Tag: toddler

Being Thankful When Things Aren’t Perfect

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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?

Halloween 

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Halloween was so fun this year!! Beckett has been telling me for weeks what his plan was: “knock door, tick teat, candy”. It pretty much went just like that. He did such a good job! He walked the entire night and didn’t let anyone help carry his candy bag (learning young). He just dragged it along behind him when it got too heavy. He had such a great time and we all had a blast watching him. I also have to add that Lucy is an AMAZING big sister. She was so patient with his little legs! Helping him up and down stairs and encouraging him to say thank you and Happy Halloween. This was a night that I’ll remember for many, many years. 

Halloween Tradition

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I realized last night that Halloween was only 2 nights away and we hadn’t carved our pumpkins yet. When one of my older daughters (who shall remain nameless) asked what was up for the night I told her that we were planning on turning on Halloween music and carving pumpkins. She rolled her eyes and said, “yeah, not really feeling it.” Ha! Gotta love teenagers. I told her that it was fine and she didn’t have to participate if she didn’t want to. I actually didn’t expect any of the older girls to want to do it this year. But, I’m a sucker for family traditions and I want to make sure that Lucy and Beckett get everything out of their childhood that the older girls got. 

Lucy was sick yesterday and spent the morning on the couch watching home movies. It made me realize how important these traditions are because time is flying by so quick. It’s great to know that the traditions we started in our old house with three little girls are things we still do today. 

By the time we put the newspaper on the kitchen table and put the Monster Mash on the stereo all five of my kids were gathered around our kitchen table. I have to admit that I LOVE the fact that my kids (and husband) are also suckers for family traditions. 


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When we finished with the pumpkin we baked the seeds and watched Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. The kids were less enthusiastic about that one. Ha!! 

Life Lately

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Busy! That’s the only way to describe life in the Friary house these days. I have 2200 pictures on my phone because I am desperately trying to capture everything because if I don’t I’ll forget. 

We celebrated Beck’s 2nd birthday with a construction theme party 


We went shopping for our Halloween costumes and crafts. 

We’ve been working on senior pictures


We had senior night



We’ve been spending an insane amount of time outside because the weather has been fantastic!!


Jon’s been spending all of his free time putting in hardwood floors 


And a few more photos just because 




October is flying by!! 

Beckett James, 2 Years

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I have a hashtag on Instagram that’s #OhBeckett. It’s something I say to him about 20 times a day: When he crawls up on my lap and gives me a hug and a kiss without me asking I will sigh and say “Oh Beckett, I love you”. When he runs towards a cup of water or Daisy’s dog bowl and pours it out before I can reach him I sigh and say “Oh Beckett, why did you do that?” When he throws a temper tantrum or pulls someone’s hair I get annoyed and say “Oh Beckett, behave yourself!” When he’s playing in another room and I can’t see him I will call out “Oh Beckett, where are you?” Normally he yells out “Dining room”. Ha! He always hides in there.

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Oh Beckett, I am sitting here trying to wrap my head around the fact that you are two years old!! Wasn’t it just yesterday that daddy and I were walking miles around the apple orchard trying to get you to come out and meet us? I think back at how much you’ve changed from even just a year ago and it’s amazing how you went from being a sweet baby to being an even sweeter big boy.

Some big changes this year: Walking!! You were a late walker. You didn’t walk unassisted until you were 15.5 months. I really don’t blame you, you are living with 6 other people who love having you on their hip. Your vocabulary has exploded!! You give out ” I Love You’s” all day long. You are so independent, too! If I say “let mama help you” you’ll look at me and say “no, Beck help” or “no, Beck do” .  You went on your first airplane ride to Disney World where you fell MORE in love with Mickey Mouse and his friends. You started sleeping through the night. F I N A L L Y!! It only took 21 months but we did it!! We stopped nursing (completely at 23 months). You still ask for it every couple of days. But, we’re done. Which is a big change because I really thought you were gonna be attached to that boob until you were 5! You whip around on your little bikes and play all by yourself for a good, long while. You don’t need anyone to sit there and entertain you anymore.

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Eating: You wake up every morning and the first thing you ask for is a banana. You sit and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with a banana EVERY morning! For breakfast you usually have a waffle or a piece of toast with a yogurt. Lunch is different every day. You usually nap through lunch so it’s something quick like chicken nuggets, pasta or sometimes eggs with spinach. Dinner is whatever we’re eating for the night. You snack pretty healthy throughout the day. You LOVE LOVE LOVE berries! I always have to have them in the house. Favorite foods: Pizza! Good Earth baby granola bars, yogurt, bananas, berries, pretzels with hummus. Tortilla chips with salsa, cheese, crackers with cream cheese, ice-cream and m&m’s. I had to bribe you at a football game with them recently and you ask for them almost daily now.

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Playtime: You LOVE your cars and trucks!!! You sit for the longest time pushing them around and playing with your little garage. You still LOVE football and yell touchdown whenever you see a Patriots logo. You love to be outside and love having Lucy drive you around in your new truck!

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You love to go to the park and on walks. You LOVE when the girls have friends over because you LOVE teenage girls. Especially Chloe’s friend, Mia. As soon as she walks in the house you go running towards the door yelling “Mia!!” It’s pretty cute. You love teasing the dog and wrestling with whoever is sitting on the floor. You make me sit on the kitchen floor with you whenever you want to sit down for a snack. You pretty much have everyone in this house wrapped around that cute little two year old finger.

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Oh Beckett!!! I love you with all of my heart!! I can’t wait to see what new things “2” brings this year!! Happy Birthday, buddy!!

 

This Moment

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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

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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. 

Recent iPhone Photos

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I’m much better at keeping up with recording life over at Instagram than I am over here. But, I’m going to keep trying because I LOVE coming over here and going through all of my old posts. 

A few things from the past 10 or so days

We celebrated Connor and Camden’s birthday last weekend. 


Now that the weather is getting cooler (a little) it’s back to the park we go! Beckett prefers the sandbox and trucks to the swings and slides 


Megan had a night out in Boston with some friends and sent me this cute picture:


My parents came up for a visit so my mom and I went out to lunch and shopping with B. 


We made it to our first football game of the season. Our school is in the middle of building a new stadium and field so all of Megan’s games are away.


Jon had Friday off so I met Lucy for lunch


Grocery shopping with my little buddy


Croquet 


Ha!

We gave Beckett his birthday present a few weeks early. Lucy thinks it’s hers and drives it for him. Hahaha! He could care less, he just loves hanging out with her


And, a few more photos of Beck. Just because.

Five Things From This Week

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1) School mornings. I kinda like them. As long as I get up when I’m supposed to and take the time the night before to prepare for the next day I actually enjoy our busy mornings 


2) Beckett in a toy store


Hahaha!! 

3) Football season has begun!! 


4)  I’m seriously enjoying being home with Beckett SOOOO much!! I LOVE having all of these older girls around (my bff’s). That mother/daughter bond is amazing, ya’ll. But being able to do this mommy thing all over again, this time with a little boy is pretty dang amazing!!  I look forward to our weekly Target trips. It’s the mommy/baby hang out and I love that I’m still part of that “crew”.


Ugh!! He’s gonna grow up too 😭

5) At the beginning of the summer we told the girls to each pick a place they want to vacation to next summer and do a presentation convincing Jon and I why we should pick their destination. They had all summer to work on it and had to present it to us on Labor Day. Two of the four girls worked hard on it. Two didn’t, so we won’t be visiting Amsterdam or Iceland next summer. HA! Lucy picked the Aulani resort in Hawaii. She worked so hard on it all summer! She is so stinkin cute!! 


We told them that we would announce our vacation plans on New Years. Fingers crossed, Lucy!! 

Apple Picking 

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Now that September is here I am ready for all things fall!! Jon and I took the kids (well, 4 of them) apple picking on Saturday morning 

Once Megan got out of work we took a ride out to Newburyport to go to the Riverfest. They Might be Giants was the closing band ( we got there with only 2 hours left of the festival). 


Loved having everyone together to close out our summer. Happy unofficial start to fall!!