happy new year.

2012 was busy, yet joyful.
and now, i'm looking forward to a brand new year. 
a year of new beginnings. a fresh new start.

i think it's going to be a wonderful 2013. 

hope yours is too.

happy new year!

celebrating, thank you's and goodbyes.

life has been anything but quiet and calm. i knew the month of may would prove to be busy and hectic. but, when i look back at what we have been doing lately, it's been a lot of celebrating, giving thanks and goodbyes.

during the first week of may, we showed teachers our appreciation with a whole week of thank you's and gifts. followed by preparation for slade's first holy communion, which occurred during mother's day weekend. we celebrated here at home with a big party of family and friends. we were very thankful that so many of our family members traveled to share such a special day with us. and lucky for us, timing proved perfect, as it allowed us to celebrate both of our mom's for mother's day and with all of our siblings and children too.

then came sia's preschool graduation and a week of end of the year festivities. for me,  it was a very emotional week. we said goodbye to a school that we have been a part of for seven years.  i can hardly believe my baby is all done with preschool, but so proud and happy of the little girl she is growing up to be.  she is so ready for kindergarten.

the baseball season also came to an end. slade is loving baseball these days and i love to see his passion and ambition for the sport. we celebrated last week with an end of the season team party and came home with an awesome trophy. and so, we said goodbye to a great team of boys and coaches.

and, then this week. it has been a week of elementary school award ceremonies, parties and saying thank you (and goodbyes) to all of the teachers we love. elle earned the young artist award and wrote an award winning autobiography. her sense of creativity makes me smile with joy and i couldn't be more proud. and slade earned an award for outstanding excellence. it brings me such happiness to see how much they enjoy school and strive to excel.

and so, during our very busy month of may, i am a very, very proud mother, who has much to celebrate. i have so much gratitude for the family, friends and people that surround our lives. and although we have said many goodbyes, memories of the people and places will never be forgotten but a part of us forever.

sweetness + simple happiness.

i am loving all the quiet moments sia and i have together. i wrote about my smiley girl here. just this morning her sweet little voice said to me, "mommy... when daddy is home and we are all together...our whole family... i mean our whole family... can we go get an ice cream cone together?" how sweet. a simple ice cream cone. family. just being together. i love my sia for her sweetness and simple happiness.

my smiley girl.

her smile is contagious. she'll brighten any day. my silly sia. she loves writing name, flip flops, her toy shopping cart, making her bed, brightly painted toes, bagels, vanilla yogurt and sweets. she'll find a use for any bag. i mean any. she idolizes her brother and sister. she has such a kind heart. greatly huge for someone so small. she promises her mommy she will always take care of her. and is always there when i need a hug or a smile. i love the way she snuggles up to me when reading books at night. lately, she has been my sole sidekick as slade and elle head off to school each day. she is always happily by my side. my little sia, such a smiley girl who always brightens my days.

moments.

via seeing the everyday magazine
(and wonderfully written)

happy monday. where did my day go?

i am just stopping and sitting down now for a moment. the kids are in bed, i just threw a load of whites in the washer and finally i am eating a dinner of crackers and cheese.

sometimes i wonder how a day can slip by just like that? yet, when i finally stop and remain idle for some time, i remember the moments. i remember the moments that made me smile. it was the confidence elle showed as she got on the school bus this morning and then found the friend she was planning to sit with. it was the giant chocolate chip cookie i bought sia as a treat today and in return she said "thank you mommy, i'm the best girl, right?" or her excitement to use the scanner at the self-checkout while we were shopping. it was the fabulous shirt i found (and bought) on clearance, perfect for the fall. it was the smile of proud satisfaction that slade gave to me as he came out of the batting cage looking my way. it was my two children sitting quietly in their rooms doing homework diligently. it was the sweet text messages i received from my more than supportive husband. it was the quiet "i love you's" and the kisses i placed on each child's forehead after they fell asleep. and, it is the calmness and serenity that permeates through our home as i sit here now.

everyday, there are those moments. joyful, happy, gratifying moments. moments that may seem inconsequential but are so nurturing for me and for our family. moments of reassurance. moments of life. i thought the day just quickly went by. but now i remember as i am sitting here now. i remember the simple, meaningful moments that give fulfillment to my life everyday.

arrived.

last night, jeff arrived.

we are very happy to be together once again. it's been more than three months since our home has been complete with family. since we have been all here together at home. it was so nice to hear laughter and excitement this morning. finally, all sitting down to breakfast and then playing games down in the basement. the kids are more than happy. and as for me... calmness, contentment, and absolute joy now that my husband has arrived home.

my little boy.

my little boy has such a sweet little heart. he is a worker, a planner, an organizer and likes things to be just so. he is wonderfully creative, loves surprises and hates goodbyes. he is not afraid to play house with his sisters, yet loves spending time with the boys riding scooters and bikes and playing sports and video games. he enjoys helping me cook and bake, yet when daddy is home he is always right by his side. he assists him with the yard work and household chores. loves tools, going to home depot and anything with speed. he is a rough little boy with so much energy, yet his heart is so gentle.

this morning he woke up and went down to the kitchen before the girls and i. from the upstairs i could hear dishes and silverware and the microwave running. he yelled up to us to stay upstairs because he had a surprise. of course, the girls ran down anyway, and he begged them not to look in the kitchen until it was time. he had the breakfast table set for all of us with plates and forks and napkins and juice glasses and maple syrup. he had warmed up the leftover waffles from yesterday. on each plate was either a half or a whole waffle and he told us where to sit. he was so proud of his surprise. proud he prepared breakfast this morning for us to enjoy.

this is not the first time my 6-year old boy has prepared us a meal. we've had lunches of crackers and cheese and fruit and snacks delivered in small little bowls.

i love my little boy for a million reasons and more. when i look at him, i know i am seeing his daddy all over again. i know his daddy was this same little boy. the same little boy i am watching grow each and every day. and someday, like his daddy, my little boy with such a sweet heart is going to make some girl so wonderfully happy. just like his mommy is today.