Crista Acosta Photography »

Dear S.G.,

Yesterday while the little guys napped, you and I sat together on the couch sharing grapes and talking about going back to school.  We both grumbled about summer being over, and I mentioned how quickly it has gone by – noting that we had just first met you only a few months before school let out.  You didn’t skip a beat as you looked at me with your silly crooked smile and said “Doesn’t it kinda feel like I’ve been here forever?”.   My heart swelled as I nodded my head.  It really does feel like you’ve been here forever – like you were always meant to be a part of this family.

You amaze me with your resiliency and ability to adapt, you are wise well beyond your years.  Your brothers adore you – L.A. talks about his sister to anyone who will listen – despite the non stop rivalry he seems to exhibit when you’re around, he loves you.  Watching P2’s face light up when you climb into the car makes me so happy.  You were meant to be here.

The last four months have been a whirlwind of emotions for all of us, and it hasn’t always been easy to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of our new lives – but we are all so grateful to have you.  The energy in our house is different when you’re here… even when you’re just sitting quietly at the table coloring as I cook dinner, it’s comforting to look over and see you there.  I would never trade our Sunday mornings – when you pile into our bed with your brothers to watch cartoons, and Daddy and I are left nearly falling off the bed.  Your high pitched squeals mingling as the Daddy Monster chases you and L.A. around the living room may pierce my eardrum, but it means you guys are having fun.

Our house and hearts are full because of you, and I hope someday you will understand how much we love you… how blessed we are that you have been added to our family.  How much you truly are meant to be here.

Crista

I’m usually a fall girl – I love the way the air the smells, I love sitting outside with a sweater wrapped around me, watching the leaves dance around the yard.  I love the blustery cool air in my hair, I love mums on my front steps, and hearty dinners slowly cooking in the kitchen.  This year though?  I’m willing to press pause.  It’s been a hot, sticky, humid summer, but it’s been a summer of love for us.  A summer of growth, and a summer of enjoying our family and friends immensely.

It truly has been the endless summer.  Afternoons spent poolside listening to the kids shriek as they jump into the water, spending hours teaching L.A. and S.G. how to swim, and P2 happily being passed arm to arm until our fingers are pruned and little teeth start chattering.  I wouldn’t mind just holding on a bit longer…

Quick note:  All of these pictures were taken on my little Canon S90 point and shoot camera with a special underwater housing unit that I picked up.  Some were taken by me, and some were taken by Sweet Girl… none are technically anything perfect, but they’re our summer.  ;)

Boys play dirty.  There’s no way around it, they just play in a totally different way than girls do.  A few weeks ago, we were hanging out next door letting the sticky summer air wrap it’s arms around us while the boys played with the hose in the driveway.  Eventually the water pooled in a little patch of dirt next to the garage, and the boys dubbed it Monster Truck Island.  They sat, splashed, mushed mud on each other, and laughed in delight.  As I glanced over to my neighbor E, I said to her – “this is one of those perfect summer afternoons I never want to forget”.  I grabbed my camera and started snapping away, dirty faces, wet pants, filthy feet… and happy boys.  I love these four – built in best friends, just a fence apart.