Thursday, December 19, 2013

A Star!

Gracie's Christmas Performance from Sarah Mejias on Vimeo.


Gracie performed as angel today in her school Christmas Play.  It was awesome.  Mason was yelling for "DAD!" the whole time and I was half watching, half wrestling the baby.  Good thing Gabe got this video of her very important lines! :)

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

.Home.

I went home for 9 days with just the kids.  It was amazing.  It was exactly what I needed to do.  We played, ate, slept, laughed, traveled, swung, baked, drew and had an early Christmas celebration.  It was everything. 

























Friday, November 29, 2013

Thanksgiving.

So, I didn't take enough pictures on actual Thanksgiving.  I think that's what happens when you are hosting.  There's too much to do, too many opportunities to socialize, and I think I forgot about my camera for half of it.   It was a terrific feast and the company was awesome.  I loved using my new table for a real purpose (not that everyday breakfast eating isn't purposeful) but with the additional leaves and all.... So, yeah.  It went well.  And below is the link to the few pictures I took to prove it :-)


Thanksgiving 2013

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Knits





So, I haven't been able to stop knitting lately.  It's the best.  It gives me something to do with my hands, keeps my mind focused, and at the same time, it's a total distraction from the daily grind.  

Lots has been going on with me.  I joked that I'm in a mid-life crisis to my therapist.  I only meant that because now that I'm done having kids, I feel like I'm re-finding out who I am; who I really want to be; how I want my life to look.  

So between all my deep thoughts (or sometimes right in the middle of them) I'm knitting.  I'm proud of each project and have even more on the needles currently.  

*From top to bottom*: 1) Project for Mom, 2) Maddie's Scarf, 3) My New Cowl, 4) My (in the works) Infinity Scarf, 5) MJ's Sweater Vest.
 

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Friday, October 11, 2013

Happy 7th Birthday Madeline!






Dearest Madeline,
   I'm so excited that you turned 7 yesterday although I cannot believe it to be true.  I think I say it every year, but you truly amaze me.   You have a heart of gold and you love like no one I know.  You are the quickest to forgive and the you have to best laugh around; it is truly infectious.
  At 7 years old you are reading all the time.  Your love for books makes me smile because it reminds me so much of me.  You're talented in art (which does not remind me of me ;) and you love fashion.  You just earned "Principal's Pride" at school and we were so proud of you  because you were the first one in the first grade to be rewarded.
  You have such a strong faith in God and you are open about how much you love Jesus.  This makes my heart smile from the inside out.
  I'm so very thankful for you.  I cannot stress that enough.  You make me a better mom by being such a loving little soul.

I love you!

Love,
Mommy

*Pictures from the Top to Bottom:
1.  Maddie and Mommy at Principal's Pride 10-4-13
2.  A fun Maddie creation! 9-13
3.  Driving me around (A glimpse of things to come ;) Pennsylvania, 9-29-13
4.  Climbing a Japanese Maple Tree at Nonnie's, California, 8-19-13
5.  7th Birthday Dinner (Thanksgiving-style) at our home, Virginia, 10-10-13
6.  2nd Day of School Outfit, 9-4-13











 

Friday, October 4, 2013

Camping!!!




This happened last weekend.  The girls have been asking and asking for a camping trip and it finally came true last weekend.  Good thing it was only 20 minutes from our house.....

MJ and I accompanied Gabe and the girls to the campsite to help set up, eat dinner and then head home to sleep.  Come on....he's only 15 months and definitely needs the crib.  Plus, I need my king sized bed :)

Set up at the campsite proved to be tricky with having to make sure MJ wasn't in the fire pit, touching the BBQ or running into the road.  The girls were busy riding their bikes and tripping over hard to see tree roots.  It was....emotional.

Once set up was complete, we cooked the food and everyone ate.  I spent that meal continuously taking MJ off the picnic table.  (fun times)

Finally, I decided we should leave.  I bid them farewell and complimented Gabe on his adventurous spirit.  I told them I can't wait to see them all in the morning.

Flash-forward to 1:30am.  I fell asleep with my lamp on, reading my Nook, when suddenly 3 smiling faces approach my bed.  "Mommy, we're home."  I looked at them, confused, and asked the time.  "What are you guys doing here?" I asked, happy to see them.  "Maddie's back itched and the ground was hard, " Gabe replied.

Classic. Us.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Today MJ is 15 months old!!




All 3 of them continue to surprise and amaze me.  I am eternally grateful to be their "Mommy."

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Road Trip

I've been so restless lately.  Maybe it's the weather.  Maybe it's recovering from surgery.  Or maybe it's just my age, but regardless I decided I couldn't just stay put this weekend.  So, for the first time ever, the girls and I hit the road.  In all my years of being a mom I've never road tripped without Gabe.  It's not that I worried I couldn't do it.  I just never had the need or desire before. 
  
The girls and I headed to Pennsylvania to go to Dutch Wonderland.  We stayed in a hotel, went out to dinner, ran through the rain, and enjoyed lots of rides and laughter.  It was amazing.  Memories were made and we all got to be present in all of the moments.

At different times during our trip,  each one of my daughters must have looked at me a half dozen times and said "you are the best mommy in the whole world" or "I'm so lucky you are my mom."  I have to say that the way they love me, baffles me.  I swear.  I mess up all the time.  I'm impatient, annoyed, hurried and frustrated with life more than I care to admit. I feel like a nag, a constant disciplinarian, a hall monitor.  But they see me so differently.  Or with so much more grace than I allow myself.  They seem to demonstrate real love.  The kind that truly is unconditional.  So, to them, I would say that in fact "I am the luckiest."