Project 365, Week 6

We made it through January!  Here in New England that is historically the coldest month of the year, with average highs barely reaching the freezing point, though mercifully, this year was mild. 

We continued to enjoy time with my brother's family...we are getting spoiled having them around and being a part of everything.  With 14 kids, everyone is bound to have someone to play with and a spare for when the fighting breaks out.

January 31

We said goodbye to our out-of-town guests, after the girls got beautified with Aunt Bonnie.

For the four months or so of the year that Shaun has a desk job, Sunday is iron-shirts day.  I'd have to say its my least favorite chore (as in, I'd rather clean toilets anyday over that).  Being as cheap as I am, I know that the only thing I'd like less than ironing them myself is taking them to the cleaners (another errand...no thanks) and paying someone else to do it.  So, I quit grumbling about it and now do it with a happy heart, thinking of how I am blessing my husband and how I will spend all those dollars I am saving.  :) And, it usually only takes me about 20 minutes...not exactly a big chunk out of my week!

February 1

After dance practice, we went to hang out with cousins.  Always a party there, always a playmate to have fun with.

February 2

I think Aiden is doing bicep curls here.

A night out with my two sisters and sister-in-law, Amy, Elizabeth, Bethany, me.  Shopping, dinner (thanks Amy and Colombo!) and a movie.  Thanks to the grandparents and dads who made it happen...a minor miracle with fourteen kids between us.

February 3

A friend gave me these as a (unnecessary) thank-you gift.  They make me smile...fresh, clean, seasonally appropriate dish towels.

February 4

My "little" girl is growing up!

February 5

We had a fun evening with cousins at our house.

February 6

Sleepovers are best if they can happen sleeping cramped together in a tent.  This picture was taken in the middle of the day when Avery was explaining to me that they wanted me to count to 30, then look in all different places before eventually finding them under the blankets in their tent.  Three little giggly girls thought it was so much fun!

Thanks for hosting, Sara!

He's on the Move

Oh, how delighted Aiden is with himself!  He is crawling anywhere he wants to go.  Now, I often hear cries of No, Baby Brother, no!  And the girls will tell you that "if Daddy finds my little things on the floor he is going to throw them in the garbage". 

At first he would just stay in one spot and get up on his hands and tippy toes (can you say "tippy toes" in reference to a boy?) and then he started doing an inch worm imitation to get where he needed to be.  From the start, he knew being on his knees had something to do with it and in the past couple days he's put it all together and is crawling with his hands and knees in coordination.  Even the third time around, or maybe especially the third time around, it is so amazing and awe-inspiring to watch.

And I wonder...when did I lose that self-delight?  What happened to my awareness that everyday I can do somethings I have never been able to do before?  What made me content to stop trying out yesterday's impossibilities and failures to see if they could be done today?

God, give me tenacity and confidence like Aiden has.  Help me to trust you, knowing that you are right here with me, helping me become the person you created me to be.  Give me the pure, unquestioning faith of a child.

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and

become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

We Are Family

This post is little more than a photo dump because I just want to get the weekend documented. 

What's that you say?  Oh yes, well you are right.  That IS all my blog is normally...a photo dump.  What can I say?  

Because there were arms aplenty for holding babies, I grabbed my camera, put it on manual mode and shot about 350 throughout the day.  Some were wasted because I didn't have the right setting, but I'm learning...and perhaps making my family nuts.

Since my brother's family is in from Colorado and three family members were starring in The Lost Son, my aunt, uncle and cousin chose to drive the 4+ hours to visit for the weekend.  Always such a treat when they are around and is cause for an automatic family gathering of large proportions.

The show was Friday night then Saturday we bundled up and headed to the ice rink to watch my nephew Colombo play.  Then we invaded my sister Bethany's house for some hanging out time.  Rock Band was one of the popular events.  So was the delicious meal she made!

The three 3 year-olds or the '06 Club as we fondly refer to them as.

"Uncle Peanups"...its tradition!

As our little original family of six has grown, we've found that its just not feasible to hold a separate birthday party for each person (as it is we have three duplicates).  So we celebrated all the January and February birthdays together.  Trey-1, Katie-2, Juliet-9, C4-11, and the three adults are 30-something.  For those wondering, cause the cake decorator person was, "C3" is short for Colombo III and "C4" is short for Colombo IV.  There's a C2 as well.  Sometimes the shortened versions just make everything less confusing.

 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them

all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your

hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful.

Colossians 3:13-15

Groundhog Day

(Taken June 2009)

 

Groundhog Day actually ranks pretty high in my "favorite holiday" category.  Whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow, the mere fact that we are talking about spring is enough to make me very happy!

If you live by my decrees and obediently keep my commandments, I will send the rains in their seasons, the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. You will thresh until the grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting time; you'll have more than enough to eat and will live safe and secure in your land.

Leviticus 26:3

Project 365, Week 5

We had a fun, full week.  Though several forms of sickness went through the house, and we had a mishap with the car, the good far exceeded the bad.  We had lots of family time, though next to nothing for the five of us.  Tax season is well under way, which means any half-hour we get with Shaun throughout the week is considered a bonus.  To add to his fun, there was a heating issue at one of the apartment buildings that had to be dealt with immediately since we've had highs in the 20s the last couple days, so that's where he could be found at 10 PM two nights in a row. 

I thought the timing was odd, but all week I was meditating on God's grace...that's what the sermon was about last weekend and it was just a recurring theme in my week.  I was going to go into it here, but it started to get long, so I think I'll save it for another post.  Anyway, how can you ever have a bad week when your heart just keeps getting filled up with the knowledge of His grace...grace that he takes great pleasure in lavishing on us.  Good stuff.

January 24

Shaun and I went to see The Lost Son.  My sister, niece and nephew were all in it, as well as several friends.  We were wowed!! 

January 25

It was a rainy, windy day.  While our car was sitting in the driveway, two large branches fell.  One smashed the windshield and the other left two decent-sized dents in the hood.  (this picture isn't in our driveway...I actually drove it to Avery's dance class like this) $371 later, the windshield is as good as new.  Still awaiting word on the hood, though since we don't have collision it will for sure cost us.

January 26

Since my brother is away in Iraq, my sister-in-law decided to come out to the east coast to be closer to both sides of her family.  She came with her 3, 2 and almost 1 year old and is staying at my sister Amy's house (yes, that would be the same sister who is assistant director/producer/actress/singer in the show these two weekends).  The 11 month-old is practicing his steps after his bath. 

And the '09 club is together again for the first time since September...what a difference four months makes!

January 27

I met with my boss/brother-in-law for my annual review.  This paper says he is satisfied with my perfomance and I get to keep my job :).  Such a blessing to have work when so many do not.  On top of that, its work that I enjoy and that can be done while I am home with my children.

January 28

Is there a better way to start your day than getting a babbling, smiling infant out of bed? 

January 29

I got to babysit my niece so my sister-in-law could go see the show.  She put the other two down at 6:30 before she left, so we got to have special time with just Katie.  She is precious.

January 30

We all went to see my nephew's hockey game (#11).  He scored just for us. :)

Later, we went to my sister Bethany's house to celebrate the January/February birthday's in the family...all 7 of them (the 7th one was in bed napping)!

Sara is hosting this and every week.

Messy Meals

Am I the only one who has to scrub down the kitchen chairs after every meal?  There seems to be a pattern for one person in particular...I would never name names. (cottage cheese...the girls are wild about it and is the most requested item at the grocery store and at snack time)

Suppose one of you has a servant who comes in from plowing the field or tending the sheep.

Would you take his coat, set the table, and say, 'Sit down and eat'?

Wouldn't you be more likely to say, 'Prepare dinner; change your clothes

and wait table for me until I've finished my coffee; then

go to the kitchen and have your supper'?

Does the servant get special thanks for doing what's expected of him?

It's the same with you. When you've done everything expected of you,

be matter-of-fact and say, 'The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.

Luke 17:7-10

Wordless Wednesday