Reading

Can be very dangerous.

Friday Photo Favorites: Sisters

Small Successes

1. I got used to a new phone. I did not want a new phone. I did want a new battery. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of sending my husband to the store for it. So, I got used to a new phone.

(I am sorry to those of you I accidentally hung up on this week.)

2. I bought something just for myself, AND, it wasn't at a resale shop, and it wasn't on sale, and no one else in the family can use it!
(So it was purchased with birthday money that was theoretically intended for personal purchases, and it is replacing a coat that is almost 9 years old, but FULL PRICE... my stomach churns just typing those two words.)

3. I put a little boy back to bed. I put a little boy back to bed without making eye contact, without talking, without hesitation, fifteen times in a day, four days this week. Today he is finally taking a nap again.

Why Heaven?

After a long day at work, this was the conversation I had with Daniel recently as I returned home.

Daniel: "Daddy, Why do we have to go to heaven?"

Me: "Well Daniel, we will get to see Jesus when we get to heaven."

Daniel: After a moment of thought, "But we already see Jesus at Mass all de time!"

Fishing

This has been cause for great concern in our house recently.

Not the child, the thing stuck between her two adorable lips. In fairness, this thing has caused her no trouble at all. Her lips are quite found of the feeling of soft plastic squishing between them. In fact they are quiet in love with it. It is this love which has created such passionate displays of affection that has cast a shadow over the heart of her littlest big brother.

He has recently suffered the loss of his own squishy soft plastic night time companions. And although prepared for the separation by months of counseling, motivational talks, and bribery in the forms of food, big boy toys and special comfort toys, it seems nothing can satisfy his little heart like squishy plastic between his lips.

This was his chosen solution.

(I am happy to say that after a few nights with Fishy, it too made a departure, and we have only caught those little lips stealing a squish or two from his sister a couple times.)

Getting Dressed

Luci found Daniel's drawer,
And the strength to open it.

She found Daniel's shirt to be a good fit,
And some pants to go with it.

While we laughed,
She found underwear, another shirt,
And a brother to help.

She found joy.




She found style.




Then,
She found more clothes.




But, when she found the sixth layer would not fit,
Daddy found her bed.

Friday Photo Favorites: My Presents

It was a good birthday.

Small Successes

1. I did laundry on Monday, not Tuesday. Monday is laundry day. Tuesday is not.

2. I moved my wake up time back thirty minutes, and forced myself out of bed... within thirty minutes of it.

3. And finally, those dishes that taunt me every night, that won't quite fit in the dishwasher, but will only multiply if left for tomorrow's load, well, those dishes went to bed clean every night. It is so nice to wake up to clean dishes! (Next week, the kids!)

Happy Halloween

(wait, it's November already!)





This year on "All Halo's Eve," we were visited by a dragon,

St. Isabelle, princess of France,






St. George, disguised as a court jester, and

the Queen of Everything

who was battling mild dehydration during the entire photo shoot.





Yes, St. George, I told your secret.





During the evening, St. Isabelle, after years of cultivating her desires, finally enjoyed her long coveted horse ride, and, for 28 seconds she experienced the joy of a completely satisfied five year old girl.




In close pursuit was the fierce dragon, also experiencing a great deal of joy in his equestrian stole, although not possessing so coveted a previous desire.






St. George scoffed at all the nonsense, and used his perfectly good legs to walk the ten meters to the other side of the fenced enclosure.
His perfectly good legs, admittedly functional, were regrettably, not well covered as his chosen disguise was actually purchased for last year's jestering.





The evening culminated with the introduction of prehistoric into the Medieval, making the evening a particularly interesting historical treat, not excluding the baby bumble bee hovering above.


Unfortunately,
no one expected the giant hay bale spider to descend upon the posed menagerie so suddenly.

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Just three years ago our Doodle Dan came home from the birth center and has been charming us ever since.
(His brother and sister could hardly wait to meet him the next morning.)





Enjoying his first bites of table food.

Happy to finally be standing, at fourteen months.

Our little 18 month old boy, whose eyes could win him just about anything he wanted.

He practiced his charming skills in the hospital after loosing four pounds during a sixteen day battle with a stomach bug.
(Our stomachs still churn anytime he says, "my tummy hurts!")

Wow, Look at that two year old HAIR!

Wait... you're right, don't look.

Just smile...




And know we are blessed to have you!


Happy Birthday Doodle Dan!

Earplugs Anyone?

Last weekend Jenny Lynn and Luci made a visit to Uncle Matty in Maryland, so I had to make due from Thursday at 2:30 pm, all the way until Sunday night. Luckily, a strategically placed call to some grandparents helped me get through the weekend with a little more ease.


On Sunday afternoon we made a trek out to the Alliance Air Show in Fort Worth. It was well worth the drive and Ganpa's money as the kids had fun, Ganpa and I had a blast, and Ganma worked on crowd control and toy airplane hunting.

The stroller seemed to be a sought after seat after the first hour.

Daniel enjoying some of the louder fighter jets!

Peter with his earplugs in.

The group inside a C-5 Cargo jet. It can hold 6 school buses.

The main attraction of the day. The Navy Blue Angels!

The most expensive attraction of the day!

Who's that Five Year Old?!

No, that's not her cuddling with Granny.

Nope again, that birthday girl is only one!

Is she disguised as a two year old butterfly?


Close, but this scrunchy nosed birthday girl is only three!



Sorry, that's a four year old tucked under that coon skin.



There she is, hopping over pumpkins!

We love you Izzie Rue!

Happy Fifth Birthday!!!