You know you're a mom when

You know you're a mom when your daughter spits up and you instinctively and instantly reach out a cupped hand to catch it because washing your hand is easier than washing sheets.  Not that you wash your hand, you know you're a mom when a baby wipe is sufficient for you to feel like your hand is clean again.  You know you're a mom when you are excited to get more than two showers in a week.  You know you're a mom when the five minutes of sit down time in the bathroom is your only shot at five minutes of peace.  You know you're a mom when your five minutes of peace is interrupted by world war three erupting in your living room.  You know you're a mom when it is perfectly acceptable to open the bathroom door and 'parent' from your royal throne.  You know you're a mom when you no longer have personal space and spend the day as a living jungle gym to one or more little people.  You know you're a mom when none of this phases you and you wouldn't change a thing.

When I was a teenager and my brother was choking and gagging on a chip at Taco Bell, my reaction was to move to another table.  My mom, on the other hand, was there slapping his back and clearing his throat.  I thought it was because she was trained as a nurse.  I realize now it was because she is his  mom.  Sorry Beau, I love you, I hope I would give you a slap on the back rather than move to another table if you were choking or gagging today.

Snow day

The Snow Day was called last night, I think I was more excited than the kids.  This morning I got in my snow gear and shoveled the driveway.  I was excited for the exercise and one of the first storms of the season.  The kids decided it was too cold to play outside unfortunately, but it was a nice quiet day that included a shower, laundry, some sketching and even a little reading.  I enjoyed the snow day complete with Amine's awesome cooking and roasted marshmallows probably more than the kids did, in a few years maybe they will fully appreciate a snow day, it is a wonderful thing.

Snow globe

I sit inside a snow globe in my somewhat clean house on my new couch with my youngest baby snuggling down into my chest.  Adam alternates between all boy whacking a stick around the room to quietly talking to himself as he winds a music box.  Amine is gathering supplies for our impending foot of snow and gathering Iman and Tayeb from school.  On our docket for today a snowman, some hot chocolate and maybe a movie cozy in front of our fire.  Perhaps even s'mores are possible, nearly perfect New England day for my near perfect family.

Kids updates:  Adam performs magic when he throws empty tic tac container and two tic tacs mysteriously appear inside.  Tayeb has lost three baby teeth all at the bottom, all in December.  Iman has her first tooth due to come out any minute now.  Aya is cooing and smiling and chewing on her hand whenever the binky is not available.

I'm back

Whether it be New year's resolution or nostalgia, I am back.  I feel that Facebook claimed my kids' photos and updates of what they are doing.  I want to reclaim the thoughts and pictures here.  In a place for my inner circle where they can be revisited and reflected upon.  Here we are almost three years later, the babies B number four, we live in a new house, too much time has passed to play catch up and it would be too daunting to try so we begin again.
I have had no luck posting the video I wanted to and I have no idea why it is snowing  on this photo, ah three years.

July-2010

I am not sure what happened to June, but I have a feeling some of these pictures were from June and just didn't get downloaded until I was in July.  These first pictures are from Chickie's house for Memorial Day weekend, so I think that's actually the end of May, right?

Chilling with Baba in our backyard

at the Aquarium

These are from the harbor, behind the Aquarium

Finally seeing the benefits of the big dig, this is a new fountain where the expressway used to be

A visit with Amy and Bernadette and all of our kids

Iman and Tayeb enjoying the swing on the front porch of Juliana's playhouse

Iman and Grammy at Friendly's before Aunt Betty's funeral

Iman was pretty good at cheering up Grammy

Tayeb chilling on the couch

The kids playing with Henri at Sylvie's house

enjoying the sprinklers in our backyard

another trip to the children's museum

Another year visiting the zen garden in Provincetown

Iman hugging Buddha, or some other zen dude

fun with funhouse mirrors