Picture Day: Part 2

It's been a while, but I said I was going to take more pictures of the girls.  I got all three girls out today, with the help of my husband) for a picture day in some costumes.  The babies I dressed up as baby chicks and I had LB dress the part of farmer to keep in the theme for the pictures....she's thinking of wearing an old flowergirl dress to be a fairy/angel/bride for actual Halloween :)  Once again, I lament that I cannot share SB's pics, but trust me, she was a cutie!

A chick and her farmer

Angry bird

I think this is going to be the official 7 y/o shot that goes on the wall

Just a hardworkin' gal

Escapees

The New Guy

My youngest sister has a new fella in her life....the four-legged kind.  We all were eager to welcome little Otis into the family and rushed to see him as soon as we could:

Love at first sight

Contentment, thy name is puppy

Not so sure....

Thinking about touching him

Snuggled in for the night

September was a crazy month for us.  It was the first full month of school, included a bout of stomach flu for LB and the fun and whirlwind of two little babies.  Among work assignments, school volunteering, playing with the babies and all the other things going on at our place, I took a week to go south to my brother's house.  My brother and his family live about 1,100 miles southwest of us and are in the process of moving back up north.  I went down to help pack up the house and get it ready for the market.  Not sure how much help I was with SP in tow, but the house should be listed shortly and all the prayers you can spare asking St. Joseph to intercede for a quick sale would be much appreciated by my entire family who has waited nearly 7 years for them to join us back up north.

SP and I stopped at a scenic turnout to nurse :)

Tis Better to Give....

A few years ago, a neighbor went to the hospital and I brought her young family a meal.  Well, that's not entirely true, I made my husband bring it over.  I like to give people things, but I always feel like it's so unusual that people make a fuss, and then I feel embarrassed or like I'm intruding.  My husband has been my ambassador on more than one occasion, but slowly, I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone and do it myself.

I love to give presents when there's an occasion where it's expected (hence the relief of any awkwardness on my part) and it's so fun to make a great, useful present.  I have had the excitement of a baby shower and a bridal shower for some dear friends in the last several weeks.  Here, some pictures from the presents.

Above:  The Anywhere Chair (ties around a chair to keep a toddler in place during a meal), a baby sling and a knit blanket all wrapped in a fleece blanket.

Above:  A towel cake - memory foam mat, 2 towels, 2 hand towels and 2 washcloths 

Right now I'm working on another knit blanket for my husband's friends new addition.  Please keep the little guy in your prayers, he was 3 months early and has to undergo heart surgery soon.

Picture Day: Part 1

I finally spent some time taking pictures of the girls.  I can't share SB's pics, c'est la vie - here are the other two girls.  I say Part 1 in the title because I really need to get more pictures of the girls for their age/milestones.

My husband bought me exactly what I wanted for Mother's Day/my birthday (they're only a couple weeks apart and I wanted a kind of big present).  I got a really nice new camera.  I'm happy with the quality, although I do wish it would take the pictures faster!  

I try to take pictures of the girls as much as I can and I've been meaning to take 2 month pics of SP for well, almost a month (shhh!)  I got them taken when she was about 2 1/2 months, so I think it still counts!

I also took a few sister pics....I'll have to revisit these on a day LB has off school, she wasn't thrilled with having a photo shoot after a full day of school :) (btw - school is going well.  LB enjoys it and my anxiety is manageable....I'd like her home still next year, but we're only on the third week, so we'll see).

I figured out my camera takes stills while you're shooting video...isn't she precious?!!!!

 I included quite a few of SP's shots because her facial expressions are hilarious :)

The first one....not so bad

And then someone sneezed...note the quality of the camera capturing the spit in flight

Back to a smile, but SP is shocked by what just happened

....and a little scared

Hope they gave you a smile/laugh.  Have a wonderful September.  I'm looking forward to getting some projects wrapped up at work, maybe starting a couple at home, finishing some more handmade gifts for friends (pics to follow after they've been given!), contemplating some minor kitchen reno and even a trip south to pack up my brother's family for the move back north close to us (YAY!).  September is going to be hopping!

Everyday Miracles

I think miracles happen more often than we realize.  I find that when I stop, take a breath and take a moment for those around me, I notice the miracles all around.

Last Sunday, LB, SP and I went on a daytrip to see my elderly Grandma in the nursing home.  She has dementia and has her good days and her bad days.  I am grateful for the fiesty grandma I remember.  Every now and then, I see a piece of the grandma from my childhood.

When we went on Sunday, I saw my grandma do something I have watched her do hundreds of times with my younger brother and sisters and the older great-grandchildren.  Sunday, I got to watch her make a little clicking noise to SP. It might not seem like much, but it took me straight to childhood and yet was a moment that went straight to my heart as a mother.  There is something about watching your parents or grandparents with your children that is miraculous in itself.  For just that moment, through the memory loss and deterioration of her body, I saw the soul still inside.  Sometimes our blessings come in rain drops, indeed.

L to R: LB, Great-Grandma, Godmother, SP, (one of my sisters hiding in the background) and my dad

Last Sunday, this is what a miracle looked like.

A New Chapter

Well, today was it....LB's first day of school.  She started 2nd grade after 3 years of homeschooling.  It's been a hard transition for me.  Honestly, it makes me feel really powerless that she's in school all day with other adults controlling when she's allowed to eat, use the bathroom, talk, have allergy medication, and all number of things.  In many ways, I feel like it's failing at homeschooling that she's in traditional school this year.  Having these feelings, I feel almost guilty when friends and fellow parishioners welcome us with smiles to the school year.  Everyone has been exceptionally welcoming and those that we know through church or other activities have celebrated the beginning of LB's school year....so why can't I?

LB asked me if I could hardly wait for school to start.  I told her, no, and asked why would she ask that?  She cited the line from a holiday song, "parents can hardly wait for school to start again".  I told her that I didn't feel that way; that I hoped she had a wonderful time at school, but that I would really miss not spending my days with her.  It got me thinking about our last few years of homeschooling and what I envision for our family in the future.  Truth is, LB going to school isn't the worst thing that could happen.  I think she'll gain some skills that are only gained from being in large groups of people.  She will learn that some people will not be nice and will try to take advantage of you.  She will learn that some people will go out of their way to be kind to a new friend.  Hopefully she will learn to tell the difference.  She will learn how to operate within structure.  She will learn how to play by the rules of a game she doesn't control.   

It's only been one 1/2 day, so I guess I'll have to reserve judgement.  I've told dh that I've paid tuition through November 15th....so we'll see :P  Mostly, I'm just trying not to cry that she's going to be gone everyday.  I'm wondering if other moms have felt this way when their kiddos went to school.  My biggest fear is really regretting some day that I didn't give her all of me when she was growing up.  For now, I'll put on a smile.....and share with everyone how very cute she looks in a uniform :)

Some pictures from our day and the last bit of summer:

A sister moment

No paparazzi!!!

Sweet snuggles

Gymnastics summer camp

New shoes for school!

"Mom, why did you wake me up?"

2nd grade!

"Stand nice for a picture for Grandma"

"Let's take one to send Daddy"

Lining up with friends

Continuing the day's signature move

Headed in for school

"Where did Sissy go?"

"Mom, it's too sunny to stand in front of the school!"

By the way, LB's verdict after a 1/2 day is that she likes regular school better than homeschool, so it really is just me!  We'll see how she feels after a few weeks :)

The Gratitude Experiment

It was harder than I thought to practice a month of gratitude.  I still find myself cranky or asking God for things I don't really need rather than being grateful for the things I have, but thinking about gratitude this month has really focused me on what I do have:

1.  A good husband
2.  Healthy children
3.  A home
4.  2 operational vehicles
5.  Lots of extra creature comforts
6.  Plenty to eat
7.  Friends to laugh (and cry) with
8.  Dreams for the future
9.  A great, flexible work-from-home job
10. Amazing parents, siblings and extended family

But as I've been thinking about focusing on gratitude rather than petitions, I've thought about how petitions are such a central part of leaning on God in hard times and good times.  It's not the petitions that have been my problem, it's the whining-please-make-everything-work-out-without-any-hiccups nature of my petitions. 

When my husband was laid off in 2011, a friend gave me a great verse:

Jeremiah 29:11-For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And what a beautiful future it is.  A new baby, a new job for my husband and enough love to go around.  Thank you God for Your plans.