Summer has and hasn't ended. Holly's been in school for one week, but the weather is still summery and warm. I'm full of emotion over the close of this summer season, not only because summer has ended, but it's also the close of a season of life. How I've enjoyed these last 5 years of mothering, of being at home with my children and my children at home with me. If only it had no end... But here we are. Holly has begun her school years and so we now have early mornings, and life revolves around a schedule that a system has set for me rather than my own, likely for the next two decades. How short those 5 years were!

I should be reflecting on the positive. This summer has been beautiful, even if I didn't do as much as I'd hope. We made some splendid memories and had sweet moments. My daughters played endlessly with each other and we went on an amazing vacation.

I'm torn between not wanting this season - summer and my babies being at home with me - to end, and wanting to stay in bed for a week and cry because school is my reality.

I'm so grateful I have these beautiful memories to cherish (if only I could remember more) and photographs to adore.

I love being a mother.

We're in the last half of our San Diego trip and we're having the best time. I was nervous about being here for so long (9 nights), but we're definitely in no hurry to get home. We're so enjoying our leisurely family time! I've taken LOTS of photos as per usual. Here's a few of my daughters ready to leave for their beach time. Oh these girls. This vacation has been so special - I want to get started right away on planning another one!

This was a fun day! The girls had so much fun playing with their friends and we explored the rocky tide pools and found a ton of crabs and anemones. Holly was thrilled about the wild touch pools. Visits to the aquarium has given her a lot of experience and confidence. It was a wonderful day!

My girls are really into sparkly lips. Fairly regularly I find them with lip color thickly and generously applied to the point of looking clownish and yet they feel on top of the world, fancier than ever. Greta is especially fond of the stuff and I've heard her boasting, "my mom has two lip chaps!" Oh darling, if you only knew how many the average woman truly has...

Just a fun afternoon with a friend...