Good morning! I'm feeling refreshed after a weekend with my guys that included a trip to the aquarium, a nap, Red Sox baseball, church and brunch with a dear friend, and doing a lot of the things that make Michael belly-laugh. I hope you are rested and ready for another week too, friends. Enjoy a few pictures from our weekend! xoxo

(I've decided to start listing things that I am thankful for at the end of every post 

to help myself be more mindful of my blessings. I was inspired by Hill at 

Capturing Motherhood- much more about that on Wednesday!) 

1. sleeping through the night

2. having Tim home with us this week

3. sunshine!

InstaFriday

Good morning, friends! 

It's Friday - yipee! - and that means I'm linking up with Jeannett for Instafriday. 

So, here's a little bit of our week in pictures:

1 - Ella. I miss her face. (Lucky for us, she's having the time of her life at the grandparents' house! Thank you Mom and Dad!)

2 - Hanging out in bed on Saturday morning - my favorite.

3 - Some good friends came to visit on Saturday! We went to brunch here and had a great time! I forgot Michael's bib, so he borrowed one from Olivia - they were so cute chattering with each other in their matching purple :)

4 - Chewing on your friend's toy is always more satisfying than chewing on your own toy.

5 - Sunday morning we worshipped at Park Street Church. (The history of this congregation is really amazing!)

6 - We're not very good at sitting through services these days. Even with cheerios. So I'm glad I got this shot of a rare, peaceful moment. (Don't worry - we were in the very back against a wall so I didn't distract anyone with my picture-taking.)

7 - It was a gorgeous day and after services we walked over to Beacon Hill and had a yummy lunch here.

8 - He's so happy to get out of the stroller (and holding his own on the cobblestones).

9 - Isn't this ivy-covered house beautiful? Beacon Hill is full of charming little places, but this one took my breath away.

10 - Is he already thinking he's cooler than us? It kind of looks like it.

11 - Our favorite page of our favorite book. It has taken a beating lately.

12 - Oh, those cheeks. One of these days I'm going to nibble them right off.

* * * * * * * * * 

Have a fantastic weekend, friends! xoxo

Cinco de Mayo

Certain holidays were just made for a city like Boston.

Fourth of July? Perfectly patriotic.
Thanksgiving? It practically started here (or, right down the coast anyway).

Saint Patty's Day? Nowhere better. 

But on Cinco de Mayo I can't help but wish we were in Texas. 

I'm planning to create a little bit of Cinco de Mayo warmth here this weekend, 

and I thought I'd share a few of the pins that are inspiring me.

¡Salud!

piñata cookies / papel picado cake / tin can centerpieces
city streets / mexican suzani

Happy camper playroom

pine trees, seeley lake quilt, three bears print

map, lantern, stones and pebbles rug

felt campfire, tent, blanket

Ever since Michael got that cool little tent for his birthday I've been thinking 

about putting together a camping-themed playroom for him. 

(When we, you know, have a house again.)

Just one look at that print of the bears camping out sealed the deal. 

Have you ever seen anything so cute?!

Look what I got!

My Mother's Day gift from Tim - yaaay!! 

This man knows how to make me feel special :)
(Now to learn how to use it....)

A letter to Maggie

image

Dear Maggie, 

You were born one year ago today. 

We are all remembering you and wishing, again, 

that things had been different.

Your Dad and Mom are having a celebration for your day. 

To remember you and celebrate your life, and to mark one year survived without you. 

Do you want to know how much they love you? 

Even after losing you and grieving deeply every day, 

and struggling with people who have disappointed them and anger about loss, 

and wrestling with sadness that doesn't go away, they've chosen to celebrate. 

With smiles and tears and a meal and bubbles. 

They are celebrating you through their pain.

Because they love you that much.

We all love you, Maggie. We will never be complete without you. 

Whenever our family is gathered, your absence is felt. 

A piece of our family is missing, and that will never change no matter how many years go by. 

I trust that God has made you whole. I trust that in His presence 

you are joyful and loved beyond anything you could ever imagine on this earth.

But I still wish you were here. 

I wish I could hold you and whisper these things into your ear.

I love you, sweet one. 

InstaFriday

Good morning out there!
I can't believe another week has come and gone but here are the pics to prove it.
Linking up with Life Rearranged for InstaFriday - come play along!
* * * * * * * * * 

1 - Michael has been clingy lately (read: attached to my leg or some other part of my person at all times). Maybe because of all the changes and moving around? Or maybe it's just his age? Here he is deciding if he wants to go join some other toddlers playing on the green near our apartment. (About a minute later he joined them - and a had a lot of fun!)

2 - For his birthday, Michael received a play tent from his Aunt Amy and family. It is one of his favorites (he has taken to drinking his morning milk in here every day) and I have to admit, I can't resist it either. This one is so cute I'm already designing Michael's future playroom around it.

3 - Friday evening and heading over to the green to play. I just love seeing these two together.

4- Saturday in the park! The Boston Commons and Boston Public Gardens were gorgeous - these orange tulips were my favorite. See a little more of our outing in the park here.

5 - My loves, all handsome and ready for church.

6 - Family picture! 

7 - Hot phó on a cold afternoon. Mmmmmm.

8 - I don't usually get hung up on stuff. Or, I try not to anyway. But one look at this little beauty from anthropologie and I was in love. (It's not online! I'm praying it will still be in the store when I can get back to it. Did I mention that in my head I've already decorated our next home around this piece?)

9 - This bath picture is brought to you by the number 2. (And I love when he smiles big enough for his teeth to show.)

10 - He had never seen clover before. We picked and sniffed for a while. I love being there to show him little things like that.

11 - Just taking care of business on a thursday morning - walking around the apartment, drinking milk, wearing his bib as a cape.

12 - I hated to miss NFL draft night but my toes really needed some TLC ;)

* * * * * * * *

I'm so excied for the weekend! 

We have some good friends coming to visit and we've got plans to get out and enjoy Boston. 

What are your plans this weekend? I hope it's a good one, friends! 

xoxo