rise

Gabi: What defines us is how well we rise after falling.

 Harmony: This young man is rising up to the responsibility of being a role model for his little brothers.

cool down

Harmony: The heat has been relenting with no break in sight. Many days have been spent at our little river spot cooling down and enjoying our lazy summer days.

 Gabi: they went down the river, walked back up, down the river again. Giggling, splashing and just having fun. Hot days don't stop us from  having fun, we just need to find the right place to cool down.

take it all in

Harmony: I have been going, going and not stopping to listen to the "mom, come play with me!" pleas. Yesterday I said yes. Yesterday I stopped to take in all the joy that is running through a field of long grass with my boys.

 Gabi: I was watching my son (in the middle) getting ready for a swim during his triathlon race. It's always a rush of various feelings for him before the race starts. The excitement. The nerves. The competitivness. The "will I be the fastest one?" sort of questions. I was taking all of this above in - the excitement, the mama worries, the proud feeling of being his mom... Go, buddy, GO!

ready

Gabi: I'm ready for long evening walks during the golden hour. For chasing waterfalls from sprinklers in our neighborhood. For school routine to be out of the window for two months. For slowing down a little bit. For more time spent with my little ones. Summer, I'm ready for you.

 Harmony: He's ready to be a big boy just like his brothers and that means I have to let go (a little bit). His first walk home from the neighbour's, I wasn't ready but he obviously was.

on my mind

Gabi: so many things have changed in our everyday routine in such a short period of time. My mind is constantly racing with thoughts how we will manage. We will get used to it, I know it. We always do.

 Harmony: I'm transitioning into a new role at work. It is beyond my comfort zone but I see good things emerging from this change. It is scary, but I am pushing through.

out of focus

Gabi: We are a family always on the go. We love being outside and having fun together. And if I get lucky, I might even get a perfectly imperfect photo like this one.

twilight

Gabi: I was preparing dinner when I noticed the beautiful light from sun going down behind the horizon. The last few breathtaking seconds before the night takes over everything.

 Harmony: I've always been a morning person. And prefer the dawn and the day's new beginning instead of the twilight.

give

Gabi: this little fella of ours is so energetic, loves running and won't sit for a second but when he is "calm", he loves to cuddle and gives a lot of love around. 

I smell

Gabi: the smell of the rain in the forest. that's the smell of our home.

Harmony: I smell gingerbread, my new favourite tea. 

in the middle

Harmony: My middle son; we try to beat the stereotype that the middle child feels left out. Sometimes I think we do well, I just hope they outweigh the times we don't.

 Gabi: in the middle of the challenging times, we are going through at the moment, the play of shadows on the wall just made me stop and notice the little things. It put a smile on my face as well.

a sign

Harmony: A friendly reminder to smile.

fresh

 

Gabi: 2015 is going to be a year of being fierce (my one little word). I'm starting fresh, keeping track of my physical activity and pushing myself to achieve even more goals than I did last year.