Coffee Date Friday: Welcoming Fall With A Little PSL

Good mornin', all you Fall-lovin' friends out there! I'm linking up yet again today with Rags to Stitches for a little coffee date to kick off the weekend. 

This morning, should we meet at our local Starbucks for the most delicious caffeinated beverage on the planet, a Pumpkin Spice Latte, I would readily share with you:

...That I think I'm still on a high from last weekend's Clemson football win against Georgia. It was, without a doubt, the best game I have ever been to. The atmosphere was absolutely electric and it was so fun to see so many of my best friends, and their awesome hubbies, for an entire day of tailgating and Fall football fun. Now, I just hope we can keep up the momentum and pull out a great 2013 season. Staring with South Carolina State tomorrow...

...That, speaking of football, we're going to make it a family affair and take both kids with us to the Clemson game this weekend. It will be interesting, seeing as how game time is at 12:30 pm, which coincides exactly with Raleigh's nap time, but we're going to give it a go and hope for the best! Not to mention, two of my best friends will be bringing their adorable kids along for the ride; so, we'll just cross our fingers and cheer extra loud should their be any cranky cries echoing around campus.

...That my little boy had a great first day of 3K on Wednesday! His teachers are very sweet and caring and many of his classmates are familiar faces from last year. I'm excited to see what the school year brings! 

...That I am really looking forward to spending some one-on-one time with my Rals three (half) days a week while Banks is in school. Being the younger sibling, her wants are often over-shadowed by her big brother's desires. So. You can imagine how excited I am that my baby girl starts gymnastics TODAY!! Finally, she will have a fun, weekly activity, that is hers and hers alone. I cannot wait!! 

...That the next three weekends are, yet again, busy, busy, busy. After this weekend's Clemson game, we'll be in Columbia hosting a couples shower for my sister and her fiancé, then in Georgia the following weekend for my nephew's first birthday party, and then I'll be hosting my little buddy's 4th birthday party the weekend after that. And don't even get me started on our October calendar. Whew!! I am already tired just thinking of it. But I have a feeling it will make for a very fun month! 

...That some weeks I feel ON MY GAME as a Momma. My kiddos get all of my attention almost all of their waking hours. I am creative and focused and involved. I am patient and calm and not always in a hurry. I love weeks like that. Then, there are other weeks, like this one, where I am distracted, constantly multi-tasking between too many things that feel like they need to get done now, now, now. I don't like weeks like this one. I feel bad about myself when I have distracted weeks like this one. But. Then, I remind myself that all I can do is start fresh when the sun rises tomorrow. Next week will be a better one, a more focused one, a less distracted one. I can promise you that. 

...That we made more progress on our home decor revamp this week. A lot more progress! I can't wait to see it all come together (and to be done with it all, to be honest). I have such respect for people that have an "eye" for interior design. I truly think it is a talent, one that I am definitely lacking, especially when it comes to "grown-up" rooms.


And with that, as always, I would sit back, continue sipping my yummy PSL, and relish in the fact that I was getting the chance to hear all about YOU and your world. 

Thanks for stopping by. As always, your company is much appreciated!

Have a great weekend, wherever it may take you. 

Dear Banks,

Today is your first day of 3-year-old preschool. Wow, buddy! It's so hard to believe that you are just a couple short years away from starting elementary school. 

From the day we met, I knew you were someone so very special. And when you looked up at me with your beautiful blue eyes, I knew in an instant I would spend the rest of my life making sure you knew, every single day, how very much you are loved. And oh, my little boy, how you are loved. 

When I held you in my arms that day, I knew in an instant I would spend my life making sure you always felt safe, secure, and protected. Somedays, I do that a little too well, I think. I protect you from hypotheticals. I stop you from doing things before you can get hurt. I step in after imaging the worst, before it even has a chance to happen. This is a Momma flaw, I know, because sometimes we grow the most after we have been hurt. This is not to say I am going to throw caution to the wind when it comes to keeping you safe and protected.  However. This is to say that I recognize that I need to step back sometimes and let you figure things out. 

But. 

I am still your Momma, after all. And that being said, here are a few things I hope you will carry with you as you begin another school year:

• I believe in you. In all that you are. In all that you will be. Always. I will always believe you in. And I will always be your biggest fan. 

• Be kind to your teachers. Be kind to your friends. Kindness is the secret to happiness. Make others feel happy. And you, too, will feel happy. 

• Always use your manners. This means never forget to say please and thank you. Those three words are the most important in the English language. Also, you are a Southern gentleman. Remember your ma'ams and sirs. 

• Apologize when you make mistakes. We all make them, and that's okay! Recognize when they happen. And apologize for them. No one deserves to have their feelings hurt, including you. If someone else makes a mistake, be quick to forgive. 

• Exercise is important. So, so important. We have one body and it is important to take good care of it. Do you know which is your strongest muscle? Your brain. Learning is powerful. It is the best exercise for your brain. Listen to all that your teachers teach you. Watch your friends around you and learn from them. Help others learn from you. A strong brain is a beautiful and powerful thing.

• Friends are invaluable. Be friends with everyone in your class: The boys. The girls. Those who are short. Those who are tall. Those who are quiet. Those who are loud. Those who like racecars. Those who don't. Each of your classmates is special in his or her own way. You are so lucky to have each other! Be nice to each other, and try to play with everybody at least once a week. 

• I love hearing about the things you discover each day! Never be afraid to tell me what happens at school. You are one of the most important parts of my whole life, and I love to hear what you see, hear, think, and feel. Know that I am ALWAYS ready to listen. Always.
• I will always, ALWAYS pick you up. As much as you can depend on the leaves changing color in the Fall, you can depend on me being there, at the end of each day, to see your beautiful, smiling face. 
• Have fun each and every day, as much as possible! Of course, there are times we also need to be serious, when we need to sit still, be patient, and listen quietly. Those moments are important, too. But it's also important to try and squeeze all the fun we can out of every day.
• I love you with all my heart. Do you know who else loves you with all His heart? God. And that is so, so special. You are well-loved and always will be. 

Now, my sweet boy, is your time to shine. I promise to step back, at least a little, and let you start to figure out some of this world without me. But. I also promise to always be here if your light starts to dim. But for today? Shine on, my Sunshine. Shine on. 

With All My Heart, 

Momma

Fill 'Er Up

A few things that are good for my soul. Things that fill my cup up to the brim:


The end of the day, when I get to veg out on the couch next to my handsome better half. 

The shade of a summer hat on a hot day.

Spending so much time with (most of) my bffs lately.

Seeing my hub spend time with some of his favorite guy friends (who just so happen to be my girlfriends' hubbies).

Witnessing just how much my little duo love each other.

Having random girls' nights in the middle of the week. Sometimes, Mommas need a break.

Watching the pure awe and wonder that washes over little faces about things we grown-ups tend to dismiss as mundane. 

Family. Sisters.

College football season. Especially when we win.

Beach memories. And anticipation of future beach trips. 

Seeing how well-loved my babies are. 

Early morning exercise. Especially with these views. 

Spending my days with these two. 

And I'm drinking it all in, one beautiful sip at a time.

Coffee Date Friday: With A Little Clemson Cheer

Hi there! Sorry to have missed our caffeinated conversation last Friday (via a link up with Rags to Stitches), but I'm back and ready to resume our weekly virtual coffee date. Before we begin, though, may I just say...

C-L-E-M-S-O-N...T-I-G-E-R-----S, 

Fight Tigers! Fight Tigers! Fight, Fight, Fight!

Circa 2001: From my Clemson Rally Cat days

That's right, folks: Football season has finally arrived!! So, as we toast our mugs and dive into our chat, let's also acknowledge the air of college football excitement underlying our coffee-filled gathering today. 

From our first game as a family of four last year

That being said, I would first ask, how are YOU? What's new with YOU? How is YOUR week going? Anything exciting happening for YOU on the horizon? Fill me in on the latest and greatest. 

After ensuring I was properly educated on all things YOU, I would share the following about little o' me and the current comings and goings in my life:

...I would share that, at the beginning of the summer, my hub played a song for me, saying it reminded him of us and the summer we met and, subsequently, spent side-by-side. Imagine my surprise when, the other day, Banks asked me to play his favorite song for him. When I asked him what it was, my jaw dropped when he requested the same song my hub had played for me months ago, Brad Paisley's "Beat This Summer." Now, one of my favorite things to do is to sing this song at the top of my lungs, with the accompaniment of Banks, while riding around town.

...I would tell you that my Raleigh is developing the sweetest Southern accent. Example? What the rest of us would call a /chip/ she pronounces as "chee-uhh-pp." That's right. Three full syllables for that short little word. And, as a Southern born and raised Momma, I would also tell you that I love that little Southern twang!

...I would admit that I was oh-so-happy when I discovered that "Teen Mom 3" started the other night. Yes, I realize I am 15 years older than most of these girls, but there is something about the trainwreck of a show that captivates. Don't tell my Wall Street Journal-readin' hub. He may just disown me. But. I'm already ready for next week's episode.

...I would tell you that we made some major strides with our home decor revamp this week, including ordering a new rug, pillows, and sconces for our family room, painting part of the dining room, having curtains made for the kitchen, and re-framing three pieces of art that hold so much meaning for us. Although it has been busy, busy, busy with all this going on this week, there is still much that needs to be done. Whew! I can't wait to see the finished product. And, of course, I'll do a revamp reveal at some point, for anyone who may be interested in that sort of thing. 

...I would try to take deep breaths to reduce some of the stress I am feeling related to events on the horizon for the next few months, including throwing a couples wedding shower for my baby sister, pulling off my little buddy's 4th birthday party, attending my sister's wedding, soaking up family time for the Thanksgiving holidays, hosting a baby shower for my awesome sister-in-law, and getting ready for the Christmas season and celebrations, not to mention attending several family birthday parties. Whew! Inhale, hold, hold, exhale. Repeat as needed. 

...I would share that Raleigh and I accompanied Banks to his pre-school Open House earlier this week so he could meet his new teachers and reunite with his old classmates. Although a little timid initially walking into his new classroom, it melted away the second he spied a...you guessed it...race car. After seeing all the cars that await him at school, he didn't want to leave and immediately asked if we could come back to school later that day. Ha!

...I would ask, most importantly, that you keep my sweet Raleigh in your thoughts and prayers. WARNING: For those not interested in hearing about poop, please stop reading now. The thing is, for over three weeks now, my little girl has not had a single, solitary solid poop. You can read between the lines for what that has meant for her poor tummy, and poor hiney, for the month of August. At first, I attributed it to a stomach bug. Then, to teething. But now? Now, that it's been almost a month? It is problematic. I took her to the pediatrician one night earlier this week and we decided to try a probiotic to attempt to nip this thing in the bud. However, if that doesn't solve the problem, I have been instructed to collect a stool sample for further testing to make sure it's not something more serious. So, please say a prayer for my little girl and cross your fingers that this probiotic puts an end to this messy month. 

...Finally, I would tell you that I need to wrap things up and get to packin'. You see, first thing in the morning, specifically 12 HOURS before the Clemson game actually begins, my hub and I will be leaving to meet up with 14 of our closest friends before heading to Clemson for a FULL day of tailgatin', GameDayin', chattin', eatin', drinkin', football watchin', and cheerin' on our Tigers. And, thanks to my parents, we will end the day with (hopefully not just a W!!)  a stay in a Greenville hotel while my kiddos soak up time with their Bammy and Digby. So, like I said, it's time for me to start packin'. 

From our Clemson girls weekend, circa 2010

I so appreciate you taking the time to enjoy this cup o' joe with me, and I know it goes without saying you'll be cheering on my Tigers, right? 

Until next time!

Banksisms, Part 9

He's at it again, my little comedian. I just never know what's going to come out of Banks' mouth, and I must say, we tend to stay pretty entertained these days by his commentary. Without further adieu, I present Banksisms, Part 9:

(After hearing he had to eat some vegetables before being excused from the table): 

Banks: "But my tummy's full! There's no more room in there! There's lots of food in my tummy and it took up all the parkings." 

Apparently EVERYTHING is relatable to cars in my little buddy's world. 

After putting on his new sweatpants, and no shirt, Banks walks out of his room with his chest puffed out and says, "I'm sleeping like a MAN tonight!!"

No words...

Banks: "Raleigh, you can't have a guaranTEE....Daddy, isn't a guarantee a grown-up drink?"

Ha! Only in the South. And only with a little Firefly mixed in.

Banks: "Mommy, what are motorcycles with three wheels called?
Momma: "I'm not sure, honey."
Banks: "I think I'm gonna have to ask Daddy. He knows everything."

For the love. Seriously?!?

(Interrupts conversation between Momma and Daddy):

Banks: "Daddy, Daddy, Dad, Daddy, Dad, Dad, Daddy..."

Daddy: "Just a minute. You need to wait until Mommy and Daddy are finished talking."

(Proceeds to wait patiently while parent conversation continues for a few minutes)

Daddy: "Okay, Banks, now what did you need to say?"

Banks: "Can I go poop super fast?"

I guess we should have let him interrupt us this one time.

Banks: "Mommy, can I get up early today?"

Momma: "I guess so."

Banks: "Thanks, Mommy. You're on it, girl. You're a rockstar."

Love that I got to laugh so early in the morning thanks to my buddy. :)

Atta boy. I can't wait to hear what comes out of that funny mouth, next!

Friday Family Fill-In: Alphabet Week!

I'm stepping away from my Coffee Date Friday posts to return to a series I used to do each week and have been missing this summer: Friday Family Fill-In. Basically, these posts are a way for me to document what I've been doing with my kids throughout the week so that I can (1) Refer back to it as needed at a later date, (2) Preserve the memories of our weekday fun, and (3) Maybe help a Momma or two out who may be in a rut brainstorming fun activities to do with their own kiddos. 

For me, the primary reason I stay home with my kids is to try to maximize all the time we are lucky enough to spend together at this stage in our lives. As evidenced by all the "first day of school" photos plastered all over Facebook this week (which, don't get me wrong, I love seeing. Really! I really like seeing photos of my friends' and families' beautiful babies), these young years pass by way too quickly. So, I have made it my personal goal to try and fill these days, these weeks, these years with fun activities for my littles before they, too, head off for elementary school.

While we certainly have plenty of downtime during our day, I also try to include some fun and educational activities as part of our daily itinerary. Some days are more successful than others. Some weeks are more successful than others. But this week? This week was a good one. I think, in large part, it's because I entered the week knowing my hub would be on the other side of the country from early Sunday afternoon until late Friday night. That makes for a loooooong week. And so, to avoid Momma burnout, minimize preschooler whining, and reduce toddler meltdowns, I came into the week (a week forecasting lots of rain) with a plan. 

Knowing that Banks will be returning to preschool in a few weeks, I wanted to capitalize on the Back to School fun! So, we officially declared this week "Alphabet Week" in our household, with lots of fun (and alphabet-a-rific!) activities and snacks to boot! 

So, without further adieu, I present, our Alphabet Week:

Alphabet Flashcards:

A few different times this week, I pulled out these slide-and-see flashcards, which Banks received as a birthday gift from one of my best friends last year. This was a good way for me to see which letters were automatic for him and which tended to be mis-identified. Although I am not usually a flashcard kind of Momma, it was helpful for me to see which letters to really focus on during our activities. Nonetheless, the rest of the activities were purposefully made to be hands-on for my energetic little buddy, primarily because 3-year-old boys don't like to sit in any one place for an extended period of time, and because I know that multisensory learning tends to be the most successful approach to education at this age (i.e., a fancy way of saying less sitting, more action). Regardless, here are the cute flashcards in case anyone is in search of some good ones:

Alphabet Fishing:

I found a pack of magnetic letters in the dollar bin at Target a few months ago and snatched  them up, knowing they would come in handy once I got around to having "Alphabet Week." By pairing these letters with some magnetic fishing poles Banks received as part of a Christmas gift last year, Alphabet Fishing was born: I would simply tell Banks which letter to fish for. He then had to search out the array of letters (thus, good exercise for visual scanning) until he spotted his target. He loved it!

Alphabet Golf:

A while ago on Pinterest, I saw the idea to carve holes in a box for indoor golfing for a rainy day activity. I decided to take this idea a step further, adding detachable letters overtop the holes. I would call out a letter and my little buddy had to recognize the letter and then putt away, aiming for the correct letter hole. Thus, Alphabet Golf was born. Another big hit!

Color By Letter:

I'm sure most of us remember those Color-by-Number coloring pages from when we were little, right? Well, I just created my own, but used a Color-by-Letter code instead, in keeping with our Alphabet Week theme. For example, B is for Blue; so, every time Banks saw a letter B, he had to color it blue. Although he is not one to sit and color for long periods of time, he really enjoyed this activity.

Alphabet Reading:

Although most of the activities this week were geared toward preschool age, I tried to involve my little toddler whenever possible. The best way to do this, of course, was reading books related to the ABC's. My Raleigh loves nothing more than reading books, so she was happy to participate in this activity. 

Alphabet Target Practice:

This may have been my favorite activity from the week. Although I originally saw the water balloon/target practice idea on Pinterest, I modified it a bit, adding all 26 letters to the target. I would then yell out a target for Banks to hit, and bombs away! This was another activity Raleigh was happy to join in. 

Grocery Store Letter Hunt:

There is very little I enjoy less than going to the grocery store. I have not been shy to write about my lack of enthusiasm for all things cooking; so, the grocery store is sort of a devil incarnate for me. But. Admittedly, this week's grocery stop was a lot more enjoyable for my dynamic duo and me. I quickly created this Alphabet Hunt board using a spare piece of foam board I had laying around and grabbed a packet of stickers out of my kid craft stock. So, while I was busy crossing items off my grocery list on Aisle 5, Banks was busy searching for letters on all the products that lined the shelves, which he was then able to cover with a sticker once identified. And Raleigh was just happy to get her hands on a few stickers for awhile. Win-win. 

Alphabet Yogurt:

Completing all these fun alphabet activities throughout the week had us hungry for some delicious snacks! Enter yogurt alphabet bits, which were easily created by covering a small tray with parchment paper, cutting a small hole in the corner of a Go-Gurt (aka yogurt tube), writing out the ABC's, and then freezing them during naptime. This meant, once my kids woke up from their naps, they had an educational, nutritious, and delicious snack a'-waitin'.

Totally Tubular ABCs:

If you know my hub and me, it should come as no surprise that we have quite the competitive son on our hands. Ev-e-ry-thing is a competition to Banks. Ev-e-ry-thing. So, adapting this Pinterest activity to one that was alphabetic in nature was a no-brainer. Simply tape plastic cups to the end of a table, use Dry Erase markers to write different letters on each cup (Dry Erase is key so that you can erase and write new letters after each round), and hand the ever-competitive child a toilet paper roll and a ping pong ball. Then, identify the lettered cup you want him to aim for and watch his competitive spirit take over as he tries to sink his shot. 

Initial Painting:

My little Picassos really had fun completing this crafty activity. I taped off each of their initials on a piece of cardstock and then let them paint away. After the paint dried, I peeled off the tape, and voila! Initial art. 

ABC Pancakes:

Every time my hub travels overnight for work, I make breakfast for dinner at least one night, knowing full well that cooking up some eggs, bacon, and biscuits is not only quick and easy but will also always be consumed in its entirety without a single complaint from either of my eaters. This week, I did, in fact, plan for breakfast for dinner one night but decided to shake things up with some ABC pancakes. Bon appetit! 

Letter Shaping with Playdoh:
Now this was an idea I stole straight from Pinterest with no need for modifying to suit our Alphabet Week theme. I simply wrote letters on a piece of cardstock and then encouraged Banks to create the letter by filling it in with Playdoh. He was so proud of his work, and we did this activity, with pages of different letters, for quite some time. Success!

I hope you enjoyed hearing about our Alphabet Week. I know the kids and I had a fun time with our themed activities and foods. Although it took a little advance brainstorming, it was a lot of fun to see how excited Banks got every time I told him it was time for a fun, new  alphabet activity. 

I'm thinking for our next themed week, I'll gear the activities/theme more towards the toddler-age group so that Raleigh can join in on more of the activities, with Banks being able to take on more of the "teacher" role at times. 

So. I'll be back sometime in the next few weeks with another fun, Friday Family Fill-In. 

For now, though, C U later (Too much? Okay. Sorry for the cheesy pun.). Have a great weekend!

Remember Not to Forget, Part 2

First and foremost, I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the prayers for my unnamed prayer request. I received many kind words and prayer promises both publicly and privately, and you truly have no idea how much they mean. I will continue to pray. I hope you will, too. And again, truly, thank you. 

On a different note...

Back in March, I wrote a post I called Remember Not to Forget, and I have recently been feeling the urge to write a Part 2. You see, lately I have been tapped slapped punched in the face with the reminder that every good and precious gift is from above, and I need to remember and relish these childhood moments as they pass. Because although the days may feel long at times, the years are short. 

So. 

At this precious stage in my babies' lives, I want to remember not to forget:

• The fact that my sweet baby girl, Raleigh, is, without a single, solitary, doubt, the most verbally affectionate child I have ever been lucky enough to know. Y'all. You think I'm exaggerating? I'm not. Rals says, "Love you," at LEAST 30 to 50 times per day. Per. Day. To me. To her Daddy. To her big brother. To family. To friends. To the man stocking groceries at Harris Teeter. To the gentlemen checking us out at Target. Basically? To anyone and everyone who passes her love-sharing path. She is just the suh-weetest thing. Until her little dear-Lawd-she's-a-handful attitude kicks in. But that's a whole other bullet point.

• The adoration, as in complete, head-over-heels L.O.V.E., my sweet little buddy, Banks, feels over all things race cars. He is, in a word, Ob.Sessed. No really. He sleeps with race cars. He grabs more cars than his little hands can hold the second his eyelids pop open in the morning. We tell race car stories alllll day long. We race his many, many, MANY race cars around the playroom, kitchen, back porch, swingset, driveway, any-flat-surface around, all day, every day. On family movie night, every Friday night, we almost ALWAYS watch "Cars 2." I create fun race car activities for him simply because I just cannot wait to see the expression on his face. Yep. Race cars are his love language. And he is fluent.

• My completely non-biased opinion that I think my girl is a little smarty pants (don't we all say that about our babes??). My most recent example: She recently (completely independently) started using first-person when talking, skipping over that whole third-person business. Specifically? Rather than saying "Raleigh do it," (a stage she just seemed to totally bypass), she will say, "I do it!" Or, for example, I ask her, "Are you having fun?" She will smile broadly and exclaim, "I are!" When I say, "No, Raleigh, you can't have that," she'll exclaim, "I want it!!" I know this probably sounds trivial to most, but knowing that this is a skill not usually acquired until closer to 3, and the fact that she is 19 months, makes a Momma proud. Okay. Bragging moment over. Until maybe the next bullet point...

• That my little buddy is incredibly outgoing and friendly. He loves socializing with others, whether they be his friends from our weekly playdates or the strangers he encounters in the grocery store, he never hesitates to smile, say, "Hi!", and interact with anyone within his line of vision. And, while my little girl tends to initially clam up around others, especially in a big group setting, she will quickly follow suit when she determines that her big brother feels comfortable with those around them. 

• That my little girl seems quite coordinated and flexible for her age. It is not uncommon to find her jumping off of every object she climbs (no matter how high), hopping around the room, swinging from the table with her legs out in a "pike" position, doing splits, etc. Did I mention I am signing her up for gymnastics this Fall? Look out, McKayla Maroney.

• The way that my Banks has always, always been an early riser and always will be. He has no pause button. No off button. He has endless energy and needs to get.it.out. one way or another every day. He is certainly not one to sit quietly and independently for long periods of time. His favorite thing is interaction, which means, during the day, constant interaction with his Momma. Constant. All the time. Always. Every minute. And, while exhausting sometimes, given his boundless energy and seemingly ever-present desire for dependent play, I constantly remind myself that these moments are precious and I should take full advantage of the fact that right now, one of his most favorite playmates is his Momma. 'Cause one day, when those teenage years hit? He may want nothing to do me.  

• The fact that my little girl has a hard time with listening. It's not just that, though. When she hears no, she will do EXACTLY what she is being told NOT to do. In fact, when she hears no, she will frequently need to do exactly what I have told her not to do just one more time. And, often, she will look me in the eye, say, "Love you!", and then do what she knows she is NOT supposed to do. She is also starting to develop quite a temper. So, basically, when she's not being the most lovable child on the planet, she is screaming, running in the opposite direction of where I tell her to go, and then throwing a full-blown tantrum when I re-direct her course. Yep. This lovable little lady is going to be a handful. Whew.

• The way that my children love each other with their whole hearts. When you ask Banks who is best friend is, his first answer is always, "Raleigh." And while they may steal each others' toys every other minute and play too rough sometimes and simultaneously want their Momma's attention almost all the time, the conclusion is always the same at the end of the day: They simply adore each other. And that's enough to make any Momma's heart soar. 

So, again, I say I will try my hardest to remember not to forget, not only the beauty of these moments, even the tough ones, but also how truly beautiful these memories will be, safely guarded in my heart forever.