Love, Mommy

On Wednesday I froze as I was signing your birthday card, Avery. I froze as I signed all of your Christmas cards, my little ones. Somehow signing "Mommy", or "Mama" for those that still call me that, is baffling. It's putting down in ink who I am, permanently! I am a mother, I am your mother. It has been my biggest joy and highest honor that God called me to this vocation. This is enough! There is not a title more beautiful or rich than this, "Mommy". Maybe because I do not have any other titles or maybe because this one I could not earn. No, this title was gifted to me and in every way I feel unworthy and at the same time deeply humbled to have it. So for the past seven and half years I have choked up as I go to sign your cards and pray that I continue to so as to always find contentment, joy and awe in my vocation.

Friday Photo Favorites

Working on his Daddy skills. 

All clean little bear.

(My evens have the best eyelashes!)

Your Lovely Face: Week 4

Your Cousin Buddy Face.

Your Six-Year Old Face.

Your Mama hasn't tackled hair in a few days face.

Your finally feeling a tiny bit better face.

Your I'm in good hands face. 

Friday Photo Favorites

We've found a solution to baby proofing.

Your Lovely Face: Week 3

 Your Sunny Playful Face.

Little for a little while

Things I wish I still heard:

"I do it by all myself."

"Hold you."

"Oh my baby."

Things I hope to hear longer:

"Bantee"

"All day-night."

"Wooted wammies"

Friday Photo Favorites

When I can't find my girls, I look here first.

Mary Colette loves having a baby sister and often times needs to unwind with baby cuddles.

Hidden Success

My first day alone with all five was a success...don't believe me here is the proof:

Oh no the curtains were not broken at the beginning of the day, but then naps took place.

Oh that is oatmeal. Yes it usually is stored in the pantry, however it seems to be so much more convenient to have it scattered all over the bedroom floor. Speaking of convenient it is way more convenient to place the diapers every few feet that way when you need one just bend over and there you go! And the toys and blankets well seriously they just add to the atmosphere.

I think that I will just leave the oatmeal prep to these two, while I do dinner prep. Oh wait that's what I did.

So what might be wondering what was so successful about all this.

All made it to end of day and got a kiss goodnight.

And sometimes that is all the success that is needed.

Your Lovely Face: 2

Friday Photo Favorites

The Boys!

The Girls! 

Your Lovely Face: 1

 Snowy Faces.

Weekly entertainment!

 What do you get when you cross this:

One supey dupey Curly Sue with:

One Handsome Young Man?

Give up? You get your weekly dose of comic relief during our regular attended Mass time of 8:00 am. Every morning should begin with a laugh or two and we will provide those as our family awkwardly adjusts to Mass with 5 saint-makers. Please sit back and enjoy the show.

At our second Mass as a family of 7 during the passing of the collection basket (which is a new thing at our parish and is already incredibly awkward as is) every child feels the need to touch and pass the basket along with proudly flinging in their offering or slyly stashing it. We parents must be ever vigilant against this short changing Our Lord and disarming the loud accusations that will surely follow as so-and-so doesn't love God and therefore wants to spend all of eternity in you-know-where. So this part of Mass is a BIG DEAL and, well, during our recent offertory as an adult was passing the basket along to and un-named bouncy Joy Boy the basket dropped to the floor spilling all it's contents, mainly clanky change, to the floor. (Thank goodness for carpet.) Thus began the awkward shuffle of recollecting the collection and making sure that none of our children profited from this misfortune. All the while trying not to make eye contact with anyone.

Well, that was two Sundays ago.  How about the Curly Sue and Handsome Young Man? It all began as my Gentleman let his momma and sister go ahead of him in the communion line. Just as we all approached Father there was a small commotion behind momma that was steadily growing in intensity. There was some tugging and pushing, confusion, some very loud "owies" and "stop"s. After receiving, Momma turned around to give the death stare because her humiliation was growing with the volume of little girl's frustration, only to find that Curly Sue had her curls wrapped all around Handsome Young Man's suit buttons on his sleeve. So being very attached to one another Momma swiffly picked up Curly Sue and side shuffled with Handsome Young Man, while still maintaining a strong hold on Indifferent Little Brother in the other arm, to the front side of the church, set Curly Sue free who was on the verge of tears not at all understanding why her brother would inflict such pain in such a public place. Momma rescued Curly Sue into her arms while doing a very awkward baby shuffle with Almost Knight in Shining Armor, who carried the two youngest family members back to our pew so we all could endure the last awkward pew shuffle of kids now that we had EVERYBODY's attention...Don't believe me, about a dozen fellow parishioners, along with Father Hector, all commented on the commotion afterward.