Back to School

Well, I meant to post this 2 weeks ago--life got interrupted (more about that in tomorrow's post).

Better late than never...

 

We had a great, low-key summer.  Definately not as exciting as some years, but Pete had steady supplemental work which was a blessing.  We had a number of days at home together and were able to tackle some remaining work projects.  And the kids got to go to two different Vacation Bible School programs (one at the beginning and one at the end of the summer), and Natalia went to Day Camp for a week, which was a new experience.

 

I don't feel like I got anything accomplished, but that's what this new season is for.  :)  I now have a 3rd grader AND an AM Kindergartener.  Momma's going to have no problem figuring out how to use those few hours solo. 

 

We had 2 first days of school due to a shortened parent and child intro to Kindergarten yesterday.  But, we took pictures both days to commemorate the occasion properly.  (It's much different when you actually wear a backpack, Adam informed me.)

 

 

 

 

My, my...they are growing up fast. 

Birthday Girl

Just as with Adam's birthday post last week, preparing this one for Natalia is an exercise in thankfulness.  It does not take long at all for a rush of emotion, (and tears) to come and my heart is washed afresh in gratitude.

Not only that I have children--that is miraculous--but that I have THESE children.  And in particular THIS child. 

Oh boy...gotta' grab a tissue.  :)

My earliest pictures of my little "sweetpea", as I quickly dubbed her, were not like the typical pictures parents take of their firstborn.  Mine included lots of wires, tubes, and gauze, yellow hospital gowns and poor lighting.  I didn't care.  I still don't.

Her scar will forever be a sweet reminder to me (and I hope to her as she grows) of God's kindness and mercy.  She is a gift, just as God's grace is a gift--one that is undeserved and cannot be earned, just received with open arms and a heart desiring faith.

Natalia, you are precious to me.  In every little thing that makes you YOU, I marvel at God's wisdom in giving you as my daughter, and me as your mama.  I oftentime feel so inadequate, but that too is by design.  ;)

January 2006, about 1 1/2 weeks old
(a few days after heart surgery)

April 2006, 4 months


December 2006, 1 year old

June 2007, 1 1/2 years


April 2008, 2 years (Cousin Morgan is 3 and Avery is 1)


December 2008, 1 week short of turning 3

August 2009, 3 1/2 years

May 2010, 4 1/2 years


March 2011, 5 years


July 2011, 5 1/2 years


August 2012, 6 1/2 years

August 2013, 7 1/2 years

December 2013, 8 years old

Natalia, I love you and am so proud of you. I hope this birthday is extra special!

Happy 8th Birthday!

Birthday Boy

I suspect that I'm not the only one who likes to peruse old family photos at this time of year.

As my baby is about to turn 5 tomorrow...YES 5!!!...I've been enjoying these shots of my favorite little guy. 

Happy birthday Adam! 

You are so special and you steal my heart with the sweet and funny things you say, your imagination and creativity, your boyish intensity and energy, and your fierce love.  I see so many of the qualities I love about Daddy in you, even though everyone says your looks resemble me.  I am thankful you still like to snuggle up on my lap.  I know those days are probably numbered. 

One of my most precious Christmas memories is bringing you home from the hospital on the 23rd.  There is nothing quite like holding a newborn in your arms when the world is dark, the household sleeping, and humming Silent Night.

Now you are becoming an independent Preschooler and outgrowing your clothes at an astonishing rate.  At times I want you to slow down, but mostly I am thrilled to see you mature and experience new things.

Love you buddy!

1 week old

Easter 2009, 4 months old

 

Sept. 2009, 8 months old (Natalia almost 4)

Sept. 2010, almost 2 years old

July 2011, 2 1/2 years old 

December 2011, 3 years old

June 2012, 3 1/2 years old (Cousin Eli is 3) 

October 2012, almost 4 (Natalia almost 7)

June 2013, 4 1/4 years (Eli, 4)

November 2013, almost 5!

He truly is a monkey! 

Can't imagine our zoo without you, Adam! 
♥ Mommy

 

 

 

 

Christmas

This year was an especially memorable Christmas because Ryan and Sarah were able to fly east to be with us.  And since her family is less than an hour away they could go back and forth as schedules allowed for large and small gatherings. 

Here are some pictures from our time together.

The pillows my mom made for each of the grandkids (Liam was napping.)

We promptly declared it naptime...but alas it was short-lived.

My mom also made doll clothes for the girls.  She used material left over from my prom dress for this one!!!

We made Mom & Dad work for their gift--they both love Words With Friends, so it was fitting.  :-)  Can you guess their surprise?

Hangin' out.

Bein' silly.

The girls (plus a few of the boys) gave us a little concert and nativity reinactment.  Absolutely precious.

Our family picture session.  I'd say we got some good ones in the 5 shots we took.  That's about all this crowd will sit still for!!! 

 

And during Ryan and Sarah's visit to our home we shared lunch, played games and pulled out Natalia's new Ed Emberly Thumbprint drawing book and made cards.  Adam pretty much cleaned up in UNO as always.  And it was really nice that Pete had off work and could enjoy their visit too.  :-)

 

  

Lots o' Birthdays

Our birthday marathon began on the 20th with Adam turning 4 (WHAT!?!?!?!!), Natalia officially hitting 7 (MIND BOGGLING!!!) and is concluding today with me.  Statistically I'm now closer to 40 than 30.  I don't care much for statistics.

As many of you know we celebrate 1/2 birthdays in this house, for reasons of significance, economy, and, let's face it--sanity.  Not wanting the kids to feel slighted, we've adopted a tradition that works well for us.  Except for when someone hits a milestone birthday, we celebrate their REAL birthday with a family night at home and reserve the 1/2 birthday summertime picnic for the grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins...and their gifts.  It spreads things out nicely for everyone.

Each year I let the kids decide how they want their cake decorated and I make one of their favorite meals for dinner.  This year Adam wanted baked chicken wings, carrots and celery, applesauce, and "bear" cupcakes.  He had seen a picture on our computer from his 1st birthday when I had made these.  (Of course he was too little to remember having them the first time when a blizzard interrupted our party with the family.)  I made a few adjustments to my earlier design: malted milk balls for the nose, halved peanut butter cups for the ears, and left off the sprinkles.



And is it a surprise to anyone that Natalia wanted "horse" cupcakes?!?!?!  I think not.
I think they look alittle donkey-ish but she loved them and that's what counts!  :-)

A picture tutorial for making them if anyone's interested.

I used lollipop-making sticks (cut in half), chocolate icing piped out of a ziplock for mouth and mane, halved peanut butter cups for ears, and chocolate chips (trimmed the edges for the nostrils) for the eyes and nose.  Oh, and peanut butter icing on top of white cupcakes.  You can find the cake and icing recipes by clicking on the link for the bears toward the beginning of this post.  (I stirred together some peanut butter, milk, powdered sugar and vanilla until I got the consistency I wanted for icing--sorry, no specific recipe for that.)