Joining the fabulous Lisa Leonard for another Hello Monday series.
You should play along.
***
Hello Monday.
Hello sandy beaches,
salty breezes,
sea shell hunts,
a smiley baby
and a seal that nearly swam up to shore.
Hello to a stop at the strawberry truck on the way home,
and tuckered-out bedtimes before 7:00 (for the boys).
Hello to leaving BOTH boys with a babysitter (that wasn’t family) for the very first time…
and a pat on the back to Mom and Dad for letting go of our anxiety once we arrived at the restaurant.
Me: I don’t think the boys are ready for this Ben…Do we go back?
Ben: We have to do this Lee. It’s time.
And with that, we put on our big kid britches, and enjoyed an evening amongst adults.
Hello to time alone with my special someone.
Time to reconnect.
To hold hands.
And open car doors.
And kiss on the front doorstep before returning to real life.
Hello to dating your husband again.
Hello to children who make you so happy that it suddenly becomes perfectly obvious what your purpose is in this life.
Hello to simple moments, small victories and baby steps in the right direction.
Hello to seeing kindness and compassion understood and reflected in your 3 year olds eyes and in his smile,
and simultaneously feeling your heart melt all over the floor.
Hello to watching old friends,
friends from the past,
from high school,
friends that haven’t been seen in over a decade…
Hello to watching them embrace and connect with my children,
and hello to the unexpected, surreal and overwhelming emotion that filled my heart as I watched this happen.
Hello to a new week.
A new Monday.
A new opportunity.
Another chance to say, “Today I’ll start jogging again”…
And perhaps I’ll actually follow through this time.
What are you saying hello to this week?
Three things. Ready go…
lucy at dear beautiful
I need some alone time with my special someone… so badly. But my milk monster baby daughter has been making that a bit tricky. But now she’s finally in a proper nighttime routine, maybe it’s time we booked a sitter.
Beautiful photos. They definitely cheered up my Monday. x
Pidg
Oh my goodness you guys look so happy and wonderful. Woo hoo for dating your husband again!
Mique
Hello to your cute family! Sounds like the perfect weekend to me. The beach and strawberry trucks? My favorite. And three cheers for a non-family babysitter!! I KNOW how hard that is. So happy you got to go out and that it was a success. This week I’m saying hello to my laundry (again), Queen Bee and hopefully YOU! xo
Lisa
Lovely post and beautiful pictures. It is so hard to leave the kiddos for the first time, but it’s the best thing for a marriage.
Andrea
3 things? I plan on stressing because of the hours i’m working. But my goal is to go swimming for the first time this year (we are hitting triple digits here soon), make a nice dinner, and organize our disaster of a bedroom!
Andrea
andreanjace.blogspot.com
Tracy
This is such a beautiful idea. The pics, as usually, are beautiful.
Sabrina
Hello to my restless baby girl who is teething
Hello puffy eyes caused by sleepless nights
Hello gratitute for my beautiful Penelope
😀
Antonette
I’d like to know how your get your husband to take such good pics of you?! Do you tell him how to do it? My husband is that worst at taking pictures.
Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke
wow, you’ve never left your kids with someone other than family? That’s amazing…I guess your mom is pretty close so you haven’t had to, but way to make a big step!
Amanda
Wow — what I wouldn’t give to live there! It looks absolutely gorgeous. And your pictures are gorgeous as well.
I had never heard of “Hello Monday” posts, but I liked yours so much, I linked back to the original and decided to create my own. So thanks for the inspiration!!
And I feel your pain about leaving your kiddos. Mine have only been with non-family members once.
Have a great day!
Amy
I love this post. I know exactly how you feel. It is hard to let others watch your babies in order to enjoy a proper date but I guess we just have to let go sometimes. I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay with it. This week I am focusing on resting and enjoying the end of my pregnancy and the beginning of a new chapter in my life… Our second daughter is due in June. I have such a hard time slowing down but I know that is what I need. Love your blog!
Erna
Such a beautiful post. Exactly what I needed to read and smile over after saying hello to the man at the box shop this morning!
I’m saying hello to boxes and the daunting task of packing up my whole life in Singapore and do my 3rd international move in 2 years. But at the same time I’m saying “hello again” to all my good friends in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. At the time of saying good bye to friends here in Singapore I say “see ya in the Penh”. I say hello to new opportunities to follow my dreams and hello to new dreams and hopes I didn’t even knew I could have.
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