Hello all! Maybe I’m a little behind, but I want to do a quick post on our family’s year during 2015. Part of the reason I started this blog is to have a place to document our journey. These days of growing our children are so precious and I don’t want to miss a moment!
Here is simplified version of what 2015 looked like for our family:
Apollo turned 4 in February. His hair continues to be red with a temperament to match! I have been amazed at how God has a hold of his little heart. Already, his prayers reach a depth that mine never have. We struggle daily not to grab those deliciously big cheeks of his. I can’t wait to see where God takes him!
We were blessed to celebrate his birthday with my sister’s family who lives 12 long hours away. Cousins are a special gift! His favorite gift was a sword (swiped from a garage sale for a dime!). He has an imagination the size of Texas.
March brought the 2nd birthday for my sweet Sally. Owls are currently her favorite animal (the owl outfit and umbrella were a gift from her loving aunt). Her imagination matches her brother’s. You will often find her playing Tonto alongside of her Lone Ranger brother. While I would have been happy to have all boys, I am so grateful God gave me my little girl. Her father describes her as “shiny.” Her eyes sparkle and you will often find a song in her heart and on her lips. She tells me on a daily basis that Jesus wants us to give Him our hearts. She is a jewel!
Our family celebrated Easter at home this year. No traveling, just pure relaxing reflection on what this day means for us as believers!
Shortly after Easter, Jim received his First Communion. I was able to teach the religious ed class for children receiving First Communion at our parish, so it was a special day for me to see all (just 4 of them) my “students” receive Jesus for the first time. I was amazed at how genuinely excited he was for this special event in his relationship with God. For several weeks following the event, he asked repeatedly to go to daily Mass so he could “get more of that grace.”
Summer fun!
Our children love that we have given them a hole in the backyard to play in the dirt. The PVC pipe on the right of the picture shows their current underground pipeline system. They have also been known to make mud volcanoes. If you don’t know how to make a mud volcano, I would suggest you don’t ask. You will be doing some very dirty laundry!
Jim turned 8 in May. I love this boy’s heart! He adores and mothers (if a boy can mother) the little ones in the family. He is such a willing and able helper around the house. I just don’t know where I would be without him! His mechanical mind amazes me. He also has taught himself where all historical rail lines have gone in our state with the help of a large map and Bing satellite maps. He knows the state’s geography better than myself!
Summer found us waiting for the arrival of #4. A surprise! As all of my children do, baby made us wait, and wait, and wait.
Here’s the highlight of the year! 10 days late, but right on time, little Butchie arrived weighing in at 9 lbs. 5 oz. The first stage of labor was a breeze (as much as labor could be a breeze). I woke in the middle of the night and lay in bed timing contractions. Within an hour the contractions were 8 minutes apart and building in intensity and getting closer. We quick called hubby’s parents (who live an hour away) at 3 a.m, worrying that baby was going to be born at home. As soon as they arrived, the contractions stopped. The rest of the day was spent walking trying to get them going again. Things finally got serious enough to go the hospital around two in the afternoon. Labor quit again, although I was dilated completely. Then the real work began, since baby wasn’t positioned correctly. While working, I told my son it MUST be a boy to be so stubborn like that! Turns out I was right. After an hour of pushing, we finally got our little boy.
He was so good the first week of life, that I even became concerned about him. To avert his mother’s fears, he quickly stepped it up a notch, although he remains a generally happy baby.
The kids were UNBELIEVABLY excited about him. During their short visit to the hospital, each child held him a minimum of twenty times.
A week later, Butchie was baptized. We were so happy to have him become a member of Christ’s family so quickly and were glad both sides of the family could be in attendance.
Just an adorable picture of Apollo. This boy!
Lots of time just hanging around the house enjoying sweet baby boy!
Here’s a goody. This is what happens every time we try to get out the door. I bend over helping someone with shoes and I inevitably end up with a trucker’s hat on my head. This time, hubby ran to get a camera and snapped a picture before I could stop him.
With baby Butchie being born smack dab in the middle of the summer, we didn’t get much traveling in. We did however travel little distances to nice parks and enjoyed hiking trails and exploring with the kiddos.
The moment I had been waiting for! My one and only (or as she says “one and lonely”) daughter’s hair was finally long enough for pigtails!
As every year, we attempted to take family pictures. The first attempt was a fail!
Sally dutifully took up the role of little mother. I occasionally call her “Mamasita.” Here she is in all her glory: brother’s sweat pants, Raggedy Ann costume, Ergo, and horse.
Again, just out enjoying the simple pleasures. Daddy is great to get us out of the house to enjoy God’s world.
We celebrated All Saints’ Day with our Catholic homeschooling co-op. Here we have St. Lucy, St. Michael, St. John Vianney (St. Maximilian Kolbe was sleeping).
This is the best we could do for a Halloween photo. Meet Sir Knight, the Lone Ranger, Raggedy Ann, and the horse. Obviously, Mom was not up for making complex outfits this year!
Just more every day sillies. These two are forever playing “campsite.” This time they are camped out on the heat register with plastic tableclothes. Safe? Prolly not-but lots of fun!
Look at my beautiful baby blues! Getting bigger!
Our daily happy dance occurs every evening when Daddy’s car pulls in the drive. Kids drop what they are doing and run to greet him and climb on his shoulders. The man, who is all worn out from work, is always ready with a big smile, hugs, and lots of love. He is a gift!
The day before Thanksgiving, I finally got sick of my long hair. The last two years either hubby or I have cut my hair (do you know how expensive it is to get a good cut?), but I finally broke the bank and went to a salon. I donated a good 18 inches. My hair is VERY thick, so the stylist told me it was enough to make 4-6 wigs. It’s so much easier to get a shower, though I do miss my long locks.
This one is just to bookmark where Jim is in his Lego building skills. Here is his differential. Go ask his engineer father.
Here are the boys with Santa Claus ( who just happens to live across the street!) at our town’s Christmas celebration. We always enjoy going and riding on the horse drawn trolley!
We finished up the year celebrating Christmas simply at our home before traveling to see family.
It truly was a blessed year! We look forward to what 2016 will hold!
