celebrate the small things | June 20

Here we are on the last official day of spring and I'm a part of the official celebrate the small things bloghop once more! YAY!  It's such a wonderful way to be reminded of your blessings that I encourage everyone to sign up and join this very happy community!  There's nothing better every Friday - the best day of the week already! - than sharing in lots of joy with others!

This week I'm  celebrating:

•  the fact that my birdfeeder has attracted two new bird species that I've never seen before! (I know this is a reoccurring theme but it's MY celebration, SO :p!!)  Now I not only see the regulars (blue jays, Inca doves, golden finches and cardinals) eating outside my window, but I also see:

tufted titmouse (s or is it titmice?)

#157695299 / gettyimages.com

and black capped chickadees

#88962040 / gettyimages.com

I couldn't be happier!  Both of these guys have the sweetest chirps and songs!

• while I haven't got any good photos of them yet - and had to borrow the above from getty - I'm celebrating that I was able to snap my best shot (yet) of three, young neighbourhood white-tailed stags during a walk with the pups!

• Next, was a particularly wonderful trip to Bull Creek where the puppies went swimming for the first time in their lives!  Baxter, my poodle, is working on a blog post about it: which includes a video of his first attempts and will be up by the end of the day!  You can check it out at his blog right here. I'm celebrating this because as a mama (even a doggy mama) your children's successes tend to be your own and I was beaming with pride.  Not to mention, it was the most fun we've had as a family in ... well ever!
• I'm also celebrating the fact that yesterday I was able to accompany Will on a work trip to Surfside Beach, where we had a wonderful lunch and spent some time on the shore (post & pics to follow).  As we stood there, with the sand between our toes and salty air on our skin, Will and I decided to take a spontaneous mini-break!  So, first thing Sunday, we are off to South Padre Island for a few days! Yipee!  I feel so lucky and blessed in our ability to get up and go like that :)  I will never take these things for granted and will continue to celebrate our freedom, this country and our marriage forever!
• and another wonderful girls' night on Tuesday with my lovely new friend

Life is wonderful!  I look forward to posting all about our adventure to the island with lots of photos and I hope that where ever you are, you have a terrific weekend!  Welcome to summer!  (Or winter, to all you Aussies x)