We got (or should I say, I got) a wild hair yesterday to break out the curlers and go to town on Juliet’s hair. Some how, some way, this busy body managed to quiet her bustling behavior long enough to roll her entire head. She didn’t however, keep them in long enough to achieve a very curly look. I’m just thrilled she even has enough hair to put in curlers, as I was practically still bald at her age. She loves playing with these curlers while I’m getting ready and they are an excellent diversion from her usual antics of dismantling the bathroom supply closet or sneaking next door to my office to “surf the web” … aka… move some files, clean up the desktop, delete a few programs. When I need a few moments to get myself together, I pull these suckers out and buy myself at least 5-10 minutes. This was practice for Halloween when she’ll dress up as Little Red Riding Hood. Hope to grab some photos of the kids tonight to share soon.

As challenging and unpredictable as running your own business can be, there are definitely fringe benefits that make it worth the effort. It’s certainly a blessing to have days like this where both Jason and I can leave our work behind in the middle of the afternoon to spend time like this with our kids. This is us, blowing off an afternoon last week to hit the Whitney fountains and cool down from the heat wave. Menacing dark clouds moved right on in, pushing the sun out of our fun. Regardless, it’s just so refreshing to know that we can take moments like this, rain or shine.

The skies turned ominous, yet gorgeous with its deep pockets of steel-blue-gray. I adore moody dark clouds right before a storm hits.

And because it is such a topic around our house, I had to get some shots of Aiden’s blonde locks. We joke all the time about how jealous his dad is over his thick, curly hair. It’s been a challenge to keep growing it out, but he is finally past that awkward stage and now just needs a slight shaping at the hairdresser. I find myself sliding my fingers across his forehead 30 times a day, sweeping the hair out of his eyes while thinking to myself, “how did I get such a beautiful boy?”

And now the unfortunate funny of the evening… Tonight while Jason and I were chatting downstairs, Juliet was upstairs, left to her own devices. It suddenly dawned on us that the house was a bit too quiet. Anyone who has ever had a child knows that there’s always trouble lurking when the house is quiet and the kids are out of sight. Such was the case tonight. I hear Jason, as he reaches the top of the stairs, “Oh, Ju-ji! What have you done? Baby, NO, that’s not lotion…. oh, you’ve rubbed it all over your body… your arms and legs and hair. Honey, that’s shampoo.”

SHAMPOO?! An entire bottle of 2-1 shampoo had been emptied all over her body, the hall carpet and her bedroom carpet. ERRRR. I’ve been wanting to shampoo the carpets, she just beat me to it. Lots of rinsing. No repeating.

Blessings abound because of the silly, comic relief that this one brings into my life everyday. And when he’s not being silly, he is simply beautiful.

My kids are away for the weekend, the house is eerily quiet and I’m thankful for peaceful moments to reflect on the blessings that this little man brings into my life. And let me tell you, I find it much easier to appreciate my children when they are gone for a few days. Here’s to a rejuvenating and peaceful weekend… kid free.

Still. Calm. Quiet. Precious. I am blessed for moments like this frozen in time. Forever small – forever mine. Innocence captured.

This is the first post in a new category I’m calling “blessings.” It’s become clear to me lately that I need to make a concerted effort to be present, thankful, reflect, show gratitude and give more focus to the little things all around me that are wonderful…. no matter how seemingly insignificant or simple they may be. There are the big things of course, like my kids and my husband. Then there are the little things that surpass the obvious… the incidentals – like the inconceivable depth of Aiden’s blue eyes that melt me in an instant. Or, my husband filling my water jug each night, bringing it down to my office where I’m working, kissing my forehead and saying to me night after night, “don’t stay up too late.” Simple. Dependable. Comforting. So, here’s to blessing no. 518 and to many more yet to be unearthed.