InstaKings...

Another post that I started an never finished. #samestorydifferentday

Here's a glimpse at us through my phone... 

One of her favorite times of the week is after we drop the bigs off at Sunday school. She gets me and Ryan all to herself for an hour. And she loves it. And you know what? We do, too. 

They wanted spooky. I think it works. 

We certainly had a faBOOlous time at Room on the Broom at OPAS!

"Coffee, coffee, coffee is a saying, like an exaggeration. It's a funny, desperate cry for caffeine. It's just my thing cause everybody knows I drink a lot of coffee, so the day can't start until I've had my morning jolt. It's a bit, my bit."#lifeaccordingtoLorelai

ps. My former student turned lifelong friend was in town for like A DAY and made sure to bring this by my house because 1. She's amazing and 2. is the reason I am obsessed with GG.

And this, dear friends, is called dinner. "Let's put everything on the table and eat. Everything goes."

The temps dropped below 70 for like a split second. I pretended it was fall and loved it. 

#youwillseethisponchoalot 

This is our "we got a flu shot so lets go get ice cream" face. 

Y'all. We live in THE FUTURE. This had to happen. 

Side note: this movie is A LOT more "adult" than I remembered. Within the first 25 minutes they said sh**, GD, JC, SOB, and bastard like 4 times each. 

Oops. 

Soccer practice snuggles with this one. 

While this one rocks her skirt on the field. 

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

Anaïs Nin

My heart needs more time alone with friends and Holly has become such a dear friend in such a short amount of time. Not sure what took us so long to meet but so glad we have forever to make up for it!

And that's us in an instant!

Tiny Tales Thursday...

"Momma, can we go to New Yowk on Saterday?" 

~ Landry King, age 3

Future Manhattanite 

(I of course said yes I would love to go but I didn't think Daddy would let us. Gotta keep them on team Mommy so cool points are out the roof for me. Ryan? notsomuch. #strategy)

Empty bowls...

I can imagine going without lots of things. New shoes. Fancy shampoo. Heck, I wore nursing bras longer than I should probably admit. (TMI?) But one thing I can't imagine is my kids going without food. Ever. I think Radley was almost 4 before he felt an actual hunger pain. The kid had food shoved at him basically every 5 minutes because we are on schedules and routines - we stop for snacks, and our kids walk around with water bottles because heaven forbid they ever get thirsty and not have something readily available. 

But this isn't the case for so many people. And not just people far away, but people, families, CHILDREN in our towns, in our neighborhoods, in our schools. And I'll admit, I didn't always "get it" - I didn't always see, but then it happened. 

My students volunteer at the BV Food Bank every week and I join them from time to time. I had just helped them stuff bags for the Backpack Program and the next week I had meetings at Radley's school. 

And I saw them. 

Dozens of bags of food that were going home with students, classmates, friends of Radley's. His school. Our school. And I stood in that hallway and I wept. Not out of pity, but anger. Food insecurity is an epidemic in so many communities, it doesn't discriminate, it doesn't care how hard a parent works, or how young a child is - it's everywhere. 

But we can do something about it, we can all play a role in stopping the epidemic. Holly shares this passion (you may remember how she coordinates families volunteering at the Food Bank every summer) so we got together and hosted an afternoon to support The Empty Bowls Project. 

This is "an international grassroots effort to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger."  U Paint It is offering anyone to paint a soup bowl for a small fee to be donated to the Empty Bowls Project auction. For a small donation, attendees of the event get a modest meal of soup, bread and will also leave with a painted bowl.

I love that our community is rallying to fight hunger. 

And there is still time for you to join!

If you'd like to get involved, you have until November 12 to swing by U Paint It and paint a bowl. This is a really great way to start talking to your kids about serving. It's a great way to build community with your friends. It's just a great way to play a small part in a really big problem. 

After you've finished your masterpiece, make plans to stop by Frame Gallery on Saturday, November 21 from 11am-1pm. This is where your donation gets you lunch and a hand painted bowl as a reminder that hunger exists. Not far away but right here. 

Holly issued the most beautiful challenge today and I do hope you accept. 

May we all accept. Because it's not just the problem for those around us. It's OUR problem, too. 

How will you fill an empty bowl?