Flashback Friday

It's Friday-hooray! This picture was taken about two hours after I arrived at my college dorm. My little brother, really was "little" at the time. It's been a rough week for him, and I've really been missing having him close by. I'd love to have hugged him about 40 times this week, but he's over two hours away. [boo!]

I was all smiles while moving into my room and saying good-bye to my family. I was actually THRILLED to be on my own! I was in art school- I'd made it! I couldn't have been happier... until that night. I was suddenly so sad and felt so alone. I was grown, but so much a little child at the same time. I had never really been away from my family before. I'd never attended summer camp, or traveled. It was always us, and suddenly that became just "me". Scary!

I look at this picture and feel such conflicting views. On one hand, I look at the young me and think, You were SO young! I barely remember being that young. Then I think about college and it feels like it was yesterday that we were hanging out, going to parties, and just spending time learning who I was [or wasn't]. It's hard to imagine 11 years has passed since this picture was taken-this spring I will be 30 years old. 30 y-e-a-r-s old! When this picture was taken, the 18 year old me thought I'd never be 30-I'd never be "THAT" old. Ohh how time changes!

Welcome Fall

Welcome Fall-I've been waiting for you! I've been dreaming of scarves, chunky boots, apple cider and the smell of crisp, fallen leaves. I've been waiting to hit the pumpkin patch and watch my babies parade around in silly costumes, crazy for candy. The cool morning breezes, that bring just a hint to the season that follows.

I've been working, working, working in short moments I can spare to get ready for my fall shows. So many less hours in a day to create. I've been joking with friends that my next craft show will just be me, sitting there smiling, holding baby unicorn-not a kunklebaby bib or blanket in sight. It's honestly not that bad, but as much as I said I was trying to get prepared, there are just not enough hours in a day.

I'm so looking forward to the extra joy I feel during autumn. I think I smile a little brighter, feel a little happier and... well, just love the season so much!
Here's to another great fall this year! YAY!

4 months

Four months... so short, but so long at the same time! In four months, it's hard for me to remember our family without you. You have stolen everyone's heart with the sweet smiles you share so freely, and the wonderful sound of your laughter. You seem to be growing so fast, I love watching you change, but also secretly want to keep you tiny somehow-a magic bubble or anti-aging elixir. Keep you my tiny, sweet little babe-so fresh & new. -love-

Reflections

There are so many things I never knew or noticed, until they were gone and I longed for them back. I never knew my kids would sprout up and grow almost over night. That I would look back with longing for the long, sleepless nights with a newborn-just to hold them as a baby one more time. Nuzzling chubby necks, only the two of us existing at the time, while the rest of the world was in a deep slumber.

I never knew to cherish each and every time my children held my hand. I took for granted, their tiny, little fists wrapped in mine. I never knew the pain I would feel the first time they shrugged off my hand or asked to walk "alone".

I never knew that the monotony of each day blending in and out of each other seamlessly, the constant rhythm, of our home, would someday go away. I never knew how much I would miss the boring, idle chatter while doing chores. The peaceful days so alike the last-feeding, changing babes, playing, cleaning. Our summer, flowed right into fall-on and on in the rhythm of our lives together, changing, but also staying so much, the same. Our days are now filled with pick ups, drop off, finding shoes for the 100th time and rushing. Ohhh, the rushing. I never knew how much I would hate the rushing! Predictable & calm, I miss you old friends.

I never knew that I would one day wake up and feel old, wondering when the hell did this happened? Was it not yesterday that I was in high school, college... young? My skin young & supple, now wrinkled with age and signs of babies. I never appreciated being young, not the freedom, my body, anything! I wish I had known.

By looking at all the things I never realized, the things that seemed to pass by all too quick, helps me open my eyes to the things I am likely to miss now. Things that otherwise might seem a nuisance, will one day be looked back on with longing and a sense of love. Someday I will miss seeing my babes at dawn each morning, not grumble like I often do now. When they are away at college, or beyond, I will long to see their faces as I wake to an empty home.

Someday I will miss cooking for my brood, and long for their little "helping" hands in my kitchen. By taking the time to realize that I have so much in my life, makes the day pass happily, a smile cross my face more, and the peace & rhythm-I so long for- to be seen. It's been here all along, just changing and morphing into different patterns.

I am so lucky.

Smile

Smile... it'll be Friday before we know it!

Drumroll please...

Baby {J} is rolling over!! Woo-hoo little guy. These pictures were some of the, ohhh 200 or so I took of his very FIRST time rolling over. I'm a proud mama [as you can see, I wasn't the only one. He had a whole cheering crowd]. He didn't really care, he just REALLY wanted to get that ball. After he managed to roll all the way over and wiggle enough to reach it, Little {L} swiftly snatched it away. -sigh- little boys.

{this Moment}

{it's been a long week here at the Kunklebaby household. Enjoying the small things-this happy moment captured in time}

{A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -amanda blake soule-}

September Giveaway

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winner update-yay! Comment #2-Andrea Creates! Congrats. Uprinting will be contacting you soon with instructions to claim your prize.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our September Giveaway is here! YAY! Hosted by Uprinting, this month you have a chance to win:

-250 Die Cut Business Cards for One (1) Winner
2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)
-Die cutting options available: Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded One-Corner, Half-Circle Side, Circle
-Paper Type: 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Matte, or High Gloss; 13pt Cardstock Uncoated
-Color: 4Color Front, Blank Back; 4Color Front, Black Back; 4Color Both Sides
-Limited to US residents only 18 years old and above.

Designer Cards, blogger cards and so much more… From marketing materials to personal cards, business cards have developed from the plain boring to a more modern and rounded corners, square cards and slim cards. Here's your chance to win die cut business cards prints!
Check out UPrinting's cool business cards

Please follow my blog & comment on this post to be entered to win. Please remember to INCLUDE an email address, so you can be contacted if you have won. If you blog, twitter or facebook about the giveaway, you will get an extra entry [please leave an additional comment for each]. One winner will be chosen on September 22th. Winner will be contaced by email with prize code, on or before the end of the month. Good Luck!


-Kunklebaby will also be receiving the prize of 250 die cut cards, for hosting this giveaway-

{this moment}

{after a long first week of school}

A day of homeschooling

Our day of learning included some singing, dancing, playing with ducks, playing with friends, honking swans and a cute baby [haha]. Mr. {D} has started his second year of homeschooling. We are currently studying habitats, specifically forest animals. A trip to the zoo was in order to see a few of these animals first hand. Did you know a timber wolf [averaging 175 pounds] is more than twice the size of the smaller Mexican Wolves?

I love the freedom to learn "how" we want with homeschooling. I just finished a whole lesson plan for a year with a focus of photography for {D}. He would never have been able to take photography lessons in first grade in a traditional school. It allows him to flourish, be creative and incorporate letters, text, reading, science, art & design all at the same time. Lots of fun projects in the works-so perfect for him. So be prepared to see a few of his pics throughout the next year.

The only little hitch with homeschooling this year, is having Miss {M} enrolled in a traditional elementary school. We lose 1.5 hours a day to travel. In the car, outta the car, to pick up and drop off with 4 kids takes quite a bit of time [and a few meltdown from our resident toddler]. -sigh- Just the lunch making and shoe finding in the morning is exhausting. I'm tired and it's day 3...4? Of well, I guess it will work itself into a rhythm over time. I'm just excited to still share my day with my oldest son. A piece of my heart leaves every morning with my daughter, as she bounces into her school. I don't think it gets easier, you just get used to it.

September

Welcome September! I'm so excited for cooler nights & mornings, the promise of fall with all it's wonderful colors and weather [ohh how I love you fall!]. Lots of laughter from the children. Hoping we find a rhythm for our new [somewhat chaotic] school schedules. Another month getting to know the new baby. Health & Happiness.

What are you looking forward to this months?