34.

i'm sitting here after an entire day of procrastination. when i have a lot to do, i tend to find other ways of occupying my time instead of doing what needs to be done. i've worked on this little bad habit of mine and with much success...today though-not so much.

instead of working i have tweezed my eyebrows, painted my nails, used the can of air on my desk (i think it's fun), played football in the front yard with my little boy and then helped HIM cook lunch, talked on the phone, printed borders coupons off the internet,...

when i did eventually sit down again, i heard little becks say, "mommy, today is a loving day. not a work day."

my heart swelled with surprise and love and i did what i really wanted to do...i left photos unedited, turned the computer off and went to enjoy my 3 year old. that little boy of mine. he has my heart that's for sure. i am so in love with these kids. i am \eternally grateful to jeff for making it possible that i get to stay home with them.

love you, jeff.

so i've caught up a bit and i am listening to mama mia...the movie. i think that maybe i should have gone into musicals. after singing and dancing in the privacy of my living room (more procrastination) i've decided that somewhere deep inside lives my inner meryl streep and i have this strong urge to wear silver lame' bellbottoms and rock out dancing queen with a couple friends! why not? i think i'll add that to my bucket list.

***

so this past weekend was my birthday. i turned 34 years old and aside from breakfast in bed and a few gifts...it felt really good (so opposite my 30th)... i was feeling really, really loved and who doesn't want a day that is dedicated to their own birth date.

i can't help but feel closer to my mom on my birthday as i know my birth was just between her and i for a few moments before i took my first few breaths of air in the real world.

i wonder if all moms feel like they share this special and very sacred bond with their child, outside of even the daddy, the moment their baby is born. i know i did, almost to the point that i forgot that jeff, too, had become a parent in the same moment that i had.

the bond is just so strong and it seems to become stronger as they get older.

my birthday started off with cards and flowers and gratitude for another healthy and happy year.

and something new in our home and the exact reason i have always dreaded this sort of invention...skype! people can see you mere moments after you roll out of bed and serenade you with happy birthday!

xoxo, sito and gido.

and this year, my sister...my look-a-like, my womb-mate visited just in time to share our 34th together with some uncontrollable laughter...like doubled over, sides hurting-make-it-stop-kind of laughing.

the kind of laughing that comes from an intimate understanding of one's family dysfunction and how learning that laughing about it can be the healthiest way to acceptance. we accepted over iced tea and fried food...

and a little antiquing!

heather has that eye. she can sniff out a treasure in a room full of dusty crap like no ones business. she is amazing in that way. she could accessorize a brown paper bag to look good... as a dress. ha.

i found the most beautiful white lace table cloth that i dream of hosting a vintage tea party with. it's divine and old and i felt like i won the lottery when the tag said $28 and the owner hooked me up and let it go for $10. i'm not sure if that means it will fall apart after one use, but i don't care.

then, we all went to a japanese steakhouse...

where the kids are riveted to what's being cooked in front of them...

and where they get to eat, "with small shovels, mama!"

and with a bonus...auntie hi-0! maybe the best auntie in the entire world! we love her and we miss her so much.

we have lived apart for years now, but i still feel like a piece of me is missing with her not around.

love you, heather. happy birthday.

***

living this life to the fullest had us making an impromtu visit to isle of capri after heather left. we only had a couple hours of light left and it is a 30 minute drive, but without thinking about it much we changed out of our pj's, ran to the car with a few towels and a change of clothes for the kids and it. was. worth. every. bit. of. rushing it.

we made it in time for some of the sunset and that was exactly how i wanted to end the week...

kells, thank you for taking these photos for me to wrap up my 34 years. love you.

~in my 34 years i have learned so much about life and what happiness is to me. i have so much to be grateful for but most importantly i have healthy kids, family, and friends.

~i used to worry about the day i would see the extra lines i see in these pictures...bring it! life lived, baby!

~happy that growth and understanding and acceptance (of others and of myself) is easier as the years pass.

~knowing that a simple smile can make someone's day a little better.

~knowing that parenting, for me, is really about loving and listening more than anything else i think i need to be doing.

~laughing. it heals. being goofy...even better!

there you have it, my short,somewhat cheesy and emotional brainstorm of a list about what i've learned this year.

***

and a couple of sneak peeks of two beautiful families...

loving, beautiful, fun, and up for anything. my kind of shoot.

thank you, natlalie for letting my capture your little ones.

and our friends who also share our love of isle of capri...

xoxo.

***

goodnight. to the readers of this little ole' blog...thank you. the amazing friends i have made on here, i hold you dear to me.

xoxox.