rewind

if i could press "stop", i would!
but i can't. 

so here's a rewind...

{10} blessed

with a name and a blessing
by his daddy
on sunday, april 11th

a sacred and sweet experience for our whole family.

our hearts are grateful for this important gift.

{9} mother hen

or that's how i feel when i see a little cluster of my young.
a huggable armful of my children.
wowzers.

she is oh so serious. thankfully she has a sister who isn't.

{8} easter egg huntings

............................................

a few days earlier the bills' wives hosted an easter egg hunt...have i mentioned what a LUCKY little duck i feel like to be surrounded by so many incredible woman/mothers and children {some of whom are not pictured:( }?

can you handle those thighs??? 

i can't and i'm sure the easter bunny couldn't either!

{7} little man

there is just something so sweet about having a little son to love.

something so heartwarming.

something so unique to having a boy.

can't quite put my finger on it.

but whatever it is, i just want to savor every little moment of it.

including the toesies.

{6} problem solving.

how to water a plant.

...according to an almost 3 year old...

if shaking it doesn't work...

sip, 

then spit.

done.

{5} kites and cherry blossoms

(end of March)


often, i am "that" mom in the grocery store--unshowered, workout clothes (to never be worked out in), puffy eyes, three rambunctious/screaming kids, and whispering threats or dangling promises of special treats over their little heads for good behavior. i imagine my grocery on-lookers saying to themselves, "that is exactly why i don't have kids!"

little do they know, they are missing out. i keep a good secret. because under all of the mayhem and tattered hair, i am really happy. and feel quite lucky to be where i am. and surrounded by these mostly, sweet, little voices.

one saturday, the daredevil mom that i am, braved a very crowded metro, wearing a baby and pushing 2 more. while sweating, i overheard whispers and gasps of, "wow, is she by herself??" and "3 kids!" and "i would never".

a little pride leapt in my heart as i said proudly to myself, "yes i am! and showered...with a picnic!"






but really, i was with friends, thank goodness.
shhh.

and steve joined us later...with the car.
double thank goodness.

still working on the family of five photo.

..........................................................

enjoying the cherry blossoms the following week in the warmth even allowed for a typical photoshoot--madeline all over grant and hannah posing in every tree possible with her "very best friend"

{4} love via osmosis.

try it. it works.

{3} a special visit.

(mid march)

the stovers.

to say this family feels like family, feels like an understatement.

only because that sounds cliche.

for nearly 7 years i was able to shadow this amazing mother of four.

so while most teenagers spent their friday nights at parties or out with friends, i often opted for time with the stovers. 

which then turned into summers at their pool and eventually a beautiful summer at their beach home in block island. 

i adored my big sister role to this freckle-faced foursome. 

and, felt the heartbreak and loss when their sweet little boy, james, passed away.

so seeing them after some years apart and having them meet my husband and children for the first time brought emotions that are hard to describe.

and then to see these all-grown-up-but-still-freckle-faced, beautiful, confident girls play with my little girls in the mud was just too good to be true!

we are ALL looking forward to spending more time with this incredible family this summer...

xoxo

p.s. those are "pies" in the "oven".

girls will always be girls.

{2} missing. daddy. dearly.

(end of february through beginning of march)

to China he went. 

for two looooooooong weeks!

a 6 hour delayed flight, arriving at 2am, didn't stop us from welcoming home the man of our lives.

these little tykes waited patiently at the bottom of the escalators, cold McD fries in hand, bed head, and sleepy eyes. the welcome was sweet indeed!

so while he enjoyed the Forbidden City on the other side of the world, the kids and i road tripped it to nashville, tn with my mom--staying with dear family friends and meeting up with auntie marta and uncle buddy. the southern fun was the perfect distraction!

{1} weekend getaway to quantico, pennsylvania 

(mid february)

ever heard of it? 

neither had we!

but i'm sure you have heard of marriott rewards. 

and we decided it was time to cash in some credit card points.

the indoor pool, morning breakfasts, the ability to throw our towels on the floor and leave the bed unmade, cozy family movies with unlimited free hot chocolate, and indoor "amusement park/children's museum/chuckie cheese" something was just the thing to get us through the next few blizzards.