Reasons to smile

I'm an optimistic person. I try and find the blessing in each event and moment. I throw the occasional (or frequent, I can't lie) pity party. BUT I can still find the joy in life. Tonight I'm thinking of a few reasons to smile.

*Healthy body
*I get to teach dance and create something new!
*indoor plumbing
*sweet children who love to snuggle with me
*a handsome hubby who kisses me 4x each night before bed
*family I can laugh with
*cash in my wallet
*chocolate dipped strawberries in my fridge
*a reuben sandwich in my tummy
*Michael Buble
*Fireman Sam tv show (no, its not my favorite to watch. But it is the ONLY show Max will sit and watch in its entirety, allowing me to take a 9 1/2 min shower each morning.)
*House hunting
*Clearance racks
*The Holy Ghost to comfort my troubled heart
*My Savior and Heavenly Father
*our dishwasher
*US postal service
*cars
*sunshine and playing outside
*rain clouds feel like a protective blanket. I know that sounds weird but I love the rain and feel calm even during storms.
*pancakes

Why waste time seeing all that's wrong with the world, instead find a reason to smile! Share yours in a comment if you like :)

Jumpin' July

Okay so I've kinda forgotten to post anything lately. Here's a peek into our lives this month.

Lots of pool time....120 heat index lately
*note: I have an amazing hubby. He works hard, plays hard and is a strong soul. He gets up with the kids each morning so I can sleep in. He never yells at me as I carry in all my yard saling treasures. and together we dream of our future. Thank heaven we're sealed for eternity, cause we have big plans!

Lilia and Max are starting to actually play together, they're buddies!

Max insists on feeding himself with a spoon and does an ok job of it.

Beach, beach and more beach.....we are the beach Broughs ya know!

Saw Harry Potter on opening day. and again since. I wore my Gryffindor badge!

my goofy son puts the bucket on his head and yells cause he likes the vibrations it makes....so silly! (truth is, i showed him how;) )

playgrounds are a favorite place when the heat cooperates

isn't he just the handsomest boy ever!!!!

Lilia the Firefighter....we love the Margate Library and all the fun things they have going on. this was a display of the Firetrucks and all their stuff. Lilia and cousins even got to spray the fire hose.
right after I gave Max a haircut. I love his curls and many are still intact but his hair was becoming fluffy and needed a trim.

Happy Birthday Pop!

Happy Indepence Day! We love the parade. Isn't she darling?!

Mr. Max, another Firefighter!

Max and cousin Josh lovin' the rides on OC Boardwalk.

Cousins galore....we love 'em!

Puddle jumping is pretty great!
Lilia has grown up so much recently. She dresses herself (sometimes the outfits are very interesting). She goes potty herself, she helps Max, and she is just plain AWESOME! She can be a bit sassy but together we're working on being kinder and happier!

blue eyed boy
Max seems older each time he awakes. I can't believe how quickly he's grown. He does stairs in both directions, he feeds himself, he amuses himself in his room. He's a dancing machine!!!! He now says "mama" and "night night". He's such a snuggle bug and a truly happy guy! I love him to pieces.

We even had a special visit from Papa Larry and Uncle Brad!

July isn't over yet, and neither are our adventures. and in other news in the past 2.5 years I've taken over 10,000 pictures with my camera :)

101st Baby Parade

We were "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle
The Caterpillar played by Max
The Butterfly played by Lilia Sue

and the popular role of the tree by Mommy

the butterfly landed on Daddy

Little known fact: caterpillars prefer plastic

flight test

I made these wings for my little girl and she loves them. She tried to help make some with fabric scraps and told me she was making a "peanut butterfly" :)

trying to survive the rainy parade. she laid down in the wagon after a few blocks and refused to wave anymore. It was actually quite cute.