{grateful}

Most nights I’m filled with intense anxiety... my heart is racing so I must be dying; did I set my alarm; what kid needs a lunch tomorrow; did I save that paperwork; did I drink enough water; did I go over my calories; what’s for dinner tomorrow; did I sign those papers?!?!!  

On the good nights when I beat myself at my own game of anxiety, I lay in bed and all of the amazing things I’m most grateful for cycle through my brain like rapid fire.... this handsome man beside me who chose me & brings out the best in everyone he meets; my gorgeous, smart + kind kiddos who continue to shock even me with their inate goodness; the roof over my head & my backyard twinkling lights; the food in my home & our shared love for family cooking shows & baking desserts that look silly but taste like heaven; the gorgeous morning skies & sunsets each day I watch atop my neighborhood hill; driving my kiddos to and from sports and activities they love; the cozy sheets I’m tucked into in a quiet home where little heartbeats are snoring away...

It is not lost on me that I have so much to be thankful for or how hard I’ve worked in life to earn it and achieve it. But, I forget often to take in these quiet moments and just reflect on the good things that make all of the worrying seem trivial and reminds me to just breathe and feel gratitude in even the most anxious moments :) 

• xo •

jami

• Joey V •|• Age 5 •

• Joey V •|• Age 5 • 

{LIKES}: lion guard/lion king, captain hook, cheese nips (not its), paw patrol, octonauts, riding his jeep outside, any sport, wendy's chicken nuggets, hershey kisses, shorts, board games, legos, super heroes, his friends, Disney World, m&m yogurts, the color green, handsome shirts, Nana, pancakes, his sisters :) 

{DISLIKES}: most foods/fruits/veggies/sweets, that Caden is older/bigger than him, pants, being itchy, when his socks have seams/strings :)

• happy birthday my handsome Joey Five... you are the very best gift I never even knew I needed & you have truly completed our little family... we love you so very, very much!•

{little boys should never be sent to bed, they always wake up a day older...}

• Viviene Lyn •|• Age 8 •

• Viviene Lyn •|• Age 8 • 

{LIKES}: butterflies, opening packs of sports cards, school, Aunt Kelly, dancing, drama class, Miss D., Kate plus Eight, her besties, playing teacher, being active, her fairy garden, drawing/crafting, the beach, rompers, wedges, jojo bows :) 

{DISLIKES}: mint flavored anything, when she thinks someone is disappointed, making decisions (from what color bow to wear to what sport to play), getting anything less than an O on her tests :)

• happy birthday to my sweet Vivi... my heart has never hurt so much when you lost your Breeski this year... always remember you are so loved & your precious guardian angel is always with you... keep making people laugh & keep being the smart, kind, witty, beautiful girl that you are... you are so my mini me & you remind me everyday to breathe a little deeper & love a little harder... we love you so very, very much! •

{Looking up at a sunny sky, so shiny and blue and there's a butterfly..Well, isn't that a super fantastic signIt's going to be a super fantastic day...Such marvelousness - It's gonna bring a pocket full of songs that I'm gonna sing... And I'm ready to take on anything - Hooray!

Some super fun surprise around each corner,

Just riding on a rainbow, I'm gonna be okay...}

• Liliana Madison •|• Age 10 • t e n!

{LIKES}: gilmore girls, mint bubble gum, iPad & iPod, tank tops & capris year round, swimming, being helpful, her besties, spending time with family, trying new hairstyles, hibachi, ice cream, getting her test folder signed, playing board games, teacher stuff, hanging with the adults, bitmojis, veggies, junk food, taylor swift, sunglasses, watching movies, making iTunes playlists...

{DISLIKES}: cantaloupe, cleaning, being told to wear long sleeves/pants, blow drying her hair, being told she can't hang with adults! 

• happy birthday to our very first baby! watching you grow has been my biggest blessing & my life forever changed the moment I met you... keep bursting with kindness & making us proud... we love you so very, very much!•

{They didn't have you where I come from,

Never knew the best was yet to come...

Life began when I saw your face,

And I hear your laugh like a serenade...}

Liliana is NINE!

Liliana Madison Romano turned NINE on March 16, 2016 and it is still so crazy to me... My BABY is so old! I can not believe it... she is almost as tall as me and already kinder & smarter than I will ever be.  She is a caretaker by nature and can make anyone feel better about themselves.  She takes FOREVER to tell a story and asks big//hard questions. She sees things just like her Daddy and is seriously a mini-Joe.  They have the same interests and she just idolizes him.  Lil loves her friends, but family is everything to her :) She likes big kid TV (Gilmore Girls) and loves listening to Taylor Swift.  She falls asleep to soft music and just recently learned to be super sassy :/ She is everything to me and I hope she knows how proud we are of the young girl she is becoming.

We Love You so much Franny!

XO

-Mommy

 

• first week of school • girls edition

The Romano Girls did it! We survived our first week back :) 

Lil is loving her new teacher and reacquainting herself with old friends!!! 

Vivi is making new friends and also reacquainting herself with old friends :)

I love their school for so many reasons, but mainly because it's the perfect blend of academic challenges & structured love. 

I'm doing just fine myself (majorly exhausted). I love teaching so close to home - I feel much more connected to my tribe :)

Goodbye to Summer, 2015...

And there goes another summer of pure fun, coupled with complete exhaustion; lots of swimming & OBXing; sooooooo much whining (not from me at all!); lots of singing & dancing; too much drinking & eating;  and just loving my tribe.

I am truly blessed, although I often forget it, to be home with my kiddos every single summer....

-Summer 2015 Round-Up-

Viviene Lyn graduated Kindergarten to start off our summer! She is my complete mini me and drives me batty, but she is the glue that holds this whole family together and is filled with so. much. love. She makes me proud every single day. XO

Lil & Viv just loved lacrosse camp... they would certainly complain here and there, but I could see how happy they were to hang out with the big girls for a whole week, all day long... they learned a TON & I was super proud :)

TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT + Viv's FIRST concert! We had an absolute blast with Aunt Leesa & Riley... the concert was AMAZING :) 

FOURTH OF JULY :) - we had a fun BBQ with some of our favorites!

OBX - 2015... We had an awesome 2 weeks with Nana & company in the Outer Banks for our second annual vacation :)  It is so wonderful to have 2 uninterrupted weeks as a family and be lucky enough to spend it in a beautiful home right on the beach with a gorgeous pool & hot tub... every day was spent beaching and pooling and eating and laughing! Almost every night, Joe and I would make drinks and hop in the hot tub to just relax and unwind :)




Brielle - our sweet Breeski underwent brain surgery to SUCCESSFULLY remove her brain tumor.... GOD. IS. GOOD.  XO



Liliana got her SECOND hole pierced with Nana :) 

She really should STOP. GROWING. UP... Like NOW :) 

Philly Fun Day - we ended the summer with the big girls by taking the train into the city and going to see the Lego Exhibit at the Franklin Institute :) We ended the day at Max Brenner's for a super yummy, chocolatey meal! So much fun :) 

That is it :) I am gonna miss these kiddos hard each day.  I am excited (trying here, lol) for Fall because that means I get to start my holiday decorating and Halloween is my second favorite after Valentine's Day :) 

XO
-J

About my boy...

Joey is such a blessing.  He is starting to talk way more and is so proud of being a big boy.  He sleeps in a big boy bed now (we took the top off of Viv's bed)! He always answers with "uh-huh" for yes and "no,no,no,no,no" for No.  He calls Viv "Viz" and says Liliana really well.  He LOVES Nana and follows her everywhere.  Here are a few recent pics ~

Asleep in his big boy bed with his best pal Mickey :)

Looking so handsome before his first trip to Church with Nana & PopPop!

Hanging out watching Vivi play soccer!

Loving his baby cousin Charleigh!

Vivi Lyn is 5!!!!!

My sweet, crooked-grin girl is FIVE.  5.  Where has all of the time gone?????

Viviene is the perfect blend of humor and beauty.  She challenges us in every way - to be better parents, to look at things differently, to be calmer and kinder.  She sees the world through her own unique lens and has the softest heart.

Viviene loves to cook, loves to dance, loves to run and play.  She loves her sweet bestie Brielle and would get an apartment with her tomorrow if they could :) I have a feeling they will forever be inseparable :) She loves her family so much and loves being praised.  She is seriously so amazing to Joey and keeps Lil on her toes :)

She is our middle child in so many great ways.  She binds us together and reminds us that all we need is each other and lots and lots of laughs & love.

We love you sweet girl - more than you will ever, ever know.
XO

my baby boy is 2... TWO!

Joey the Five is 2.  I can not take all of this growing up.  My kids are amazing and Joey is THE perfect addition for us :)

I did not know how much I wanted a little boy until Joey came along.  I was perfectly content with my girls. More than content, I was complete.  I have the most amazing husband and the most precious baby girls... I didn't need a boy.  I don't think even Joey needed a boy.  Joey was going to be our third little girl, Ivy :) We were set and happy and content.

Then the 20 week ultrasound came on Nana's birthday in 2011 and there was NO mistaking that a little boy was joining our girl charged crew.  The absolute excitement and pride and pure joy in Joe's eyes was something I will never, ever forget.  I think he cried more than me :)

Adjusting to a boy baby was funny.  It was the unknown & I loved it.  I loved choosing his blue wall colors and dreaming of his baseball themed first birthday.  Most of all, I loved that I was able to give Joe his Joey V to carry on his namesake.  And even more amazing was that my girls would have a little brother of their very own.

Joey is a gift.  Not because he is a boy, because he is my son.  Our son.  Our baby brother :) He is soooooo happy.  And such a silly, sweet boy.  He makes the craziest faces with his big brown eyes.  He is starting to talk... says things like "no ma".  He LOVES his daddy.  They are true besties.  He loves Mickey and Dora.  He loves Monsters Inc.  Joey loves balls.  Any ball, any where.  He loves his Nana, too.  They have an amazing bond which I am truly grateful for.  He loves cars and trucks.  He loves his big sisters and I know they will all be the best of friends one day.

Happy Birthday, Joey.  I hope you always know how much we love you and how blessed we are that you are in our lives :)