In less than a week I’m going to have my first highschool graduate and my last kindergarten graduate! I’m excited about both! Life has been so good to us and growing up and getting older is a process and a privilege. It’s been and continues to be both. I can’t wait to see the future unravel for Isabel and I will especially treasure the next tender years with liam. Sandwiched in-between and following not to far along behind Isabel are melina and Lia. I will cherish and anticipate with joy the upcoming milestones ahead for them. But for now I will enjoy every precious moment the day brings.

It’s been and honor and a gift getting to raise all four of these children!

Your birthday was yesterday but just like the day you were born, it was a hectic day.  Your birthday time will always continue to be in the middle of a hectic time of year…smacked in the middle of father’s day and end of school year stuff. But I want you to know how loved you are and what an important ingredient you our in this family. No one makes us laugh like you do!

I can’t wait to meet 14 year old Lia! I hope you have an amazing year! Dont head off to Hawaii just yet. They’ll be plenty of time for that!

One of four is ready to head on to collage! So happy she’s staying local. A nurse in the making, can’t wait to see your journey unfold.  And in a way it’s a journey unfolding for dad and I aswell. I love how our children lead us down unexpected roads. It was exciting entering the doors of a collage again. At 46 I still have so much to learn, but also feel like I know what I wamt to do now more than I did when I was 18. It’s definitely never too late to learn something new! Well Bel, I know one things for sure, whatever you end up doing you’ll do it great!!!

18 years ago you made me a mom. Actually I’m still becoming a mom because with every year you get older, I become a different version of myself. Ive had to learn to be a mom of a one year old, a 2 year old, a mom of a 4 year old with 2 younger siblings, a mom of 4 children balancing a full life. Each year as you and your siblings gtow, so do I. And I love how youve raised me and the mom Im becoming.

I LOVE AND ADORE YOU! You have turned into a beautiful young woman and I am so proud of everything that you do. Enjoy the journey up ahead, because life is a journey not a destination. Enjoy ever step. And every stop. Enjoy the dead ends and the new beginnings. Above all, enjoy the people you meet along the way. Happy birthday Ibeeea!!!!

I know no matter what, these four love eachother more than anything in this world. What a blessing to have one another. Bels off to Disney and she’s already so missed. We are a full house and when one is missing we all feel it.

The other night while snuggling in bed and reading to Liam I said “Liam, this is my favorite part of the day, when we snuggle and ibread to you, what am I going to do when you start reading and don’t need me to read you books anymore?” And he responded “mom, then I’ll read to you!”And so he did the next day while eating olives and using a toothpick as a pointer. Whatever works!!

My favorite part of raising these kids has been reading over thousands and thousands of childrens stories together. We’ve gone on so many adventures and learned so many things together.

I love winter! I love the month of January. It’s a newfound love, maybe the past several years as I’ve learned to understand what winter really means. I’m beyond hoping the days will pass so that the Spring or summer would arrive. I’m past trying to fill and plan the days so that they are full and time passes. Now I want to be inside of winter, just like a child. To fully be present and appreciate all that winter brings.

Nonna turned 80! We saw a solar eclipse. Lia started homeschooling. Isabel and Andrew were crowned king and Queen. We lost sweet little whiskey. We hatched our own chicken eggs. Isabel entered her senior year of high school. Lia got a bat mitzvah. Melina turned 15! And entered 10 grade. Dad started surfcasting, and Liam started kindergarten.

Oh, and I forgot my little free library we put up in the neighborhood!

May we always have reasons to celebrate together!