.
Des is such a cutie patootie! I love the way he was sitting in his stroller with his legs cocked up!