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!!