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To My Dearest Husband on Our Anniversary:

On this day, a decade ago, we said “I do”. 10 years of marriage. That’s always sounded like such a crazy-big number. At the beginning it seemed like it would be a lifetime away – like we would be very grown up when we got there. Now that we’re here, in some ways yes, there has been a completely altering lifetime lived, but in other ways it seems to have gone by so, so fast. Whichever it is, being very grown up feels much younger than I expected. ;)

We’ve been through an incredible lot. Some would say more hard times than are fair, while others would look at the good times and be considerably jealous. But good and bad: it all shaped us into who we are and I truly believe we’re better for it. I am better for having gone through it all with you. Your consistently positive-in-all-situations outlook both amazes me and gives me something to aspire to every day. And what’s more, doing all of this side by side has connected us in a way that I think few couples get to experience. I feel really fortunate to get to share that with you.

Hardships and successes, joys and pain, adventures and everyday humdrum: all of it has come together to make you into a man that I love more deeply and respect more immensely than I ever would have thought possible on our wedding day. I understand more than ever what it means when someone says, “he is my rock” because you are mine.

If there’s one thing I want to take away from the past 10 years, it’s that not every year is full of wonderful, but sticking with it in the not-so-great years is how you get to best ones yet. Also, not a year has passed where I’ve ever doubted that you love me and that has made all the difference. Thank you for that.

I’m completely smitten with this simple, laid-back life we’ve built and our beautiful growing family. It may have taken me a few years to realize it, but you were always the man I was hoping for and you exceed my greatest hopes more and more with every passing year. I’m so glad you’re mine.

We’ve been friends for 16 years, a pair for 12, and husband and wife for 10 now. I hope we get to be all three for many more decades to come. I love you with all of me. Happy Anniversary!

Love,

Mel

A funny thing happens when you’re raising two kids under the age of 3.5…in the midst of major home renovations…while simultaneously running a photography business in the busy season…and managing a handful of other activities: you run out of time or energy to come up with a creative gender reveal for the new little one you just happen to be carrying at the same time!

I’ve put off doing this thinking that I needed to do a cute picture of the older siblings holding a sign or – something – anything, to make a fun little blog post like I did for the other kids. But you know what? This baby is going to be here before this blog post happens if I wait for the best possible gender reveal post to come together. There’s a whole lot of life going on over here people, so without further adieu, we’re having another GIRL!

We had asked Seven what he wanted and while most kids will say that they want a sibling that is the same as them, he actually said that he wanted another sister. We’ll be sure to remind him of this daily when they’re all in middle school. ;) For now though, he’s very excited to have gotten his wish and Sean and I are thrilled to have another little lady in the house. Serai Claire is just over 1 year right now herself, so quite frankly she is not going to know what hit her. She just lifts up my shirt every once in a while to see what I’m hiding under there and then walks away mystified.

So here we go! Sometime in August we will become the parents of a 3.5 year old, a 1.5 year old, and a newborn. To be honest, Mommy is a little terrified, but I’m sure it’s going to be great. ;)

Thank you to my dear friend, Mandy for taking these beautiful photographs of our kids last December. I love looking at them every day!

Depending upon how long you’ve followed this blog, you may or may not know that I have a thing for over-the-top birthday parties. There are many Martha Stewart-esque women I know who put me to shame in this, but I love a good theme and putting together details for an event. Seeing how my last big birthday bash was Seven’s 1^st birthday party, I had my work cut out for me in delivering something that would even remotely rival it for Serai Claire.

Seven and Serai also have birthdays that are just 3 days apart so on top all that, I also needed to create a birthday theme that would work well for a 3 year old boy and a 1 year old girl. If the theme could work well with the fact that our house is currently under renovation and that I’m 13 weeks pregnant and tired and unable to pull things together ever-so-precisely, that was a bonus. No sweat right?

Then it hit me – a pillow fort party! Pillow forts are awesome – everyone thinks so. Also, the more chaotic and hodge-podge the look, the better! The plates don’t match the cups? Who cares? What color should the streamers be? Answer: whatever! It doesn’t matter. The tablecloths are wrinkly — wrinkly sheets are the stuff pillow forts are made of! Also, pillow forts in houses that harken back to the 1980’s (our current living conditions) – well that just tugs at the heartstrings right? ;)

In the end I think it turned out pretty perfectly. Once I had it all hung, Sean and I just about decided to leave our living room like this forever.

Guests were instructed to arrive in pj’s and we feasted on waffles and other assorted breakfast foods. Easy prep and this pregnant lady didn’t even have to get out of pj’s to do this party. Brilliant if I do say so myself.

Seven is a true American: he just pulled up a chair and parked himself in front of the large pile of bacon.

February parties mean that all of the kids will be stuck inside your house – even when they eat cake – even when the icing gets all of their fingers and they go running around like maniacs on a sugar high – oh boy. Solution: white buttercream/cream cheese frostings with colorful fondant accents. Ah – the homeowner in me breathes a sigh of relief. I make cakes based on both of their interests – Thomas for Seven (of course) and a cake for Serai inspired by her first word: “kitty”. And because it’s a hodge-podge pillow fort party, random cake designs totally fit! I may never do anything but pillow fort parties ever again.

I topped it off with photos highlighting the kids’ year and we all just had a really great time. We are overwhelmingly fortunate to have all of the wonderful friends and loved ones that we do and any time we get to celebrate our little ones surrounded by them is a beautiful day.

Happy Birthday Seven and Serai Claire! We love you more than words can express and we’re so lucky to be your parents! We will cherish these memories forever and we hope the photos give you joy every time you see them.

Love,

Your Mama