Turning Two is BIG!!

Two...such a small number, but such a meaningful one for this little lady!

We celebrated Presley Ella turning two on a sunny California Winter day. Many of our friends & family joined the occasion to show their love for one very special girl. Yo Gabba Gabba music could be heard in the background as everyone mingled, ate some treats, wore festive party hats, stuck their heads in character cardboard cut-outs and watched the kids do their thing.

I spent most of the party taking in my girl. I watched her roam from ball pit, to trampoline, to playset then from Nana, to Fafa, to Kaka. She was independent, fiery, and full of life. She was her usual self, so sure, so determined, so happy. And, I couldn't help but think back to the moment I held my girl in my arms for the first time softly humming "Love me Tender!"

As she blew out the two little candles on top of the cake that was almost as tall as her, I held back tears of bittersweetness. My girl isn't a baby anymore! She has grown so much in two short years. Even though she still maintains an intense love for her thumb & belly, her favorite place is straddling my hip, and her daintly petite physical appearance make most think she is younger then she really is...my girl is BIG!

BIG in personality! BIG in heart! BIG in attitude! BIG in uniqueness! BIG in special!



















All photos in this post were taken by my talented friend Molly Marie Williams! She is very talented photographer who has graciously captured so many important memories in life! We love you friend! Thanks for your talent & your friendship!

Two...that magical number!

My Dearest Sweat Pea,

Two!! It’s a magical number to me for some reason. I know so many people say that the first birthday is the most important, that is marks some significant milestone in life, but for me it is the 2^nd birthday that makes me hold back the tears of bittersweetness.

And, that is exactly what I did as I sang Happy Birthday to you my darling Presley this past weekend. As the words were coming out of my mouth, and my hand was tightly gripped by yours, I looked around the lovingly filled room with so many of our dearest family and friends all sardined in and realized that we made, you made it, and most importantly, I made it.

The party, the day, the moment that I had been working so hard towards since you turned one, was absolutely PERFECT. The room popped with vibrant colors as Yo Gabba Gabba music could be heard in the background. Your spirit was in full Presley swing as you roamed between ball pit, play set, trampoline, and your Nani. Your independence and charisma were more then obvious as I watched you soak up everyone who came to celebrate you.

The enormous cake, the detailed decorations, the cardboard character cutouts were all fun and amazing, but truthfully unnecessary. You see, the only thing required for this party was YOU. The only thing that completed the party was YOU!

And, now that I sit here with tears brimming my eyes it has becoming crystal clear what I have been battling to overcome all year, what I have been searching to find since the moment I lost it, what I have been so blind to see until this moment. And…that’s YOU my little love!

You are my missing puzzle piece!

Sure, there is no denying that you were once a twin, that my pain from loss and longing will burn from time to time, or that one day you might feel it too. But, today, right now, at this very second the intense burning of pain, the red colored anger, and the fluttering feelings of fear that I have been carrying around with me for so long have been released, just like the balloon that accidentally got away at your party.

For today, for right now, at this very second I no longer look past you and think about what is missing,, rather I look right into your eyes and know that YOU complete me! You complete US! And, because of that…

My Heart is Whole Again!

Love You My Darling Presley More then Words can Say!

Momma

A Heart Full of Thanks

All day I've been thinking about how I can express my thanks this year to all those whom fully deserve it. You see, it's almost been a year since I had that "Ah Ha" moment that I so desperately needed. That moment that has propelled me this past year to learn, grow, feel, love, and be thankful more. That moment that was changed me physically, mentally, and emotionally. And, now that I think back to the time before the great "Ah Ha," I am sadly reminded of how I failed to show much thanks and appreciation at all. So...here is my second chance, my do-over, my mistakes made right, my thanks spoken.



First and foremost, I am thankful for my family. The Morad Four pictured above, and the extended Hardy/Morad Family (minus a few), pictured below. These people are the best family members anyone can ask for. When I ask they answer, when I need they help, when I want they give, and when I love they love more. They are my everything, and my life would be so incomplete without each one of them in it.





I am thankful for the hubster! He's my rock. The one who keeps me standing, who challenges me daily, who loves me unconditionally. Its been a mere 13 years together, but each day still feels so new, so fun, so much more then what I had every dreamed. This man completes me, he gets how I work, he understands the idiosyncrasies that others don't, he listens & boy does he have a lot to listen to, he supports everything I put my mind to, and he loves me & the girls more then unconditionally.





I am thankful for being a Momma, and the time I am blessed to spend with my girls. Every minute I get to hold their hands, watch them smile, hear their giggles, and dry their tears is a minute that I embrace, and a minute I would never give up for a job, for more money, for anything! They are my best gift that I can every give, my best job well done, and my best contribution to this world. They are an extension of me, and I'm proud to say that I've done good!





I am thankful for my first born GEM. Giulietta is so sweet, smart, and full of love. She makes me laugh uncontrollably at times with her quirky personality, abnormally large vocabulary, and animated stories. My girl is a lover of peace making, question asking, and independence. G is a great thinker, always contemplating life and its adventures from a distance before jumping in and enjoying it!





I am thankful for THIS GIRL, the MINI, my second born rock star! Presley exudes so much energy, charm, and spirit. After first glance, anyone can see that her red hair and sparkling blue eyes give away her spitfire personality, but it's not until you REALLY know her that you can truly appreciate her charismatic personality. She is a natural born character always looking to make people around her smile and laugh. As wild, dangerous, and carefree as Presley seems, this girl is without a doubt my little koala who hangs tightly and contently on my hip.




I am thankful for sisters! This is a bond I have never truly felt, but can only imagine would be amazing to have. Everyday I watch them grow closer together, loving each other for their own uniqueness, and creating a bond that I am sure will never be broken. My heart smiles when I see them interact, share, and love each other the way they do!





I am thankful for my brother...the Uncle Kaka! He is such an amazing man who loves my girls as if they were his own. When they are around him their little faces are the brightest anyone will ever see. He never lets them done, treats them with utmost respect, and thinks about them when he doesn't really have to. He takes his job as "the god-father" with utmost respect, and he plays with them, teaches me, and helps them whenever they ask. He is always around, never missing a thing, and giving them the opportunity to create lifelong memories with him!





I am thankful for my girl's forever friends! The friends they are being raised with on a daily basis, the ones they can fight with one minute then snuggle up on the couch with the next, the friends they will experience many of their firsts with throughout their lives, the friends they will turn to when us parents are long gone.




I am thankful for my "other girls!" These ladies are my net that have been holding me out of the depths of the water for as long as I can remember. They listen, they laugh, they lecture, they question, they lend a helping hand, they create memories, they give support, and they show love. They have no idea how much every last one of them means to me, how much they have given me, and how much I truly appreciate them. I look forward to the time when we all are old & gray reminiscing about the good ole' days that we are experiencing now!





And...I'm thankful for ME! Does that sound too self centered? Oh well, it's the honest truth. I really am thankful to be ME again. For so long I was being the me that I saw in other peoples eyes, the one that I thought they needed me to be, when in fact that me wasn't really ME at all. I have worked hard at becoming the ME i have always thought myself to be and now that I'm here, my heart is smiling big!



And...I'm Thankful for YOU! The one who may or may not have been mentioned, the one who is taking the time & interest in my life, my family, my world!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Katie

Getting their Treat on!!

This year the girls dressed as the classic Disney couple...Mickey & Minnie!












We started our trick-or-treating with a neighborhood/family pizza party. Pizza was quickly gobbled, costumes were thrown on, and kids sat quickly and patiently while I tried as hard as I could to take their pictures. What started with one little cat 5 Halloween's ago has now turned into an entire gang! Like every Halloween, since G's second, we had the pleasure of the Phee's joining us with Charlie as Batman & Alice as a yard gnome, in our neighborhood quest for the most candy. And, our new neighbor across the street, Ryan. joined in the fun with a little Moo Moo here & a Moo Moo there as a cute cow.







The kids walked, they ran, and they sure as heck trick-or-treated our neighborhood clean of candy. All five came home with their buckets filled to the brim with the finest bite size chocolate bars and tired feet!

Happy Halloween from our Family to Yours

There really is so much I should share...but, for now I'm enjoying today! 

I'm rolling in the excitement of Disney costumes, neighborhood/family pizza parties, and trick-or-treating candies!

Happy Halloween from The Morad Four to you & yours!!

The Fly Over...Disney Style

Space ships flying over, sitting in a huge crowd of people at Disneyland waiting for hours, and 90 degree September mornings are definitely not my thing. However, they are the hubsters. So, I have learned that sometimes I need to put my own wants and desires to the side in order to try new things and entertain the ideas of the man who supports me with anything I do, because they end up basically being AWESOME.

On that  special Friday in September, we packed up the kids & our friend Becky, headed for the happiest places on earth with excitement running through each one of our veins to see a part of history take place.








We enjoyed a view rides, a visit with Giulietta's favorite princess, and then we planted our tushies in front of the castle to wait for the space ship to flyover. Really not knowing when it was coming or what to expect, we kept our eyes on the sky as the sun burnt our wondering faces. People crowded close together, the hubster was full of excitement, and the girls were thoroughly entertained with their Becky.










Then she came! It was amazing, spectacular, and breathtaking all rolled into one, and thats is coming from someone who wasn't the least bit interested in watching it all take place. She came, she flew low, and she went all in a blink of an eye, but it was by far one of the most fascinating moments in my life. All the waiting and sweating was definitely worth the few seconds of history making awesomeness.







The best part is the thought that one day when my girls are talking about NASA, and the old space ships in school, they'll be able to say that they saw it first hand, they remember the awe of the crowd at Disneyland at the very moment the space ship flew over, and they have the pictures to prove it. Needless to say, it pays to try something new, to listen to someone else's suggestion for a change, to keep my mind open for new adventures.

When I do, memories are made!