Your Lovely Face: Week 25

Your New Swing Face

Your New Swing Face

Your Four Year Old Bubble Cake Face

Your Higher-Higher, Whoa Face

Your Big Time Crawling, Slapping the Floor Face.

Holes

I dug a hole last week AND IT'S STILL THERE! It's just covered with dirt.

Oh to see the world like you!

Celebrate as Usual

8 years ago we celebrated with a four week ago and being more scared than ever at the whole life and parenting thing.

7 years ago we celebrated via phone in two different states with a strained conversation about finding a new apartment quickly.

6 years ago we celebrated with our two sons and whirlwind of family coming and going to meet our newest.

5 years ago we celebrated by pinching every penny so we could celebrate with newly weds a month later.

4 years ago we actually did something. We celebrated with a rare date that resulted in labor and delivery of our first daughter the next day.

3 years ago we celebrated while on the road making another cross country trip; family, friends and sacraments.

2 years ago we celebrated in the mists of laundry and packing for book end sacraments, baptism and wedding.

1 year ago I thought you brought me flowers-they were for you other girl. We celebrated with "all is well" with our newest blessing.

This year will be much of the same, no fancy celebration or date. Just us and our littles doing what we do, eat, laugh clean up, bed and maybe, maybe if we are lucky we can have some uninterrupted time to talk tonight.  Or rather put together a birthday cake and decorated our dining room. (I doubt it though, our birthday girl is in transition and hasn't let us sleep for awhile.) Somehow all of this is comforting to me. These little people are our fruits of what took place 9 years ago.

Thank you for letting our family take up this time in our lives right now. Thank you for not being upset when we don't get to do what we had planned because someone is scared or sick or had other plans. Soon enough our littles won't be little anymore and won't need us as much, so thank you for being present in the moment God has given us. Thank you for having patiences when mine is out and for giving me time every morning to start my day without people underfoot. Thank you for showing our children what authentic masculine love is. Thank you for being their go to for all things facts and faith. Thank you for dancing with the girls and making bows and arrows with the boys. Thank you for letting me focus on this moment in life too. You make me better. You make us better.

I love you, Philip.

You Must Be SuperMen

Five and half years ago I sat in Mass and felt a small squishy hand slide as far around my back as it could. The little boy sat quietly beside me watching not me and, well, not the priest, but his Poppy. His Poppy had his Gia wrapped in his arm, the same way I grew up seeing him do. The way, as a girl, I longed for him to put his arm around me in the same study embrace. The way I eventually longed for a husband to embrace and love me. It was a quiet, yet powerful symbol of love and protection and my little boy was trying his best to emulate it. He saw the meaning as well and knew it was powerful, somehow that action reflected a strong masculine love and he desired to show a love like that.

That was the first time it hit me...You men must be SUPER! Always, always, always there are eyes watching you, wanting to be just like you. There is no room for being super just around the littles and then being your regular old self the rest of the time. You see, my littles pick up on that lie all too quickly. Therefore, you must be super all of the time. 

No I'm not just talking to Daddies, I'm talking to all men; Uncles, Godfathers, Grandpas, Priestly Fathers and even Big Brothers. Someone is looking up to you and wanting to fill your shoes someday; make sure your shoes are worthy. 

Yes, I realize I left very little room here for you to be anything but super. I see no reason to. You men impact so very much of our future. Your examples set the stage for all the other young men in our family and society. You must be Super.

With all that said, thank you to all the men in the lives of my young men for being just that - Super.

For being worthy of emulation.

For wearing shoes well worth filling.

Thank you for being more than enough.

For being tender.

And patient.

And fun.

And brave.

Thank you for teaching lessons I can not.

Thank you for guiding Our Faith.

Thank you for being SuperMen for our children, especially our boys.

Happy Father's Day to all Men!

Your Lovely Face: Week 24

Your Lovely Crazy Hair for VBS Face. 

Your Lovely Vintage Baby Dress Face.

Friday Photo Favorites

 Fairy Sisters

Mary Colette made her little sister a fairy crown, just like hers! 

"How do you like it?"

Annie K wore her crown the entire time we were outside, to her sister's great delight.

She just can't resist a little smooch on Annie K. I mean, who can?!

As much as Mary Colette is devoted to Anastasia, Anastasia admires Mary Colette.

Mary Colette seeks out and plays so well with Annie K and there is not a louder cheerleader and squealer for Mary Colette than Annie K. 

Annie K is more than happy to sit and watch Mary Colette dance around her. Likewise everyday Mary Colette needs to take a rest and love on her sister.

I get the great joy of watching my boys be brothers and now like a double dip ice cream cone, experience my girls be sisters.

Your Lovely Face: Week 23

Your Lovely Snuggle Face

Your "I'm Going to Get You" Face

Your Riding a Pedal Bike and Your Not Even Four and About to Explode in Excitement Face.

Your Strawberry Loven Moving on Up to a Balance Bike (Sort-of) Face.

Your Six Month Old Face.

George!

I haven't written about just you in awhile, though your picture is everywhere, because your cuteness is just overwhelming. You are such an interesting and hilarious little charmer. You get humor in a very deep way, like on an adult level. You know how to do your shifty eyes to emphasize the comedic punch you are going for, all with as little words as possible. All this comedy is very understated and is not your dominate state, as deliberate play is. You very much understand you job right now is to play and take it very seriously and deliberately. Every action is thought out and planned and there is no swaying you from that predetermined path. Well, unless it doesn't involve trains. Trains get you all the time. The past couple of months trains have taking over our family life, again. It makes me very nostalgic as I remember our tiny and big apartment being over run with trains and constant "Whoo Whoo"s. Oh what joy! 

You also have become very opinionated about your cloths! Your choice in shirts begin with trains, of course followed by "dine-dine" and "airplane-airplane". You also repeat most words when telling us about something, my favorite being, "Annie-Ann". 

Your still my sweet, sweet cuddle guy, needing so much touch a day. We call it your touch tank and it needs to be filled up daily, nay almost hourly. You give the best hugs/melts as you just become one with who ever is hugging you, squeezing their neck with your pudgy little hand. 

Oh George, you are the best little guy!

Friday Photo Favorites

Four kids and thousands of pictures later, I got a swing picture I love.

This swing has been the very best recycled anything we have made over. It gets daily use!

Your Lovely Face: Week 22

Your Eight Year Old Face!

Your Yes Your Are a Big Boy But Not Too Big To Be Loved On Face.

Your Fairy Crown You Made with GeeGee Face.

Your Papa is the Best Profile Face.

Yep Papa is the Best!

Your Two Beautiful Ladies Face.

Brothers

There is so much more going on than this out of focus picture conveys: this is brotherhood at least how it manifests itself in our house. Big brother, little brother, love, companionship, admiration, encouragement, strength, nerviness, pride, determination.

It's funny, this picture and their relationship reminds me of my relationship with my baby sister except for the wrestling and rough housing part. Avery is totally devoted to his Big Brother. Paul Thomas do not take that for granted! He is your biggest fan, your fiercest defender and best companion, try your best to reflect those qualities back to him. Remember he does not owe you respect, you earn it and don't take him for granted!