Thomas' Birthday

We had a really nice day for Thomas' birthday.  I am happy that his birthday fell on a Sunday so the kids could relax with extra time to play computer and just goof around.  Thomas was very excited to make his own cake, and he was so proud at how pretty (and delicious!) it turned out.  He wanted me to get pictures of the pizzas we made, but we were too busy eating them!

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake, so bad it's good.

Lucy catching a quick before-dinner nap.

Our Birthday Boy, getting so big!

Brothers and Sisters- the most special gift of all.

Happy Birthday, dear Thomas!  We all love you, and  pray that God will bless you with a year of health and joy!

Just for You Know Who

I can't think of a better way to update this ol' blog than with a few pictures of Christmas! Enjoy!

Raechel, relaxing with the fam. Isn't she pretty!

Thomas with his favorite gift: a camping shovel.

Mary is at that perfect age where Christmas is nothing but magic and lights and sweets. Oh, and Jesus. We try to not forget about Him.

Last year, Lucy was just a little baby. She spent Christmas morning lying under the tree, staring at the ornaments and drooling on herself. This year, she is a big baby! Here she is, opening her first present from Santa- a baby doll that she just loves.

We're missing a few kids there, but I assure you, the rest of them are equally photogenic. See, here they are, all together:

L to R, First Row: Mary, 4; Joseph, almost 10; Thomas, 7; Daniel, 12; Robert, 16Back Row: Raechel, 14, holding Lucy, 18 months
I just love how my "big kids" are not too embarrassed to sit for pictures with the "little kids". And lookit all their little bare feet! Too cute!

This picture is out of order, but here's this year's tree. It's beautiful! Thank you, Sweetie, for cutting it down and trimming it and dragging it into the sauna to dry and helping to set it up just perfect. It might have been easier to just buy one, but it wouldn't have been ours.

And I'll close with a picture of me. This one is rare because I look at it and think, "That's actually a decent picture." I'm so vain. ;-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It's a GIRL!!!

I've held her in my arms; I've spent most of the day just staring at her and smelling her and listening to her little noises as she breathes; I've typed those words here and there all over the internet, and I still almost can't believe it.

How could we possibly think she was a boy? LOL!

Lucy Marie was born this morning at 12:28 a.m. She weighs 8 pounds, 5 ounces and is 22 inches of precious, perfect, healthy baby.

Mama is understandably feeling a bit "worn" but otherwise doing great. I'll be writing up a birth story, probably tomorrow.

Thank you, sweet Jesus! Thank you Blessed Mother! God bless!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Year's. Rather than going to a friend's for the evening, we stayed home; the snow was coming down pretty thick that evening. Driving in white-out conditions can be scary enough during the day, and even worse at night. It turned out just as well that we stayed home, because my body had apparently only two things on its agenda- food and sleep! We had a late supper and I started dozing off on the couch almost immediately after we ate. I woke up about 12:02. The kids were already in bed; we were quick to follow. That was our big New Year's party. ;-)

Compared to the last two weeks, this week will be a breeze. Raechel and Joseph will both celebrate birthdays, and I will have my first prenatal appointment with my midwife. I am 14 weeks along as of today (or three months tomorrow), and I'm feeling so much better than I was a few weeks ago. I'm always so thankful to make it to the 2nd trimester!

God bless you all, have a blessed week!

2009 Almost Over

I'd really like to share some meaningful insights on the events of the past year. Everything I come up with, though, sounds much too much like Dickens- the best of times, the worst of times, all that.

This year was indeed very good to us in many ways; in other ways, not so much. I can't really say that I'm sorry 2009 passed us by so quickly. That in itself was one of the blessings of this year. ;-)

I'm not sure if 2010 will be any better, but I always look positively at a new year regardless of the events in the old. Things change too quickly to stop hoping they just might change for the better.

So at midnight I'll kiss my children goodnight, snuggle next to my sweetie, and thank God for all His blessings- those of 2009 and those of the new year.

Be safe, everyone; God bless!

Straight No Chaser

No, that's not what I'm ordering for breakfast. ;-)

They are the men's a cappella group who put out the only version of the 12 Days of Christmas that doesn't have me bored to tears by "three calling birds".

Today is looking like it is going to be a brilliant day. We started off a little cloudy, but now about an hour after sunrise the sky is almost clear. We are at a comfortable 11 degrees F. It was a "sloppy" day yesterday with overcast skies and blowing snow, so I guarantee we're all going to be out enjoying the weather today.

God bless, Happy 4th Day of Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Unto us a Child is born. For us a Son is given. His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Almightly God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus Christ, Emmanuel- God with us.

Let us make haste with the shepherds to worship Him.

My prayers are with all our family today. We miss you all so much... I ask that God will fill your hearts with the peace and joy of Christmas.

God bless!

Happy Birthday, Thomas!

Five years ago today, our Thomas was born!

Interestingly enough, Mardi Gras fell on this day the year he was born, too. I remember joking that I began my penance a day early. ;-) Chuck made homemade doughnuts for breakfast today, so that was a real treat. Thomas has requested shepherd's pie for his birthday dinner, and a chocolate cake for dessert.

I'll post some pictures later this evening...

Chuck Day

Happy, happy birthday to my dear hubby!

I love you so much!

Birthdays and Epiphany

I have a few pictures from the last two days to share. Raechel had brownies and ice cream for her birthday dessert.

Do you think Mary looks like me (except for the dirty face)?

We had banana splits for Joseph's birthday dessert, but I didn't get pictures of that. We had such a fun day, though!

Proud big brother and loving baby sister...

Joseph's birthday is also the traditional day to celebrate the Epiphany. Since the day after Christmas we have been putting figures in a special 12th Night calendar and singing the hymn "We Three Kings" along with our evening prayers. Here, Thomas gets a little help from Daniel with placing the last figure just right.

Here is our completed calendar which we will leave hanging until Lent. The calendar is published by Dumb Ox, and they also have a lovely Advent calendar that is filled in the same way. They are inexpensive so I don't mind buying new ones each year. The kids really enjoy having the figures to color and cut out every year.

After our calendar was completed last night, Chuck led us in a house blessing. Traditionally, the initials for the wise men, enclosed within the year and connected with crosses, is written over the doorways of the home with blessed chalk. This year is written:

+20+G+M+B+09+

The wise men were blessed with the wisdom and courage to seek the Infant Christ and worship Him. In blessing our home on the day in honor of the Epiphany, we ask for the same grace to seek and serve Jesus Christ in the coming year.

I'll close with another picture of all the children, although it didn't turn out great. For one thing, they don't fit so well on this couch any more. Mary is grumpy, the little boys are sleepy, and Daniel looks like he's just about bored to death. One of these days I'm going to get them all dressed up and get some good pictures when we have time to pose and everybody is well rested. In the meantime this will have to do.

God bless!

Happy Birthday, Joseph!!

Today is our dear Jo-Jo's 7th Birthday.

Happy Birthday, darling boy. We love you so much!

Raechel's Birthday Today!

Happy 12th Birthday, Raechel. We all love you very much!

(more pictures to follow...)

About our New Year's Eve

I didn't get as many pictures as I thought, but here are some to share. Here is Mary Mae fulfilling her role as "Mama's Helper". She is very diligent with her job of overseeing the biscuit-making process. Like any good manager, she is very "hands on".


"I give these biscuits full and official approval!"


We spent the afternoon tidying house, at least that's all I remember doing. We had our favorite meal, chicken and rice with gravy, and then cleaned up and got ready to go to Mass. January 1st is still a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics, the feast day in honor of Mary, Mother of God. Traditionally, it is also remembered in honor of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus. I really enjoy going to Mass on New Year's Eve. It seems like the best possible way to finish the year and begin the next.

After we got home from Mass we all took a nice, hot sauna. If you have never had a traditional steam sauna, you really don't know what you are missing. There is nothing that feels better on a crisp winter's evening! You have to do it the right way, though. After you've been in there a while and you are so hot you don't think you can stand another minute, you go running out naked in the snow and jump in the nearest snow pile. Then you have to run, squealing and laughing, back to the sauna to warm back up! Chuck has tried this, the kids have done this, I will not do this. They assure me that it is not that cold and actually feels really good. I assure them that I am happy taking a sauna the "wrong" way.

So, after the sauna we had your typical snack foods and Chuck beat Robert at Battleship. Then I beat Chuck at Battleship only because I know his strategy too well.

We lost the youngest two by around 10:30. Thomas fell asleep on the couch shortly after locating his pajamas.

Mary was soon to join him. (Remember, she was up early slaving over the biscuits!)

At almost midnight we went outside, admired the beautiful sky for a few minutes, fired a couple of shots into the woods, yelled "HAPPY NEW YEAR", and then went back inside to thaw out. At this time it was -3 degrees, afterall. We prayed our bedtime prayers, brushed teeth, and all the children were in bed by 12:30 (except for Mary who had woken back up).

I pray that God will bless all of you and your families in the year to come!

Resolved

I love ringing in the New Year. I love the clean look of a new calendar with only birthdays and holidays carefully and neatly written in with my best pen. I also like to write down my hopes and plans for the upcoming year.

Do you make resolutions for New Year's? I thought everybody did, but Chuck said he never has. His reasoning is why make promises to yourself that you know you probably will not keep? I just read on a Catholic blog that one third of the people who make New Year's resolutions have broken them by February. I can't vouch for how accurate that statistic is, but based on my personal record, it wouldn't surprise me.

I posted resolutions for 2007, and of the three resolutions I made, I kept only one and that one I didn't keep very well. I never did write down resolutions for 2008, possibly because I was sick around New Year's and Mary Mae was still so young that just maintaining normalcy day after day was an accomplishment. (Sometimes I didn't do that so well either, Ha!) But this has not been a stellar year for me. In many ways, I feel like I've backtracked in many ways, and I've developed some personal "habits" that I really do not like. In short, I don't think I am a better person at the end of this year than I was at the beginning. Failure to more forward is essentially the same as going backward.

So, I'm going to make my resolutions, but I'm going to try putting more prayer and thought into them than I usually do. I'm also going to follow advice from a friend about making my goals more specific and measurable, and also making sure they are realistic.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I think we will be busy most of the day with some housework most of the early part of the day. Since Christmas we've only done the bare necessities, and now it is time to catch up on some laundry and non-essential housework. We will probably spend our afternoon and evening with cooking, eating, games, and shooting each other with NERF or airsoft pellet guns. Okay, that last bit is how the guys will probably spend their evening... I think the girls and I might choose an activity that is a little more subdued. *wink*

God bless!

Happy Birthday to me

I am 32 years old today!

God has given me so many of you, family and friends, to love me, pray for me, and wish me well on this day. I thank Him for each one of you; your love is the best gift of all!

Thank you, Sweetie!

First, my darling pointed out that I failed to mention that yesterday was not our wedding anniversary. We can't claim credit for being married 15 years yet- it's only been 13 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days. Yesterday was the anniversary of the day he took me to the park and asked me to be his girlfriend. (I am quite certain that he already had marriage in mind, but it was all of two more months before he first brought that up, LOL!)

Second, my darling sent me a bouquet of 15 red roses yesterday. He's such a romantic, and that makes me one very blessed wife.

On a side note, some friends of ours are on the road to the UP and in serious need of prayer for protection. Please say a prayer for them right now! God knows who they are.

God bless!

Happy Anniversary

I'm amazed that Chuck and I have been together for 15 years. It seems so long ago, and yet it doesn't. Anyone who is in love will know what I mean. I looked through our photo albums to find a picture of just us, and this is one of the few that I found.

Aren't we so young and cute!? :-D This was taken at his Grandma's house on Thanksgiving Day in 1995.

My prayer for today... Thank you, Lord, for our marriage and our family! Forgive us for our failings, strengthen us in our weakness, and bless us with Your love for many years to come.

The Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday, Daniel

When you read this, please pray with me for Daniel. May he be blessed today and in the coming years! Happy Birthday, Pumpkin! (As always, I promise pictures will be up later!)

Mary's First Year

Here she was at just a few hours old...

First smiles, at about 2 months old...
Where did her hair go!? About 5 months old...

Mary and her Little Lamb are now world-famous! about 9 months old...
And here she is, one year old. Happy birthday to you, baby girl. I thank God every day for the smiles and joy you bring to our family.