Friday, April 29, 2011

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Great Idea from SouleMama

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Heavy

Our neighbor is not doing well today and his family is gathered around him. 

We are home, waiting for his little brother to burst through our door after school.
We'll have snacks and do homework and maybe play in the rain.  
We will pretend like everything is ok while we wait for news from the hospital.  

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Colby G

He is waving Bye-Bye. 
And he just spent 10 minutes slobbering all over my face when I said "give me kisses!" 
He sits in the swing in the park and eats whatever I put on his tray. 

Sometimes it feels like it is all happening so fast. 
He is supposed to be my baby forever, so I never have to be pregnant again. 
But he didn't get that memo. 

The novelty of him hasn't worn off even after almost 9 months. 
They still fight over who gets to say good morning first, who pushes him in the swing and who rides next to him in the car. 

He is the best thing that ever happened to us. 
Better than video games and sprinkles and the beach. 

He is the kind of baby that makes you want more. 
Notice that I said you and not me!! 


Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter Moments







Easter Egg Hunts
Easter Olympics
Easter Laughs
Easter Love

I can't wait for next year! 

Friday, April 22, 2011

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Great Idea from SouleMama

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Just Us

ps. don't mess with Colby

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Monday, April 18, 2011

When they fall...

 Life has a way of happening. Sometimes life throws the good at you and you relish in the sunny days, the bigger than expected tax returns, and perfect vacations. The good experiences stack up like dominoes and you delight in the snaking curve of good fortune and marvel at how the good days all line up and balance together to make your life feel just about perfect.

But then out of nowhere, straight out of left field, a strong gust starts them off and your dominoes come tumbling down. The wind is knocked out of your sails and you are left breathless for a moment, dizzy with the sudden realization that life wasn't as perfect as you thought it was.
A year ago today I was in the hospital with Kidney stones. My baby belly just beginning to show and in tremendous pain. It rocked my little world and the dominoes teetered and toppled for the next 5 months. The arrival of my baby was the first domino to go back up again and the line has been growing ever since. One domino at a time curving and bending beautifully.

And then twice in the last month we have received the news that someone in our inner circle has cancer. The first a mom with two little ones diagnosed with Breast Cancer. The second a 20 yr old neighbor with advanced stage Leukemia.  The Dominoes have never fallen so fast. Hearing their voices, listening to their stories, realizing that life can change in one instant - that nothing else matters but the ones you love healthy and happy beside you.

I have no doubt that they will recover and go on to build their line of dominoes, bigger and better than before. In the meantime Ill appreciate every little good thing that comes my way and share whatever good I can with them.

This is Screen Free Week, the kids school vacation week, and we are heading home to Marshfield for a Spring visit. So Ive planned a few pictures to pop up while Im gone, but that's it! I hope to use my screen free time to soak up all the spring flowers, happy smiles, and tight hugs. 


See you next week :)

Friday, April 15, 2011

This Moment


{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Great Idea from SouleMama

Thursday, April 14, 2011

April Showers

 Bring May Flowers...as long as they don't bring winter boots, I don't care what they bring!! 
 We retreated to one of our favorite places. The Staten Island Childrens museum. There are so many reasons to love it, but one of the best is that they don't open to the public until 12 and school groups are only allowed before 12. That translates to about 4 families in the whole building. 
 We'll take a few rainy days here and there, thank you very much. 

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Good Times

I laughed then...and Im still laughing now - I love this family of mine :)




Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Cove

 We gathered at the Cove to soak our feet in the icy water and to soak in the sun. 
But mostly to soak in each other. 




 I think our family feels most at home at the beach.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Surprise!

 We did it. 
We surprised Mom for her 60th Birthday! 
 We gathered together in an unbelievable location - a once in a lifetime weekend. We celebrated her, we loved her, we did our best to express to her how much she means to all of us. 
 It was perfection. 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Great Idea from SouleMama

Grrrr...

 This is what I feel like today. 

Lots of things to do and not getting to any of it. 

Throw an extra kid or two into the mix & a teething baby...I feel like pulling my hair out. 
(what a ridiculous expression!)

I wish a pretzel rod or an extra bouncy bouncy ball could distract me as easily as it does for Ty. 

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Oops

 I messed up. 

I promise never to cut his hair again...once it finally grows in. 

I don't even recognize him. 

I miss him and his crazy hair. 

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Toy

 It starts first thing in the morning and lasts all day. Every day for the last 8 months, with no signs of slowing down. 
 They queue up in the morning as if waiting in line for the hottest concert tickets in town. 
Just to talk to him. 

They fight over who sits next to him in the car, who can fetch his diapers, or find his pacifier. 

They laugh when he rips out their hair, scratches their noses, or drools on their toys. 

They sing when he cries, dance to distract him when he gets his medicine. 

Tyler is often found laying beside him in the crib, or tucked up under the handle of his car seat -practically laying right on top of him.

I don't blame them. 

Sometimes I sneak upstairs for a moment  - just to have him all to myself. 

Our toy. 

Out Take

 Sometimes the out takes are better than the best shots. 

In pictures and in life. 

Like when the ride to the "fun spot" turns out to be more fun because the radio is blasting some crappy Pop song and we are all singing along at the tops of our lungs. Because 5 &3 yr olds singing "DJs got us falling in love again" is always funny. 

This may be one of my favorite out takes of all time. The story goes that after eating their Italian Ice they were so cold they ran to the couch to get warm. Miraculously they didn't fight about sharing the blanket. I ran to get my camera and grabbed up Colby on the way. A 5 minute argument followed deciding who Colby would sit next to. Then the kissing started, quickly followed by tears and pulled hair and hitting. 

I sat back and laughed. Enjoying the not so perfect moment, that was exactly perfect in its own way. 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Monday Randomness

 :: We had one of those weekends, which can only be summed up with random notes.

::It was one of those weekends where at the end I wondered if my husband & I had 2 minutes to talk.  I hate that, because all week I look forward to having whole days with him...and then they disappear in a wink.
 ::Drew's eardrum ruptured. It was gross. Really gross. Luckily there is nothing too serious about it and when it ruptures, the pain is relieved. But my heart breaks for these sick kids. Did I mention Tyler has a type of ear infection that causes a blister on the eardrum? Ugh.
:: I had some fun one-on-one time with Ella. We went to a Birthday Party and to Target, then we sat in a restaurant waiting for our take out to be ready. It was awesome. Having little conversations with her and hearing her observations was hands down the best part of my weekend.

::Worst part of my weekend? Giving Ty his antibiotic. Picture Mike holding him down on the floor while I squirt the liquid in. Sobbing. Heart wrenching, "Mommy, PLEASE don't give me my medicine!!" But then he lets me hold him on the couch for 15 minutes and whisper in his ear.

:: 3 kids slept through the night last night - which around here is pretty much bliss.

Friday, April 1, 2011

This Moment


{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Great Idea from SouleMama