finding magic in nothing

this summer has been so hot!  and  beautiful.  the days are flying by and i can't believe that august is right around the corner.  we have a couple of mini escapes planned----one to portsmouth (and various coastal favorite spots) this weekend, and then a trip to watertown, NY and ithaca, NY in two weeks.  john has five days off this week, and then almost twelve days off at the beginning of august.  which is such a blessing, because he's been working so much, and away lots of nights during the week. i have lots of little people keeping me company----my three kids, their friends in and out, neighbors and friends over almost every day----but there's something about having johnny home that just makes life better.

what every day looks like around here....

i'm heading out of the first trimester, and feeling my energy return.  although, i've felt pretty fantastic all along.  i'm still in awe of the whole process---and how i expected things to be physically difficult, and then getting cut such a break from the universe.  i feel fantastic.  i'm sporting a basketball tummy and pretty much live in my bathing suit, and just periodically dip myself in the pool to cool off.  it's been too hot to cook, which has been a fantastic excuse to make everyone eat cereal for dinner, or to get takeout (yay, takeout!). 

(this was a couple of weeks ago.  i'm much more basketball-y now)

my car is filled with wet, sandy towels and beach chairs.  our deck is strewn with discarded clothes.  we all sleep together every night in my air conditioned bedroom (it broke last night though...plan B?).  we go to the beach every day, meet up with friends, share granola bars and cherries.  we rent movies and eat nachos and i wear john's underwear around like shorts.  i get stacks of teen magazines from the library and we all lay around and read them and gossip about justin beiber.  nothing major ever happens, but i'm hoping the magic is in the little moments for the kids.  because that's where i find my magic.  in the everyday moments, just being together.

strawberry and cherry picking!

town beach swim lessons girl!

first ice cream/go kart/batting cages trip this summer

district champions!  go windham wildcats! (we've spent LOTS of time on the field this summer...)

clean!

if any of my connections out there are interested in signing up for this amazing class 'clean' by makenna johnston, you can use my affiliate code NINA5 to get an additional $5 off.  today is the last day for the $65 pricing, so act fast!  you won't be disappointed.  i can't wait to expand my knowledge of holistic living!

lazy days of summer

the long, lazy days of summer are here at last.  we start the mornings with breakfast on the deck in the sun, and the kids are usually naked.  sometimes i look around and wonder if i'm running some sort of nudist camp.  we took the leap and got a pool, so the kids are in and out of it constantly, their skin sun kissed (especially gray).  our awesome neighbors also gifted us with a well loved playset (the kids call it "the playground".)  the days are long and loud, filled with love and LOTS of sibling rivalry and fighting.  i am learning to take a deep breath.  it is a constant struggle----trying not to just spend the day yelling, even when everyone is at their worst.  i need to take some quiet time every day to lie down.  i have been devouring trashy beachy summer reads.  i can't get enough.  i think i've read about 8 or 9 in the past two weeks.

i am about 8.5 weeks pregnant with twins for an amazing couple.  i feel so good so far, freakishly so.  with my other pregnancies, i was very nauseous and got sick many times throughout the day.  with this pregnancy, i haven't gotten sick once.  it's so bizarre, and a little gift from the universe.  my cravings change all the time----in the beginning it was white toast.  then avocado on toast with lime juice and hot peppers.  and of course there were the subway veggie subs with extra banana peppers.  the york peppermint patties.  the frozen kashi meals.  the salads.  sushi.  saltines with apricot jam and sharp cheddar cheese. gatorade.  seltzer water.    pineapple and coconut popsicles.  i could go on and on but i will spare you.

there are parties, and playdates, and days on the beach.  there are rainy days where i force the kids to read chapter books and they hate me.  today we spent the morning picking strawberries and cherries in a dewy field.  there are bags of lays potato chips to be eaten, fireworks to watch, sandwiches to pack for tournaments in the sun.  this weekend we will celebrate our 12 year wedding anniversary and go out to a nice dinner in the city.  i will shove a gatorade in my purse, just in case.  i love summer so much, i can't even tell you.   what i love most is having all my people around me, close, even when they are driving me b.a.n.a.n.a.s.

hope your summer rocks.  xoxo

squam eye candy

i am so lucky to be able to travel up to squam and immerse myself in all the beauty it has to offer, sometimes twice a year.  this year i went up with mindy and helped elizabeth out with registration and a VIP party, but also had some time to sit on the dock for some real talk and a nice deep breath.  i am grateful to my family for watching my children and my dog.  i am grateful that i live in such a beautiful state that nourishes me in the most primal of ways.

trees.

water.

sun.

life.

love.

i really needed that recharge.  badly!