Look Who’s 40!

This guy!  Yep, the giddy guy in long johns after a day of skiing who still worked out to a YouTube video.  This was the last night of his 30's, and evidently he wasn't going over the hill without a fight.  Honestly, this guy is somethin' else.  He is a go-getter and a man of many talents, but most importantly, he's a great friend, father, and husband.  I'm so happy that we were able to celebrate you with such a fun weekend!

Sunapee is a quintessential New England town in New Hampshire.  However, it's unique in that is has both a beautiful lake and a Vail Ski Resort right next to each other!  With our Epic passes, we'll be able to ski there multiple times this season.  Plus it's less than 2 hours from Boston!  Score!  I should mention that it was the coldest weekend of the year, and we skied in 0 degree weather!  Thank God the sun was out!!!

Jamil spent half a day with Mariam on the practice slopes while I skied with the boys.  At the end of the day, he decided to take her down a Green.  After Gabriel, Abraham, and I waited for what felt like forever, Mariam and Jamil finally made it down the mountain.  As you can see from her eyes below, and from the soreness in Jamil's arm from picking her up, I believe she needed a little more time on the practice slopes.

On day 2 of skiing, Mariam was thrilled to join our neighbors and friend from kindergarten on the bunny slopes!  Jocelyn and Evelyn spend many weekends here at the mountain and motivated Mariam to be much more independent.  However, after not quite enough practice, she thought she was ready for the lift up to the big Green.  I'll spare you the details, but it was brutal.  Thankfully, Mariam only remembers how awesome it was to ski with her friends.  Me, on the other hand, I'm spent just thinking about it.

Day 3! While Mariam and I perfected her turns and getting up on her own after falling, the boys worked their way up to the Black Diamonds with Jamil!  Jamil and I are constantly in ahh since we didn't ski until our senior year of high school and college!  They are so fortunate!

We ended our 3 days on the slopes by skiing a Green all together!  Mariam made it down the mountain faster than me with only a couple of minor falls.  What a difference a couple of days makes!  Of course, this was a breeze for the boys and the perfect scenery for me.

After changing out of our ski gear, we walked across the street to a frozen Lake Sunepee.  Wildwood Smokehouse was just down the road, and we barely made it in for Jamil's birthday dinner (a quaint BBQ joint with no reservations and limited seating due to COVID).

It is a running joke in our family about how Jamil never owned a pair of Girbaud Jeans.  40 year olds, tell me you remember the Girbaud era!  Well, thanks to Ebay, our kids no longer have to hear his sad saga.  We just need a 90's party to bust these bad boys out in style!

Back at the cottage (Airbnb), we enjoyed banana walnut cupcakes (one of Jamil's favorites) and listened to Mariam play "Happy Birthday" on her guitar.  Somehow I only have a picture of Jamil with the guitar.

By accident, a tradition began back when Jamil and I were high school sweethearts.  With the help of friends and family, I gifted him a book of letters on his18th birthday.  It was such a treasured gift, that we did it again for his 30th and now for his 40th.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed to these books.  Your thoughtful words and memories on paper are the best gifts of all!  Happy 40th, Jamil!

We love you!

Mariam's 2nd Birthday!

Sweet Baby Mariam,

Happy 2nd Birthday!  I am overwhelmed thinking about the places you will go and even the places you have been over the two years of your life!  You are simply a joy in our lives, we delight in you, and we are beyond blessed to have you in our family!  

Your expressions are priceless, and your rosy-red cheeks and big, blue eyes make us want to eat you up.  Your favorite songs are "Open Shut Them" and "Wheels on the Bus", as you love the hand motions.  However, we have recently heard you begin to sweetly hum the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star/ABC's" and "Frère Jacques".  Along with many other parents, we reluctantly have your favorite book, Moo, Baa, La La La!, memorized.  Since day one, you have been a great eater and even surprise your teachers and friends at the amount and variety of food you gobble up.  Unlike myself, I'm hoping you skip the picky eater phase all together.  You love rides in the neighborhood on your tricycle and sliding at the playground.  Your hair is still blond (from Mimi) and is finally starting to grow, into large ringlets nonetheless (from daddy).  At Korean preschool, you're learning Hangul and the Korean culture of bowing to your teachers as you enter and leave.  Shoes might be your favorite thing ever, and bracelets run a close second.  Like mama, you have a slight obsession with accessories: shoes, purses, bracelets, necklaces, hats, and even your mask for the bad air quality!

These things make us laugh, but what is most endearing is your love for people.  Friends and strangers hearts melt as you reach up to cuddle and share your love.  You love babies and older boys, and as a mom, I can't help but worry about the future.  Your brothers couldn't adore you more, and you're beginning to give them a run for their money!  I hoped, with two older siblings, you would more naturally learn sharing skills.  However, it appears that you have naturally learned toughness and fighting for justice.  You pucker just your bottom lip, as if to pout, to give sweet kisses, and you love to pat backs to comfort and encourage.  Daddy and you love counting your toes, and after catching your breath from his tickles, you can't help but ask for "mo" every time.  Your chubby, little fingers must be full, as you have us all wrapped around them tightly!

Oh, the Places You'll Go is a treasured book not just for the encouragement it offers, but also for how it honestly portrays life's tough times.  I hope you come back to this book, and many other works of literature throughout your life, and remember that through all of life's twists and turns, you are sure to live a life of gratitude.  "Kid, you'll move mountains!"

I pray you grow to be a strong woman of God; strong in your mind, body, heart, and spirit.

I love you,

Mommy