Tag: thankfulness

Maine

Published on by 7friarys4 Comments

We just got back from spending a week up in Biddeford. Out of all the vacations we take Maine is definitely the most relaxing. Although, I’m sitting here trying to figure out why I’m so exhausted. Emma was able to come up and spend a few days with us at the beginning of the week and then Megan was able to join us for the rest of the week. They actually crossed paths on the highway. Spending an entire week with everyone all together is getting harder and harder these days.

We spent most of our time at the beach with a few little day trips here and there. I have lots of pictures to share!

img_9424img_9411img_9414img_9412img_9400img_9783img_9600img_9614

We took our annual trip up to Portland so we could stop at  The Holy Donut (here)

img_9634img_9635img_9638

img_9637

THE BEST DONUTS!!

img_9631

We went to Kennebunkport

img_9551img_9544

Went out on Lynn’s boat

img_9762img_9719img_9752img_9734img_9773img_9758img_9748img_9733img_9764

Celebrated Chloe turning 17!!!!!! Happy Birthday, Chloe!!!!!

img_9623img_9669img_9662

Spent lots of time on this swing

img_9399img_9397img_9507img_9509

relaxed

 

(Mama selfie)

Chased down the ice cream man

Hahaha!

Took walks

Enjoyed the beauty of Maine

Of course had lobster

But more importantly we enjoyed being together

This Moment

Published on by 7friarysLeave a comment

I’ve been sitting here going through old blog posts from when my girls were all young. I’ve also been looking through old blog posts from one of my favorite bloggers (who inspired me to start my own) and it’s crazy how fast time has flown by. How much these kids have grown (mine and her’s). I’m missing my babies like crazy!! So much that my breathe keeps catching and my eyes start filling up. I miss posting about their first days of school and simple grocery store runs. Play dates, sleepovers and first field hockey games. It all went by so quickly. Then I hear “mom, take a picture” and turn to see this

I’ve been soaking in all of these baby moments with him because I know how quickly time is flying. Two more years until he’s off to kindergarten 😭

November Little Things

Published on by 7friarysLeave a comment

November flew by this year!! I can’t believe that we are three weeks away from Christmas!! We haven’t even gotten our tree yet. Well, I put up a TON of trees around the house (sorry, Jon) but we don’t have the main tree yet.

I figured I’d get some of my November pictures up before the new year. Ha!

We started the month with our annual thankful tree

Chloe had her first ever high school semi formal

Kristen and Marvin were here from L.A. so we got to spend a little time with them. Her sister lives right outside of Boston so I grabbed Megan on my way over.

We decided that we wanted to get another puppy so we started that hunt earlier in the month

We found this cute guy but in the end this sweet girl won our hearts

She has fit in so nicely with our family.

Jon burned dinner one night and we couldn’t get the alarm to shut off. The security company sent the fire department even though I told them not to.

Beckett kept yelling “it’s daddy’s cooking”.

Haha!

We had our first snowfall of the season

We had Megan home for 6 days!! We all went to PF Chang’s one night for dinner

Thanksgiving was another day that flew by! I only have a couple of pictures since I hosted

Had amazing Celtics seats

A few more random photos from the month:

Our thankful tree was full by the end of the month

I couldn’t be more thankful for this family of mine!!

California Part 2

Published on by 7friarysLeave a comment

Can we just stop for a moment and appreciate how beautiful the world is

I’m really missing those California sunsets!!

Balboa Park:

We spent another morning down at the seaport and grabbed an early lunch. Emma wasn’t feeling well so she stayed behind

We went to dinner that night at Jon’s second cousin’s house. It was the first time we met her and we all instantly fell in love with her

Jon and I left the kids one night and met up with an old friend for some drinks

We pretty much went nonstop the entire time we were there and I have so many more pictures to share. Soon.

Graduation

Published on by 7friarysLeave a comment

I remember the day I got these pictures back from her preschool teacher. They brought me to tears (surprise, surprise). I also remember thinking that seeing her in her high school cap and gown would crush me. But, I didn’t have to worry about that for 14 years.

I’ve been dreading graduation for months. I’ve been through this before and I know that even though I’m still their mom and they’re still my “babies”, things just change. Of course the feelings don’t change, just the day to day activities that we’ve been doing forever. Like I said in Emma’s graduation post, it’s not a bad change just different.

I lasted without tears until this next part (SAME as Emma’s graduation)

So even though I got a little teary eyed I really am so excited for her!!

img_1282

It was upside down and it made us laugh. She really is a very smart girl. 

I am SO proud of her and I know that she will go on to do great things in life.

And I hope she knows that where ever life brings her, she will always have this support system who will love her and be there for her no matter what.

Happy Graduation Megan Mackenzie!!

This Moment

Published on by 7friarysLeave a comment

She was sitting on the couch while I was putting Lucy’s lunch together this morning. I turned and saw her staring at me. She smiled and I burst into tears. It’s gonna be a long week. Graduation tomorrow.

Being Thankful When Things Aren’t Perfect

Published on by 7friarys2 Comments

It’s been a pretty crazy week around here.

I drove home on the highway with my tire looking like this. I had Jon and four kids with me and I’m just so thankful that we didn’t have a blowout.

Megan called me all upset after school because someone backed into her car. I’m so thankful that this was the kind of car accident that my kids were in. It seems like such a big deal to her because she worked hard to buy that car but that’s what insurance is for. NO BIG DEAL.

Tracey sent me our family pictures this week and I couldn’t be more in love with them. I’m holding off on posting them because I don’t want to give away our Christmas card photo. It’s my favorite card EVER!! I’m thankful for a best friend who captures my family so beautifully.

Beckett and I have been doing nonstop Christmas shopping this week

He likes to grab things off the shelves while I shop

He doesn’t like being told that we have to put them back.

Ha!

I’m thankful for the cutest shopping buddy in town

We saw our first snowflakes of the season. I am NOT ready for a cold winter. But I’m thankful for the warm home I share with those I love

She is the best dog!

he got a stern talking to about pulling Daisy’s ear. I’m thankful for #thebestdogever

I’m thankful for the beautiful area we call Home

Im thank for a little donut eating 😉

I’m thankful for baby snuggles!

I’m thankful for this family that I get to call mine.

November, I absolutely love you!! It’s a great month to sit back and count our blessings. I spent all last month thinking about bullying awareness. There is so much of it going on. It’s in the schools, it’s in the media. Moms bullying other moms, kids bullying kids. I can’t turn on the news without leaving the room in tears these days. It’s so sad to me that people out there will intentionally hurt someone else. I just don’t get it. Yesterday was world kindness day. One day. Yeah, I don’t get that either.I’m going focus on that for the rest of the year. I’m going to keep teaching my kids to be kind. To stand up to bullies but to also have empathy for them. Happy people don’t go around saying nasty things about others. Happy people won’t make others look bad just to try and make themselves look better. It’s so sad to me. But, I’m also thankful for all these teachable moments with my children. I don’t know if it’s the Mom in me or the Christian in me but I hope these people will find peace this holiday season. Will try to change and ask for forgiveness.

One thing I try and ask my kids everyday in November is “what are you thankful for today”? Maybe it’s getting corny the older they get but I’m trying to plant the seeds in their minds and in their hearts.

Happy Week before Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for today?

Just Wait

Published on by 7friarys2 Comments

“Just wait”, they would say to Jon whenever we told people that we were expecting our third and fourth daughters. “Just wait until they’re all teenagers”. “You poor thing”. “Your poor husband”. “Hopefully the next one will be a boy”, they would say. People can be so dumb, so insensitive. Especially since they would say this in front of me. A WOMAN!! Our third baby girl is 15. Our first is 21! I’ve been parenting teenage girls for 8 years now and I LOVE IT! I even had three teenage daughters at once. They’re good girls, all of them!! Sweet, kind, caring, helpful. Fun to hang out with and talk to. They’ve never given me any trouble! I can count on one hand how many times they’ve each given me an attitude. They don’t get into any trouble, and if they do then they’re pretty good at hiding it, so I’m going to go ahead and give them props for that, too! I feel blessed to be a mom of 4 girls. I’m on the couch right now, sick. (Probably just a 24 hour thing.) Three of my girls are home with me right now. Chloe made dinner while Megan and Lucy entertained Beckett and cleaned up the kitchen. While putting Lucy’s laundry away this morning, Emma kept me company and made Lu’s bed.  I didn’t ask any of them to do anything. They all took over and did what needed to be done to help me out. So the next time I see a pregnant woman who is carrying a baby girl I’m going to go out of my way to tell her how lucky she is. 

This Moment

Published on by 7friarysLeave a comment

This was my view from the kitchen this morning while I was busy getting everyone ready for the day. They sat snuggled under blankets while watching Nickelodeon. Beckett usually gets up an hour before Lucy and has his banana while watching Mickey Mouse but today he actually slept in!! 

Little moments like these are the ones I always want to remember. 

This Moment

Published on by 7friarysLeave a comment

I think the terrible twos hit about a week and a half early. This little monkey has been throwing temper tantrums all week long! Is it a boy thing? I don’t remember the girls throwing massive tantrums like this. Well, Chloe did a few times but it was short lived (fingers crossed B gets over it quick, too). Last night when we were leaving the football game Beckett had a full blown meltdown. He didn’t have a nap, it was an hour past his bedtime and it was freezing! As I was walking out an old man laughed and said “boy, you have your hands full (probably also noticing the gaggle of children walking with me). I just smiled,because tantrums don’t really bother me all that much and said to him “better full than empty”. I try not to take any of these fleeting moments for granted. Three years from now both Megan and Chloe will be in college. I’m sure Emma will be out of the house by then too. My house will seem so quiet with only the little ones here. 

I will forever take the temper tantrums over a quiet, boring house! 

As I rocked Beckett to sleep tonight and his little body melted into mine, I sat and listened to him breathe in the quiet. All the tantrums of the day were quickly forgotten and I just thanked God for sending me another sweet little baby so late in life.