I can hardly believe it's just days until Christmas. I feel like November just started...but somehow it's already long over, so here are some highlights from the first half of last month.
My dear friend, Megan (pictured above), offered to take a few family pictures for us because she knows how much I love pictures, but also how much I fear spending a lot of time and effort and money for something that, with kids, could be a bit of a disaster.
Just a few sweet sneak peeks. Swoon.
Early in November, Chris saw an opportunity online to spread love. A boy dying from cancer, who isn't expected to make it until Christmas wanted to celebrate early this year. He requested Christmas cards from people near and far. The girls all enjoyed designing (or helping design) Christmas cards and writing encouraging notes. As I read them, I could not have been more proud and cry all kinds of ugly happy-tears. Children are so pure and beautiful.
These moments and experiences are ones I want to remember forever. These moments are what I want our kids to live each day for the rest of their lives. Love. Kindness. Peace. Encouragement.
Just Kolbe acting like a goofball.
Our Florida food study was Cuban sandwiches.
They were delicious.
Additionally, I spent a good amount of time squeezing key limes (can you say hand cramps?) to make a key lime pie to celebrate our Florida study as well.
It was also delicious.
Chris came home one evening with a sweet bouquet of flowers for me. He sure knows how to win my heart over and over again all day every day.
Elise also wanted to take pictures of them.
She added colored pencils to the vase though for a more creative flair.
Dress up is a normal occurrence around here. It's usually princesses or pirate princesses or fairy princesses though....but not this day. This day was monsters and allicorns.
ha. hahahahahahaha
Georgia state food study was also yummy. Fried chicken and biscuits.
Kayla's ballet studio had a parent observation week. Sophie came along with me to watch Kayla. She insisted on her own ballet leotard and wanted to join in the whole time. I let her join the stretches from the back of the room.
She was fairly impressive really. Kayla did well as well.
Months ago, Chris saw that Bela Fleck AND the Flecktones (they don't always tour with him) were coming to town. Not only that but the Chick Corea Elektric Band was also coming and it was a combined concert. The look in his eyes said it all. We had to find a way to get the tickets and find a sitter. Fortunately Chris' brothers were up for planning their trip around the concert so that we could see them, they could go hiking and backpacking in the mountains, AND Chris and I could go to the concert together. THANK YOU, Ethan and Nick (and Jordan too!), for watching the kiddos and having a great time with them and keeping them safe and getting them down to sleep. You are the best, and we appreciate it more than you could possibly know.
In the first 8 years of our marriage, we went out on dates only rarely. Some years once. Some years 2-3 times. It was usually simple. It was usually fairly short as we didn't want to inconvenience free sitters (we couldn't afford to pay a sitter on Chris' Catholic radio salary). But over the years, we've realized that getting out together is REALLY VITAL to our marriage. So we have worked and re-worked budgets to try to squeeze some money for babysitters sometimes. We have also asked (begged in many cases) family members to babysit when they come visit. It's a bit humbling. I hate asking for help, but I hate inconveniencing others even more, so it's pretty much my least favorite thing to have to do. But I want to nurture my marriage even more, so humiliate humble myself it is. If you haven't been getting out much, be creative. Find ways to move things around in your budget (you'll have to sacrifice something, but don't make it your marriage). Ask people for help. Do babysitting swapping. But leave your house and go on dates.
End of rant.
So we went to the concert.
We sat in line waiting because it was an outside open venue with no assigned seating, so the spots were first come, first serve. Our "waiting spot" was under a big and very old tree and it was lovely.
We chatted and sat and just people watched.
Then the line was moving and it was time to go claim seats for the concert.
silly selfies and the photobomber guy
We found pretty good seats and then got all settled with the cheese, crackers, grapes, and adult beverages we had brought with us. The guy next to us was a sweet older guy who was very chatty and had all sorts of mostly interesting information to share. He and his wife (she was there too, but she hardly talked at all) go to concerts at the Botanical Gardens fairly frequently apparently.
And then the music magic began.
These are some brief video clips. It doesn't do the concert real justice, but at least gives an idea of the music style and the talent.
Some Victor Wooten on bass, solo work.
And then Chick Corea's Elektric Band played.
Just some phenomenal musicians in both these bands. We had so much fun listening. And hang out together. And hold hands. And eat chocolate (and all the other yummy stuff). :)
And then Bela Fleck and the Flecktones came back out and they all played together. What a night. The video just catches the very end but it was amazing talent all together. A fun date to experience with my own talented musician/husband. Thanks for taking me out for a fun night, babe! What a great time.
Today I bring you random updates in the form of 7 quick takes.
1. Teething
In this update post in mid-January, I predicted (based on past history with our other kiddos) that Kolbe would pop his first tooth in the next couple weeks. I was pretty close. 2 weeks and 2 days after that post, on February 4th, Kolbe's first little tooth poked through. And 2 days later, his second little tooth began poking through the gums as well.
It's too difficult to get a picture of his teeth with that big smile and his tongue out all the time, but they are there. Sharp little buggers.
2. The Plague
Right around when Kolbe was getting his teeth, we got hit with a really nasty stomach bug. Sophie got it first and was a MESS. Fever, throwing up, wouldn't eat, barely drank, totally lethargic, and so completely NOT her joyful, active self. Just as she was starting to peak and feel better, Ava caught it and shortly after Kayla. Chris and I got touches of it, but thankfully were not hit as hard as the kids. Elise never did get it, but the others had it bad, and it took the family a good two weeks to be fully feeling 100% again.
She slept SO much over the week or so it took her to start feeling more like herself.
She was asleep in this picture. That face was happening in her sleep and she was clutching that sucker but not even interested in actually eating it, she was so tired and feeling so yucky.
It was awful.
But we had so many wonderful people praying for us to feel better and an anonymous friend sent some disinfectant wipes and a little bottle of DigestZen essential oil to help the tummies feel better.
3. Reading
We love it, so it happens a lot in this house.
I love when Kayla agrees to read to her sisters and brother. It's the sweetest. Even Kolbe enjoys it though he doesn't care about looking at the book at all. He just likes to sit close, hear her voice, and usually hold her arm. Heart melting.
We've also been trying to get back in our Read-Aloud groove. We started this book called The Penderwicks. It's about 4 sisters who meet a boy while vacationing and all the adventures they have. We are 5 chapters in and the kids are begging me to read more everyday.
We focused on listening to descriptions of characters and setting and drew pictures after the first chapter. We'll do another today probably to see what they picked up on and liked about chapters 2-5.
4. Sitting up
Kolbe is also beginning to sit up. This video isn't the longest he's sat, but it's a pretty good video to get an idea of where he's at. He's still quite wobbly most days when he sits, though he has had a few days where he sits up for about 2 minutes at a time. More often than not, he sits for about 10-20 seconds and then starts leaning....and falls onto his tummy time position.
Still moving all over the place on his belly and by rolling around from tummy to back and back again. He isn't crawling but has got up on all fours (knees too) and propelled himself forward. I'm still predicting that he'll be crawling between 6 and 6 1/2 months just like his sisters. He's doing all the same stuff, so I'd be surprised if he didn't take the plunge for that soon.
5. Love 'Em Up
We've been working on our virtue of the month, LOVE. Bible verses, chatting about how we can show each other love, and playing a little 'game' called Love 'em up. The idea is to try as much as we can to find little ways to show each other love each and every day. Little notes, helping with chores, sharing toys, giving hugs and kisses, surprising each other with pictures, special treats etc.
Chris does it a lot by drawing the kids silly pictures on our white board to surprise them each morning.
the girls made signs for Chris to welcome him home from work one day
Chris played guitar for me
kisses
Kayla "planted" a garden with dying flowers from a vase inside
you get the idea....
6. Valentine's Day
the girls did lots of sweet valentine crafts this year and wanted to send them to grandparents and godparents. It was really sweet. Here they are heading to the mailbox (our little gaggle of girls) to send them.
Chris sent me flowers (he was gone in New York City for a business trip) and I got my Lenten goodies from Blessed is She. So excited to use these during Lent.
Added some more flowers to the vase when my dear friend, Megan, brought some over later in the day, knowing that I am THE WORST (read: emotional hot mess) when Chris travels. I like having him around. :) Thanks, Megan, for understanding.
7. New York trip
Chris spent most of this past week in NYC. It was busy and loud (so many cars and horns honking all the time!), and he seemed pretty glad to get home to the comparably quieter house and all his adoring fans.
Welcome home, Daddy, we missed you! More door signs.
*BONUS*
Just in case you were having one of those weeks where you are trying so hard, but life just keeps throwing curveballs...
I give you this shot, which summarizes that feeling.
I'm smiling, but I really just want to give life the finger.
