Welcome to Sunday Citar!! Here’s where we all share a quote… a favorite, a new find, a laugh inducing or tear inducing quote you love this week. (Citar = to quote in Spanish)
The linky will be open all week for you to link up your special New Year’s post… and to get in on the GIVEAWAY AT THE END OF THIS POST!
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
From The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
I’ve been delving into books more and more lately, losing sleep, burying my head in the space of black and white while the words take me to another place. Stories and poems, learning and growing… and then a few words caught my eye and held me there, hovering in emotion. Wild and precious.
I could go on by saying that the littles and I cleaned out their room, again, to start fresh for the new year. That I’m proud of my girl who tried on every pair of shoes she owns and was quite pleased with herself as she meticulously and thoroughly lined up the remaining pairs in their place in the closet. Or that we came this close to converting Bray’s crib, progressing him up to toddler bed, but found out some screws are missing and have to wait on Daddy to make a trip to Home Depot.
Yet I keep being drawn to these words that resonate with me. Wild and precious.
And I wonder if cleaning the kid’s rooms, washing their sheets and converting a crib is what I should be doing… before I realize that I’ve been trying to live by this credo daily. Finding beauty in the small moments with my littles.
Sometimes it lies in praising my big girl for mastering the vacuum and wielding the hose to clean the corners of her room. Or letting little man show me the shoes that don’t fit his growing feet anymore, either.
Sometimes it lies in heading out in the sunshine with a new box of chalk for midday sidewalk art.
Watching my girl spell out the words she knows while little brother draws giraffes and doggies along behind her.
And then pretending to understand exactly what he’s saying and realizing after hearing “mammal” for the fifth time that he meant “animals” and not “Nemo” (which it clearly sounded like to me).
Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a new Christmas present for a spin around the neighborhood.
Or spending the afternoon in “her climbing tree.”
And not worrying so much that it’s getting late for naps or that their clothes are getting dirty, and instead enjoying the heck out of the moment. Because that’s what washing machines are for, and early bed times.
And sometimes it lies in the spontaneity of hearing fireworks outside and grabbing blankets and flashlights and heading out to our “hill” in the dark to lie down and watch the blasts light up the sky under to moon. Laughing while Brayden flails his arms and whispers “fireworks” and letting their excitement literally charge the very air we breathe while daddy runs up the street to buy some sparks of our own.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do in the new year with your one wild and precious life?
I plan to grab hold to everything that is around me, the colorful and the bland. To love those around me even more fiercely and find countless ways to show my appreciation, to be the friend that I always want to have. I plan to live a little more freely and open myself up more… letting go of the fears that hold me back.
Oh, and I plan to kiss someone special come midnight (I’m writing this Saturday night, so by Sunday, know that it happened. Lovin’ fierce, baby).
Happy New Year friends, it’s gonna be a good one. A wild and precious one.
And a few favorite posts from 2011…
The Big One
… And It Was Just Right.
Being Born Into Motherhood.
Get Naked, the best advice.
Spinning Balls and a Deep Breath.
Saying Goodbye to a Burnt Kitchen.
The beginning of KitchenWise.
Kids, Uncensored… things like this are said every week, I need to record it more often.
Some of my favorites are Brayden’s cinnamon colored happy hoodie and Aliyah’s go-with-everything tennies, skinny cord cargos and the Puebla graphic jacket (which is now on sale).
A very wild and precious one too.
Ashlee says
Brayden looks great in Hats!
Happy New Year! I am getting ready to head to bed myself. Not sure if I can make it to midnight.
Frugally Yours says
Happy New Year! Would love to win that great giveaway – good stuff there to try! Love all the photos!
Mami2jcn says
Happy New Year!
If I won I’d get the Talavera Yoke Dress for my daughter.
Thanks.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
Adrienne says
Gentle, beautiful, hopeful thoughts. Thanks! And the photos are wonderful…am especially in love with the tree climbing shots!
Hannah says
Happy New Year to you and your family too! Love the pictures, your daughters laces on her shoes are too cute 🙂
Melanie @ Whimsical Creations says
Happy New Year!! Beautiful photos and wonderful advise to remember. I need to remember to stop and enjoy the moment more….they are not small for long. Love how she has a climbing tree!
We fell asleep before midnight.
What cute kids clothes!! I could do some damage in that shop. 😉
Corey~living and loving says
Hey there! :0) been taking a bit of a bloggy sort of break. Not all together gone…but mostly not there. I’m wanting to get back to it. I am loving your great photos in this post today. so vibrant. thanks for sharing them.
I’m hosting the “52 weeks of me” project for 2012. Consider joining it. 🙂
Happy New Year!
Gerri says
Happy New Year!! Those shots in the tree are priceless!! xo
Tabitha says
Happy New Year!!! Our boys stayed up to watch the ball drop with us this year – their first year ever!!
preeti says
Happy New Year!!! great picture of cute child with wearing awesome looking dresses.
Armani trainers for babys
Jaden Paige says
Your photos are breathtaking, and I admire your ability to keep up with everything in your life and still find time to blog, to cherish the time you have with your family… You seem to balance it all so well and it makes me want to do the same. Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family, I hope it brings many more wonderful memories! <3
Anash says
I love your header with the green grass, its refreshing! Thanks for a super giveaway!
My email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Jessica says
LOVE Bray’s outfit! I’m so gonna get a hoodie if I win. And those flipping cute eyes in that hat? To die for. New Years was the best thus year, and oh the list of goals I’ve got going on.. I’m ready. I know you are!
Staci says
I love the color of your little guy’s hoodie! The photos look like you all were having so much fun! This year, I hope to be a lot like you, enjoying the moments and being appreciative of what I have.
Elena says
I am also drooling over the Tea clothes. I would like to get something for my son as well as for myself.
elena.cacahuete(at)gmail(dot)com
Stina says
Each and EVERY picture and new post makes me miss you guys more and more!!! Can’t wait to see you 🙂 <3 it all @ Tea Collection!!
Briony says
so fun…i’d love to get some accessories for kids photography 🙂
cribs for twins says
Gorgeous photoes! The little guy is so lovely:)