Goodbye 2012

This morning, as I snuggle Leo in my jammies while enjoying my morning coffee, I realize it's time to ponder the highlights of this year about to come to a close...  As for the hard lessons we've all learned, I think I'll keep those to myself for today and just focus on the best things about the past 12 months...

1.  Leo's birth and happy homecoming after 8 days in the NICU.  To our doctors and nurses, we send our gratitude.  To my parents who kept us afloat at home, we can never fully express our thanks.

2.  Horseback riding lessons.  Beautiful animals, a great teacher, all kids involved in ONE activity all at the same time, once per week = happy mommy, happy kids, more time at home = win, win, win.  It was a good month, while it lasted.  :) 

3.  Turning 40.  I feel I am more justified in asserting my opinion about things now that I've reached this milestone.  At the same time, I am increasingly aware that there's more to consider in life than just my gut reaction to things...  It took me 40 years to figure this out?  Ahem, returning to the positive...

4.  Vision Therapy.  At the recommendation of my dear friend, and at the prompting of a reading specialist, we had all kids evaluated by pediatric optometrists with special training in vision therapy.  After fitting with new glasses and many months of eye exercises, we can see a huge difference in academic progress.  So grateful to be led in the direction of these capable women. 

5.  Homeschooling.  Every year we come up with more reasons why we're thrilled to be able to do this in our family.  It's not perfect every day, but I love the creativity I see in my kiddos, the fact that I know exactly where they are strong and weak, and the togetherness we experience.

6.  Our kitties.  Well, we've learned more than we cared to about the circle of life this year, but our sweet pets add much joy to our daily lives.  Hamlet is a big, fat ball of carmel and white, and Tiger is his smaller, gray striped counterpart.  They are affectionate and funny and good hunters. 

7.  A week on Lake Michigan.  With Grandma and Pada and no agenda, we had a lovely week of relaxation on one of the nicest beaches I've ever seen. 

8.  A new nephew on the way!!  His mommy  Sara was really sick early on in her pregnancy, and we're so happy that she's healthy now.  New baby will be here in a few months. 

9.  Ignace receives 'Most Underrated Defensive Player' award from his basketball coaches.  :)

10.  Ballet.  We have serious love of this art form in our family, and this year there were two big events:  Felicity's first recital and Lucy's first pre-pointe shoes. 

11.  Lego love.  Thanks to Victor's insatiable fondness of Lego-building, we took a spur-of-the-moment birthday trip to Chicago to visit their Lego store (among other things).  We even muscled through a blizzard to get there and were rewarded by a beautiful Michigan Avenue winter wonderland.  In spite of the organizational challenges, I love the satisfaction the kids experience when they complete a project. 

12.  12 years of marriage.  So grateful for my husband.  He makes me laugh, works like a draft horse for us, and supports me in my efforts at home.  This is cliche, but when I hear a person refer to another as his 'rock,' I know emphatically what that means... 

I could go on, it's been a good year, but I'll end by wishing all who visit this blog a very happy and healthy 2013!! 

4th Day of Christmas

Today, just sharing a few of my favorite pictures from our Christmas gatherings...

The best gift is a sibling...

Cute cousins always willing to pose for a cheesy picture...

napkin rings from Ecuador (from my parents after their medical mission trip several years ago)

Love these little babushka dolls, handmade for me by my sweet oldest daughter...

Call me what you will, but I love matching jammies.

 

I also love capturing laughter on film...

Ketan and Leo... Christmas with cousins is the best!

 

Merry Christmas

Nutcracker, Birthdays, Caroling... During this busy Advent season, we've enjoyed many opportunities to spend time with family and friends.  Today, Christmas Eve, we're having a quiet day at home, preparing for Christmas Eve Mass, remembering the birth of the Christ Child. 

We wish you a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. 

Dinner Conversation

Is this normal? 

Our dinner discussion last evening began with a question about whether Victor would be attending his taekwondo class.  The schedule is flexible, so he can choose different sessions from week to week. 

When he didn't want to go last night, his Dad gave him a little pep talk about seizing the day, you never know what will happen tomorrow, etc.  It went something like:

Dad:  you can't be sure you'll be able to go tomorrow.  What if Mom and I get abducted by aliens in the night?

Vic, Felic, and Ignace, simultaneously:  I'll attack!  I'll punch their lights out! 

Upon which, the conversation turned to who in the house would actually have the guts to come to our defense in the middle of the night.  Since certain males have difficulty with the dark and being alone in their room, and the biggest sister in the house sleeps through most everything, we determined that the 5 year old among us would be the most likely to fight aliens. 

Then, everybody came up with their own ideas of the best method for defeating aliens, what an alien might look like, and whether they would, in fact, be malicious. 

Just pass the salad, please. 

Lend a Hand

Check out this great giveaway to help a family in need:
Small Things

Have a great day!!

'Gingerbread' Houses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our 4H group's meeting this week.  Such sweet and happy faces.

 

A visitor

Stainless steel refrigerator:  $1500

Organic vegetables delivered straight from the farm: $40

Expression on Victor's face when he sees this crawling up the inside wall of the fridge...

...priceless!!

A Few of My Favorite Things {p,h,f,r}

{Real} First of all, this is my vantage point for at least an hour of driving each day... That's the reality of driving kids to activities no-so-close to our house. We make the best of our time by listening to LOTS of books on CD... Spending this much time in the van is not my favorite thing, but...

It allows Lucy to participate in something she absolutely loves:  ballet.  Here is a performance from this weekend.  She is so {happy} to be on stage.  (And {pretty}, too!)  Seeing her in her element is definitely one of my favorite things. 

 

 

Another activity which is a favorite of mine and the kids is... Legos!!  Miss Felic did this all by herself...  I love the creativity these fun little blocks foster.  I'm not so fond of the mess, however.  Oh well.  

 

This is a {funny} 'chariot ride' created by a certain big brother. 

 

 

Over Thanksgiving weekend, we had Uncle Ashley and Auntie Shruti (and their sons!!) at our house for 3 whole nights!!  The kiddos were thrilled, as you can see in this picture...

 

 

 When I was a kid, I thought I was a dog person.  I mean, I really loved our dogs, and cats, too, but I thought the dogs were more interesting.  Now that I actually have primary responsibilty for these creatures, and after owning the world's worst-behaved dog for 5 years, I have changed camps.  Kitties are the best.  They are cute and snuggly, very independent, and have tons of personality.  Add the fact that they also keep the rodent population down, and I am completely sold on our family felines. 

 

 

{Real}  This is where Tiger and Hamlet were hanging out yesterday... a top shelf in our garage. 

And, of course, no post is complete without a picture of Little Man who is loving his solid (using that term loosely here) food these days. 

 

Linking up with the Ladies at Like Mother, Like Daughter today!!

 

Happy Thursday!

 

Grammar Matters

After a visit with Santa this past weekend, my articulate 7-year-old informed me that he had definitely not encountered the real Santa. 

"How can you be sure?" I asked.

"Because he said the word 'ain't.'  The real Santa would never use that word."

Alrighty then.

Giving Thanks

Still no pictures to post, but wanted to take a moment to say Happy Thanksgiving to all...

We are hosting part of Eustace's family tomorrow, will spend Friday at my parents', then will march headlong into Nucracker boot camp on Saturday.  There's a 7 day period of intense rehearsals ( they've already been rehearsing for several weeks ) followed by 10 days of performances.  Our general policy is to go very easy on schoolwork during this phase. It's exhausting for everybody.

But, our plans for the next few days involve lots of cooking, eating, relaxing, and enjoying family.

Here's our Indian-American menu for Thursday:

-turkey wrapped in bacon ( not even gonna attempt my m-I-l's specialty spicy turkey)

-chicken tikka masala

- chick pea curry

-my M-I-L's pullau ( rice with veggies and spices)

-spinach salad

-corn with mustard seed

-sweet and spicy sweet potatoes

- steamed broccoli

-rolls

-samosas

-way too many desserts

Hope you and yours have lots to be thankful for!  We sure do...

Catching our breath

I apologize for the lack of pictures.  We got a new computer, and I'm still figuring things out!   Thank goodness for my husband who handles all things tech-related in this house...

So, after a very full weekend, I realize that not only have I failed to upload pictures, but I also failed to take any new ones in the past several days.  Some important events I missed:

First wheelchair basketball tournament of the year.  We traveled to Michigan.  Ignace's team took 2nd.

Lucy singing at my parents' church.  After nearly 10 hours of ballet class and rehearsal between Friday and Saturday, she pulled off a quick singing practice and a song during their service Sunday morning.  I have never seen her so tired as she was Sunday evening.  She stayed with grandma and pada while the rest of us went north.

First snow of the season this morning.  It's all melted now, but was fun while it lasted!

Completed jack o'lanterns.  Oh well.

Leo in his cheeseburger costume.

Our new kitty Tiger.  I'm so sad about Ophelia's death ( our other new kitty from this summer), I can't write about it.  But, Daddy brought Tiger home last week, and he and Hamlet are getting along splendidly.

Now that I've filled you in on what you're not seeing in pictures, I vow to get the camera back in action ASAP.  I'm taking a day of catching up after a crazy week and weekend, so hopefully I'll be thinking more clearly.  We shall see...

Have a great week.

Another Day

So that's that.

All these months of campaigning and prayer, and here we are.

There's nothing to do but carry on.

And keep praying and fighting for truth and freedom.

Nothing will change unless hearts and minds are converted.

Ronald Reagan said, "all great change begins at the dining room table."

So, that's where I'll keep my focus, especially today, when I know the small people in this house will wake up to be terribly disappointed.

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding...

A Week in Pictures

Attempting a Christmas Picture

 Parent Observation week at ballet class

Trick or Treating

A Ninja

A Duckling



Troy Polamalu

Dressing up for ballet class on Halloween

An Alien

Carving Pumpkins

Just enjoying the show...



Happy Feast of All Saints!!

Dear Amazon,

Are you stalking me?  'Cause you're starting to freak me out. 

I appreciate how you make suggestions about the books you think I might like..  That is. when I voluntarily stop by your website.

I know you assume I have a baby at home due to the many diaper purchases I've made, but, really, you don't know me.

So, when you sent me an email suggesting it's time to move up to size 3 diapers, it weirded me out.  Are you following me?  Reading my thoughts?  How do you know how big my baby is?

You need to back off.

Don't call me, I'll call you.

There are many things I really love about you, but if we're going to remain friends, you need to give me some space.

So, trusted and helpful Amazon, let's agree to meet on my terms, and I think we can get along.  Just let me make my own decisions about my familiy's personal items, and we'll be ok.

Otherwise, like I said, you're freaking me out.

My Brother, the Foreign Diplomat

When my brother called a year and a half ago to tell me he was moving east, I thought he must mean Virginia or New Jersey or some exotic place such as that.  He said, "further east."  Now he and his sweet family live in Hong Kong. 

Of course I'm very proud that his company trusts him enough to let him run their Chinese office.  He travels a great deal, his title is 'Director of Foreign Trade,' and he gives speeches to big crowds.  I had no idea my booger-picking, nerf-ball-slam-dunking little brother would grow up to have such an important job.  In my mind, he wears a shirt and tie every day and walks around with an intimidating smile and sits behind a big desk or in first class on a business flight. 

Here's reality:

I'm still proud. 

Birthdays

 On the 13th, Child #1 turned 11...

(Isn't this a nice picture of her with Aunt Emily?)

On the 22nd (party on the 21st), Child #4 turned 5!

#5 is 1/2 (well, almost), so he got to try his first solid food (mushed bananas).  He was pretty much nonplussed. 

His second 'real meal' thanks to big sissie who took it upon herself to prepare his lunch.  He's getting the hang of it, I think!!  :)