Cartwheeling into this week with some Monday Enjoying the Small Things. And so I don’t have to type Enjoying the Small Things so many times, I’ve created some alias phrases, categorized into different levels of enthusiasm so everyone finds their thang.
High
Ride a Unicorn
Throw Some Glitter On It
Find a Rainbow
Medium
Paint the Town Yellow
Kick a Skip in Your Step
Hum a Happy Ditty
Low
Smile
Lower
Frown with Kind Eyes
See, somethin’ for everyone. Not every cloud shape needs to be perceived as Care Bears jumping rope. Simply smiling is an option.
Today, I’m enjoying:
The fact that Nella was walking around my bedroom this morning, rattling off her favorite words–Daddy, Lala, Latte. I didn’t realize she had my phone until I heard Siri robotically reply, “I don’t know what you mean. If you like, I can search the web for Daddy Lala K.”
Enjoying…
Ballet Class
Lainey wanted to play ballet class this weekend. “I’m Miss Blair and Nella’s my student,” she said. She insisted on “high high buns” for both of them–“with no bumps.” And classical music. And legwarmers. And for Nella to do whatever she said. The last one went well for a little while.
There was a lot of instruction on the point, flex thing. Sister is serious about her students getting it right.
But then Sister started getting a ‘lil bossy. And Nella has no time for bossy.
And when Nella doesn’t like bossy, she clearly lets you know “I’m not listening.”
The response was disastrous. Game over.
It was precious while it lasted.
Pickle Party
Apparently they made up because twenty minutes after The Fall of Ballet Class, I found them in a box with a jar of pickles. Lainey: “We’re having a pickle party, Mom.”
Cool.
Boys Who Smile in Their Sleep
Smiling would normally be categorized under “low” for Enjoying the Small Things, but while you’re sleeping? That’s got to be a medium. I’d love to know what he was dreaming about.
Esther Williams in Training
Canon balls. Lots of them this weekend.
Little Music Maker
He figured out how to add to the music around here.
Oh, and babies who shake maracas? Pretty sure that’s a “high.” Okay medium, but if I catch his rhythm matches “Proud Mary,” I’m calling it a high.
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.
Sisters Holding Hands
Everywhere and always. Except when things get bossy.
Ice Cream Reflections
She was mesmorized.
Babies in Sun Streaks
The perfect combination of warm and happy and peaceful.
The Dog Whisperer
They get each other.
And a favorite moment this weekend:
I was editing some photos while Lainey and Nella stood behind my desk watching. One of the ballet photos popped up, and Lainey said, “Mom, tell Nella what you tell me when you see a picture of me.”
For a second I forgot. “I don’t remember. What do you mean?” I asked.
“You know, that special thing you say about wishing I was yours. Do it for Nella.”
I smiled as I remembered. “Oh, you mean like this.” I put Nella on my lap and pointed to her little body on the screen. “Oh, look at that precious little girl! I sure do wish I had a daughter just like her.”
Eager to respond, Lainey smiled and jumped in on cue. “You do, Mom. She is yours.”
“Really? She is?! Wow. I feel so lucky.”
Happy Monday. Paint the town yellow.
Nella cracks me up! Love the picture of her funny face while getting stretched. LOL
This is such a precious post as usual. I love the way you capture your children’s sweet innocence and their happy little worlds. I want to have a pickle part in the box and watch care bears jumping rope:) Happy Monday!
love. love. love. and that photo of Dash smiling in his sleep. priceless. thanks for the monday happy!
Nice work on those high, high buns, mama. And those baby lips – I just can’t take it.
GORGEOUS! That picture of Dash’s little face?! His lips slay me!
This post made me smile when I didn’t think I had anything to smile about…thank you!
These are such adorable pictures! I love the little flower shower cap, so cute!
xoxo
Petchie
http://psblogbook.blogspot.com/
Great pics!!! I love how I can picture that all going down with the ballet. Awesome weekend!
I have been following along for quite awhile now.
Had to post a comment. Cannot even believe how tall Lainey is getting. Your babies are the cutest and your pics are amazing.
Thanks for sharing!
you have gorgeous children and those pics are so beyons sweet! I have one child, and always think of adding another… maybe its time to take that leap of faith!
Hello, I read your blog all the time but rarely comment. However I just want to say what a sweet and lovely post this is. Your children are adorable and these photos In particular are just soooo precious. Oh, and I always love your beach pics. Always!!
Yes! Throw some glitter on it!
Smiled the whole way through and really did lol @ Nella’s feet off the floor.
This is so great. So are you and I just want to squeeze your cheeks off!
My brain was in a heavy place. Seriously, I just wrote about it, and now? Smiles.
Thanks, Boo.
This is such a great post!
Great pics….I love the ballet class.
Love it all! That was a wonderful way to kick off my morning commute. Thank you!
As always – a post full of precious thoughts and spectacular captures of even more precious kids! I love the ‘pickle party’ and the ‘ballet lessons’ – and your handsome little Dash…….baby smiles during baby dreams are just the best!
Thankyou for making my Monday morning……..Rosemary
Simply beautiful.
I was just reading this post with my 7 year old looking over my shoulder. She would like to know if we could come over for a visit? lol!
I don’t know if it is my pregnancy hormones or what, but that last bit you shared, about Lainey wanting you to tell Nella “that special thing you tell me” had me in tears this morning. So special. Thank you for sharing bits of your life with us!
I looove these pictures!!! Nella and ballet and not wanting to be bossed hahaha – oh I love when my kids have a fit – that’s when I see their passion. Pickle Party!!!!
Literally laughed out loud at the ballet pictures. Priceless.
Love, love, love the photos. To quote my mom your postings “are like pralines, I just get such a joy” out of reading them “and always crave for more”
You always capture such amazing moments, but today…you, well, you did good mama. Nella’s goofy face after Lainey got a little bossy…my favorite. You guys are sucking the marrow out of summer alright. Thanks for sharing today. It always helps me start my day with a smile on my face and the reminder to enjoy the small things. Happy Monday Hamptons!
http://www.wolfswinkelfam.blogspot.com
Beautiful moments captured! So precious! What a handsome little man also!
Perfection. Phyl
I love reading, though I don’t comment often because, you know, life. I had to comment thise morning because those ballet pictures of the girls are just too beautiful. I have two little girls who are just learning to play together, and like Lainey and Nella, most playtime quickly turns into an argument where one is making the rules and the other is not following them. It seems to just be part of sisterhood, as my sister and I were the same way. Thanks for sharing your stories and pictures with us. And enjoy Dash’s sleepy little smile. He makes me feel excited about meeting the son we will add to our family in just a few months.
Hi Kelle – I never comment either but I saw a sign in an antique store this weekend and thought of you – it said…..”always be yourself unless you can be a unicorn – – then always be a unicorn” 🙂 Have a blessed day!
Beautiful – thanks for sharing! Love the levels of enthusiasm… we can all have at least a little bit each day!
Kelle….
Your ballet story about Lainey and Nella!! Precious!! 😉
Now I want to know what Dash is dreaming about!! We can all use our imaginations. What is Dash dreaming about? Hmmm…. ;-D
I love, love, love that “ice cream reflection” picture of Nella!! Too cute!! 😉
Dogs have a unique place in their hearts for those with “special needs”. Trust me on that one!! ;-D
Your closing story touched my deepest emotions!! 😉
–Raelyn
Love the sweet sister bond between Nella and Lainey. They are just too precious for words. And Dash? I could just eat him up with a spoon! Those lips! Those cheeks! Those grins! Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute!:) Happy Monday, Kelle!
Those ballet pictures are so darling! The girls will cherish those pictures and moments when they’re older!
Those ballet pics had me gushing & sighing, and then busting a gut as they progressed. Thanks for the smiles this morning. I so love these kinds of posts 🙂 Happy Monday!
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on your blog or photos before, but I can’t resist on this one. As a pickle-lover, the pickle party just makes me smile! Beautiful kiddos, beautiful photos.
Love it!
Thanks for sharing your unicorn jumping over rainbows throwing glitter on a yellow painted town with people smiling and humming a tune moments!! Beautiful photos!!
Monique
Thanks for sharing your unicorn jumping over rainbows throwing glitter on a yellow painted town with people smiling and humming a tune moments!! Beautiful photos!!
Monique
The only thing better than a sleep smile is a sleep laugh. My boy sounds so happy when he does that, it makes me laugh too and my whole day gets better. I don’t post comments often, but your blog is another thing that makes my day better.
LOVED this post! 🙂
So beautiful. Thank you!
Beautiful Moments! 🙂
That post makes me want to RIDE A UNICORN! For the record, I sang The Unicorn Song last night at Karaoke at our lovely local fro-yo place.
Nella + Lainey’s sister relationship cracks me up because growing up, my older sister and I were the same way (and had the same age difference I think, too!). I smiled when you mentioned Lainey’s frustration when Nella was through with the teacher-student thing. I’m pretty sure that happened all the time in my house.
p.s. That photo of Dash with the sleeping smile? So precious. 🙂
I’m drunk off of this post. So good.
Now that what a post I needed to read! Thanks for the reminders!
Love these photos! Lainey looks so grown up and patient as she teaches Nella about ballet. I have been reading for years and cannot believe how tall and grown up she looks now.
How on earth can those little girls open a pickle jar all by themselves!? My mom would have been in trouuuble if I’d been able to do that when I was little. I would have eaten a jar a day with no one looking! Although maybe that explains why there is no pickle juice in the jar…a big ol’ splash when Little Lainey was finally able to twist of the cap? Haha, hope you didn’t find a pickle juice puddle later on!
Thanks for sharing!
I’m pretty sure I’m done having babies, but that sleeping, smiling baby…OH, MY! I think my ovaries just jumped to attention.
I love that Lainey wants to share that little ritual with Nella. At the store my Beth sits on the shelf so I can “buy” her. I have to check her price on her tag, fret about the high cost and then declare that I must have her and will spend all of my money on her. Now she pulls her sister along and says they are a two-for-one deal.
Such a happy post. Seeing those precious ballet girls brought me back to the days when sisters in my home were doing the same.
Precious memories….beautiful moments.
This post is precious! I Love, love, love the ballet pics and the student/teacher relationship:) Sweetness.
Thank you for sharing! What a sweet family you have, good job momma!
I am sure he was dreaming about gigantic falls of milk, beds of milk, mountains of milk and ocean of milk 🙂
Your blog makes me smile. I love it – thank you from rainy England 🙂 xx
Oh goodness, that last little bit about wishing the picture Nella was yours and Lainey’s response! Brought tears to my eyes! And Dash is going to break hearts with those lips some day. And your girls playing ballet, I wanted a sister to do exactly this when I was a kid. So happy you’re happy!!
I am dying over these ballet photos! Nella’s expressions kill me. Thanks for sharing.
Oh this is so completely sweet and uplifting and precious!
I remember insisting on buns with NO BUMPS too – thanks for reminding me of a little childhood moment that I’m sure drove my mother insane!
THis is EXACTLY what i needed today. Thank you {and your sweet littles!!}
XO
~ J
http://www.hersplitends.com
The ballet photos are as beautiful as any Degas painting!
That last story was so, so precious!!
Hi Kelle,
I just wanted to comment on this post because your blog has really inspired me. I have only found it couple of days ago browsing for ‘something to read’ and you had me weep and laugh within 2 minutes. I have got your book on my kindle now and half way through my admiration for your strength and faith is what I remember the most. You are a very special person (even though I don’t know you and live an ocean away in London) I can sometimes just tell this with people. There is a resonance of love and an aura of peace in your writing and pictures and I am happy to have found your sketches of life. Thank you! Timi
Beautiful pictures. Dash is a beautiful baby. The sister bond is really fun to watch. They are a dynamic duo, too funny and sweet. Lovely post.
That photo of Dash smiling in his sleep awesome! Great photos. So what music are you enjoying nowadays? You got me hooked on Ingrid Michaleson (when it was still cool to have music on blogs). My ringtone is “Everybody” & Levi always sings, “Oh-ah-oh-oh…Oh-ah-oh-oh.”:)
Oh goodness…your photos. I just love them. I love Nella’s silly face, and Dash’s sleeping smile. Such beautiful moments captured. Unicorns and rainbows unite!!!
P.S. I love the Care Bears, still have one from when I was a kid 🙂
OMG I love your kids. I am enjoying planning my Naples vacay!
shit. got a little bit of a tear jerker, here. right there at the end.
xo
Except for giving birth, thisTHIS just may be your best work ever! 🙂
Absolutely precious!!
Steph
Too much preciousness in this post! 🙂
Pretty much my favorite series of pictures ever.
Your photos are breathtakingly gorgeous. Amazing amazing amazing. Thank you for sharing. I am honestly stunned at the beauty of your photos.
So stinkin’ sweet.
That ballet class is just so beautiful! What precious moments x
Such adorable girls… so lovely i really guess because they are raised with love 🙂
The little things such as spending time with your children are priceless.
The entire post made me grin and chuckle and feel oh so warm…the whole time. But I have to agree. My favorite moment was your story at the end. Oh goodness, Siblings. Great job on inspiring your oldest girl to show her sister what it means to be loved.
Oh, Kelle, such amazing photos and beautiful memories. Looking at these make me smile real big and want to sprinkle glitter, so I’m sure you’re riding a unicorn past a rainbow while sprinkling!
You want to know what he’s dreaming about? My money’s on you.
Have a great week,
Sarah
stayathometerritory.blogspot.com
http://www.corriere.it/esteri/13_luglio_29/spagna-assessore-comune-sindrome-down_ddeaec9e-f86f-11e2-a59e-96a502746665.shtml
Hi Kelle, I am writing from Italy. please have a look at this news. maybe you have already read about it. in spain for the first time a girl with down syndrome is playing a political role! so you see, there is a lot in Nella’s future. ciao
You capture life so beautifully!
I have never commented before but just HAD to tell you how completely precious this post is. I kept coming back to Dash’s perfect face & had to smile. And those lips of his…bowtie lips…simply beautiful pictures and beautiful babies! I would call this all a HIGH…like “Ride a Unicorn High!” Enjoy all of those little kissable faces.
love the pics
Wow. Just wow. Your photographs are simply amazing. I fall in love with your children every single time you post. You have a true gift … not just for enjoying the small things, but for noticing them in the first place. What great life skill to cultivate. Thank you for the reminder.
lovely!
Aw, I love the ballet class and the sleepy smiles. =]
Kelle! Check this out!
http://www.corriere.it/esteri/13_luglio_29/spagna-assessore-comune-sindrome-down_ddeaec9e-f86f-11e2-a59e-96a502746665.shtml
As I told you yesterday on Instangram, Spain has its first town woman conselor with DS! Don’t you think it’s great? Big kiss
Why haven’t I ever thought of a pickle party? And so easy too….love it.
LOVE the sister ballet class photos. The disintegration and subsequent moving on to pickles is at least as delightful as the initial lesson. Beautiful relationship between your girls. I rarely if ever comment but this touched my heart — such a combination of sweet, special, and real.
— Joan in PA
Lol, your editing on the picture of Nella jumping is hilarious. Look at that arm and the humpback!
And get Dash a fucking helmet. You have stunted his development so much that he looks like he’s 2 weeks old. You are a shitty mom.
The end of the ballet lesson is priceless! And Dash smiling? Oh my gosh!
What are those cute overalls that Nella is wearing?
Love, love, love post and pics. Thanks for sharing snippets of your life. That’s all.
This comment has been removed by the author.
this was my favorite blog post ever!!! (and I mean that- till your next amazing one makes me say it again) : D …and the pictures are all my favorite too….the light, the ballerinas, the baby…
oh my!!!!!!!!!
xox
Your family makes me smile! Love the pictures!!! I’ve been meaning to get my girl in ballet classes for a while now….those stunning images might just be enough to actually get me to find a dance studio and sign her up!!!! LOVE!
Awww the ballet class sisters totally made me giggle. My girls are AMAZINGLY sweet and fun when they get along, but in seconds it can turn ugly too.
Love your smiling dreamer baby… his lips are divine.
Kelle – I’ve recently been introduced to your blog and “Bloom” – WOW!! Here’s what I want you to know …
I just finished your book and your story moved me emotionally from one extreme to the next…Your photos are Beautiful (doesn’t hurt your subject matter is oh so cute!!). While reading your book I seriously felt like I missed out not having a Nella of my own! I was also reminded of the number of times that I let the laundry or the dishes get in the way of “being in the moment” with my babies (now 28 and 25) when I was young. I’ve made a pact with myself to change that with my grand children – I have two – compliments to my 28 year old son.
Your story has such an important message. When I finished “Bloom” I immediately picked up the phone and called my daughter to tell her about it and “instructed” her to put it on her reading list for vacation – which of course she did. She’s so excited about becoming a mother one day – and – I think that she (and all young mothers) can benefit from your emotional journey. As you found out – we don’t get to make the plan – we just get to live it out.
Thank you for sharing your story, your children, your gift of writing and your gift of photography!
Whenever my babes were teeny, little newborns and smiled in their sleep we always used to say they must have been dreaming about breastmilk.
Beautiful pictures, as always. I admire you so much.
May I ask about the little necklace Dash wears? Please tell me all about it!
I love them, Kelle. Your kids, your dogs….Nella’s expressions, Baby Dash’s everything. Yum! Thank you for sharing these pics with us, you made my day! xo SarahLICMom
Best post. Loved the pics. Loved the words. Loved the love.
This made me smile and cry. I really love how much you adore your babies. I love the ballet teacher and her ornery student : ). I love the pickle party! I LOVE the high buns with no bumps. And I love your baby that smiles in his sleep.
: ) Thank you for always sharing joy. Love, Becky
my pediatrician told me that when babies smile in their sleep, their guardian angels are playing with them. how precious…
I adored the ballet class!!! Being a dancer myself, it made me smile from ear to ear (literally, I cannot stop grinning)
The ballet pictures and the first picture of Dash…ADORABLE!!!
This was one of my absolute favorites. On a rainy, gloomy day here in NY this was exactly what I needed….I smiled 🙂 Absolutely precious.
The one with Lainey in a lunge holding Nella’s leg and the one with Dash(ING) sleep smiling – I die. What precious moments. 🙂
– Erin
You make me cry as much as anyone I know in real life girlie! Anyway, I’m totally stealing that and I’m going to tell my boy whenever I see a picture of him that I wish I had a boy like that! Love it. <3
I just stumbled upon your blog purely by accident and I am so glad I did. You have the most beautiful family. I just adore how Lainey is with Nella! Oh and that little guy is just so, so sweet.
My dear friend just (well last year) had a baby girl. She is only 24 and was surprised at the birth when the doctors informed that her baby had Downs. She luckily has the most awesome husband and they have really come through the otherside. There are nights I am so down about something and all I have to do is look at pictures of her baby and I am instantly smiling – little angels on Earth, passing out happiness!
Ahh, this was so wonderful. The ballet and the pickle party! So sweet. Those are the best moments to me. Thanks for sharing.
I just discovered this blog and I have been sitting here for hours reading it. I am in awe of your amazing family. I was raised with a dear family friend with down syndrome (she is like a sister to me) and I have absolutely loved every post. Your children are beautiful and amazing and I can tell you are a WONDERFUL mother.
My darling heart – Oliver- was born on this day. I loved reading what you and yours were up too.
Nella is an absolute hard case (as we say here in NZ), those photographs made me giggle. Hee hee!