Summer Phone Dump (Part 2)

When family visits the furry members come also. Bella was thrilled, Kingston was tolerant, Arya was not amused. 

Riley and Cargy playing with play doh

Corn!

Playing with the water table.

Too cute for words. Look at that swimsuit!

At the Dillard House. 

He's sneaky.

4th of July breakfast!

Popsicles at Jazzercise.

Cargy went for a walk and made a friend. 

Their favorite activity at camp.

Definitely a perk of camp life. 

Seriously. He is so sneaky.

Georgia Aquarium!

Playing at the park with Caleb. 

Everland!

Play date with Fin and Jaime.

Chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick.

Carnival at camp-- visiting the big cousins. 

He's mischievous too.

Fenders Diner in Cornelia, GA.

The Lego Movie-- Cargy's first! 

oh Eli. Love.

INK museum in Gainesville, GA.

Lunch at Schlotsky's after the museum.

The view from my back deck in Cleveland, GA. This picture makes my heart hurt. I miss it so much it hurts.

Taking a nature walk at camp.

They probably enjoyed this trip to Lowe's as much as all of the above activities. Boys.

Carson's (second) Second Birthday Party

Carson's "big" party this year was extra sweet because we celebrated with a joint party with Riley!
I super love that Courtney and I have kiddos that were born only two months apart. We planned a cowboy/cowgirl Western themed party and I loved it! Riley is beyond precious and watching Cargy and Riley go through each phase of development at the same time has been so sweet.

I love planning birthdays. Especially with Courtney-- a lot less work for me :)

I know we probably can't orchestrate a joint party every year, but I really hope we can do this again sometime. So much fun and such sweet memories.

Delia: 3 Years

Today is the third anniversary of Delia's death. Today has been bittersweet as more moments than usual were focused on her, with memories that still sting as much as they make me smile.

I think about her every single day. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes her presence is so desperately needed. When loneliness or despair creeps in, when I just need a moment of comfort from someone who doesn't need anything in return, when I am sad or fearful and don't want to explain it I just need a small, warm, companion to help push back the darkness.

I miss her. I can bear it now, when for the first months I felt sure I couldn't. I am extra thankful now that she was not buried in Georgia and so I can still have her "with" me in North Carolina. My heart is healing but the process has hurt.

Sweet Lea turns 12 this month and I fight to hold back panic of soon losing her as well. Some dogs become family. And losing family is so hard.

Delia was three years old in the picture below-- one of my all-time favorites. She had been with me about 5 months when it was taken and I was already so very much in love. That's what she symbolizes to me now. Love.