~An Acadia Family Photoshoot~

 

Summer Afternoons

There is nothing I love more than our summer afternoons. Just me and my girls. I didn't realize when I was a young mama that the rhythms and celebrations I put in place would be not only some of our most special memories, but our anchors. 

It is difficult to put into words how these simple things are "just us" but they are. Things like: 

1. How after lunch while we are still in the kitchen was have our "Girls Club". 

It is a set-aside, special time. We've read through, talked through, discussed, several different books and topics. This year We are working though "Grace, Not Perfection".  It is such a wonderful time to nurture their faith as well as reaffirm my ideals. 

2. After our "girls club" is always "read on the couch". It started out years ago with Abigail in her crib for her afternoon nap, and toddler Anna with a pile of picture books "reading" to herself on a little fort made of blankets on my bedroom floor. I chose to not read to Anna at this time but for her to see herself as reader and to see mama reading her own book. After all of these years this is still such a treasured time. 

3. Sometimes afternoons you'll find us on a quick stop to Whole Foods for an ingredient and we often pop into the library for new inspiration. Or maybe our afternoons will be sorting or organizing. Even a girls movie might be in our plan. But we sure do love our summer afternoons. 

Testing and Sleeping

Back in this post I started shared how Abigail is undergoing some testing this summer due to lack of growth. She is fourteen and less than zero % on the growth chart. We've been monitoring this her whole life. There are issues possibly related to EoE and her eating issues but not for sure. She's monitored by specialists. This summer her endocrinologist decided to have further testing done with the possibility growth hormones. This is an extremely complicated issue and we are taking it one step at a time. Todays step: four hour test in the infusion center to monitor her growth hormones. She did amazingly well and I'm so proud of her. But she is so tired from this ordeal today (followed by a regular dr appointment)

It started off cozy and relaxing. She drew on her ipad and I read... 

I am loving this book so very much and am in a zoom book club every Thursday night. 

The medications given mimicked sleep so that they could monitor her hormones. They drew blood (from the IV) every 30 minutes. She fought sleep and mid drawing she would fall asleep, wake up, and fall asleep again. 

Until finally she couldn't fight it anymore and was in a deep sleep until it was over. 

Even when she came home - a few hours asleep on the couch. 

We are all looking forward to the answers this long test will provide as well as direction for the next steps. 

Old-Fashioned Summer

A wholesome, sweet, old fashioned summer is what I want. Decorated with jars of jelly, baskets, this shiplap Scott made me and a 'children on the farm' canvas I had made from a Tasha Tudor book. Light, happy, and sweet... a calling back to the good old days of summertime.  But first musica! 

This room is actually painted a very light green. It's the perfect color when the bright sunlight shines in those windows each afternoon, and it's the perfect color when it's time for decorating for Christmas. 

Our little yellow bird lives in here - there are actually lots of wonderful sounds in this room. The viola, the birdsong... it's a wonderful place to be. 

I bought a print and had it made into a canvas. I love Tasha Tudor's art and wanted this sweet scene of children on a farm for a light, happy look this summer. 

Throughout the room lots of pastels and treasures from the antique store and flea markets that I find throughout the year. 

A few of my favorite books are in here as well. 

Here's the link to my instagram - under the highlights circles there is a quick little room tour under "summer"