yesterday we met up with our good friends, the mcgarveys for a day of playing outside and political discussion and club penguin and burritos.

we all gathered our bathing suits and towels (hoping that maybe it would warm enough to hit up the beach-it sorrily did not), some presents from thailand, and jumped into the car.

i slide in and mckenna tells me:

“mom! uniqua is safe in her seatbelt like MEEEEEE!!!” so full of herself and proud as can be of her trick, it made me want to burst. ‘pretending’ isnt something kenna knows how to do naturally, so when she does, it is celebrated. for her to be thinking of uniqua as a person or relating to her as a friend that is just like her and would need a seatbelt is AWESOME.

after a nice afternoon containing what was listed above, they took us to “crawdad park” the famous crawdad park! the one the boys talk about and want to go to ALL. THE. TIME.

where lisa and i sat and waited for someone to fall in.

this beautiful boy of mine! this face takes my breath away.

when suddenly, all at the same exact time, mckenna, seamus, AND uniqua fell into the murky depths. luckily they all had good attitudes about it, even uniqua, who had to get fished out with a crawdad net. mckenna watched, worried, until drew had her safe. she took her into her arms and cooed, “its okay uniqua, we will get you a towel so you can get all dry and warm. its okay, dont worry uniqua.” which is what i would have been saying to mckenna if she hadnt been distracted. (and she knew it, has heard it so many times before, that she quoted me easily.)

since pink stuffed animals were the only things getting caught in our nets, we took off to another park with a creek.

and when i took mckenna to the bathroom, my eye caught on something and i photographed it. as we walked back up the hill to where everyone else was, i saw a dripping soggy anna trying not to cry as she climbed up to get me, and i couldnt help but laugh in my head as she politely allowed me to take a photo of her so i could make this.

i love how her bangles match her discarded net.

and a beautiful face.

who i am so proud of today for everything she did for all of us in thailand. she worked, it, OUT! like a total rockstar.

who i am blessed to have in my life.

who makes me laugh and who hugs me and tells me everything will be okay when i cry.

who makes me want to be a better person.

who is having a rough week getting back into the swing of things.

and who i want to make smile.

have a better day today my muse, my friend, my love.

xo

(this was the sisterhood of the traveling dress. i purchased two of these dresses in bangkok, and they were used by almost everyone during their individual photo shoots. my favorite purchases from the trip. the perfect “i feel sexy and relaxed on the beach in thailand” dress.)