Friday Photo Favorites

This Happened!

We have a teenager!!!!

Friday Photo Favorites

Annie's Ride.

Ellie The Elephant

Do you see her eye? That red popped blood vessel? It looked much worst in real life.

This happened because her doggy ears where not quite as she would have liked and there wasn't enough time to fix them before we needed to leave for an appointment, which happened to be a 40 minute drive...She protested her unfinished state the entire way there and so vocally that it popped a blood vessel. 

Parenthood is full of surprises even into the sixth child.

Her spirit animal could not be better as Elephants are known for the ability to remember and their persistence. 

Almost

In a couple of weeks Paul Thomas will break into his teenage years. 

Let's let that sink in for a bit.

In no way do Philip and I feel mature enough to be parents of a teenage, and yet we will be. Last night he came to me sheepishly after I bid him goodnight, with a hint of excitement and hesitation of possible disappointment. He asked if he and his brother could listen to an audio book.

When asked by his father where he would drive to first when he got his licences, with out hesitation, "The Library."

I was struck last night by how very different I was as an almost 13 year old and how he is. It is a beautiful difference. I was so very aware of others and what they had and what I didn't. I was so very aware of body shape and sizes and thought I must be interested in the opposite sex. Maybe all of these things do go on inside of him, but last night there was innocence in a story told and companion on the journey. Keeping this innocence, letting them be children and gentle raising them into men and women centered and grounded in Christ is one of the reasons we chose homeschooling for our family. 

As of late my prayer has been to have a grateful heart, to enjoy my time educating my children. It has helped to calm the ever present, "You're not enough...you're not doing enough...you can't possible give enough because there are too many" monster that ravages the unlit parts of my soul. And at the same time there is still the ever present reality that I will nor could not be their fill. We may not be doing this parenting gig right, however last night seemed to be a glimmer of maybe we are not doing too bad.

Favorite People

Do you have favorite people? Sure you do...cousins, friends, favorite Aunt or Uncle.

These two are some:

Bennett loves Nana so very much. He adores her because she adores him. When I watch them interact I think how very good it is for both. He talks about Nana daily and cheers when we see her. He can be asleep in his carseat and the moment we pull into her driveway he pops up and says, "Yay Nana!" and then marches into her house to inform her of the past happenings. 

How very blest we are to have Nana close and that my children know her so well. What a treasure family is.

Nana is also one of  George's favorite people and when he was 5 he would ask all the time if Nana could have a sleep over with us. 

Friday Photo Favorites

Not many post, for a while now. It's because of these two...one doesn't sleep much and demands very active holding while the other one is steaming through childhood and requires more focused attention in schooling and upbringing. 

Paul Thomas has been more withdrawn this new baby round. He has not asked for cuddles nor seeks out Avila first thing in the morning. He is growing more and more into a young man and less and less out of a child. There is that awkwardness of where do I fit? I want to play at times and yet I feel silly being the oldest. As his parents, we too are trying to find the right balance of this time, and unfortunately it's just as awkward for us.

This picture reminds me of Paul Thomas' sincere empathy he exhibits for me. Avila has been a very fussy baby and this morning with the combination of baby, toddler and three-year old, I was losing it. Paul Thomas came into the kitchen and outstretched his arms wordlessly, as he usually operates and walked Avila. Within five minutes this was the scene. She needed a quiet body to rest with. 

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Snuggle Bugs

Where Would I Be?

Where would I be without you, Mary Colette?

Gia jokes that you are our Resident Baby Hog, and it is true that you want to hold and care for Avila and Bennett more than anyone else. And it is true that every Momma needs a Baby Hog. You can calm Avila down when no one else can. Our entire family now turns to you to find solutions for Avila taming and we all sing your sweet song to her. Just last night it was your song and your voice that calmed her in her stroller as we walked.  Watching you transition into baby pro and baby lover is heart warming! Thank you my sweet Big Girl for taking such good care of our Baby Girl.

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Well Said

Tuesday I was lecturing the children before dinner about obedience and the need to improve ours in the house. The lecture was too long and too much at the end of a very frazzled day. When it was over Eleanor in her most serious, disappointed voice while shaking her little fist exclaimed, "Guys, we did not save the day!"

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Oh how I love patterns and numbers. Thank you Avila for being the perfecting our little family. 

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So very much I want to remember about this cheesy toddler.

He loves his Daddy so very much. He said "dada" months before "mama" and is still the biggest Daddy's guy. 

He just really loves being one of the guys. At Mass his most favorite person is Mr. Tom, a 94 year old gentleman, who is just amazing. These past few Sundays Bennett has been trying to sneak out of our pew to visit Mr. Tom. 

Bennett's list of people in order:

Daddy-Oh the love between these two is so precious and Philip's greeting every time he walks in the door is sweetest display of sincere joy.

Mommy -finally he says my name and it's the best!

Poppy, Poppy, Poppy -Poppy is actually ahead of me if we are at their house. Every truck he sees Bennett inquires if it's Poppy and if not, then if we can see Poppy. Poppy also got to experience the joy that most Mom's have, when Bennett spent the night at Gia and Poppy's, Bennett would not let Poppy out of his sight. Finally, Poppy had to ask for some Bennett distraction so he could get some work done. He was also convinced that Pope Benedict is Poppy as well.

Nana -Bennett can be completely asleep and the moment we pull into Nana's driveway he is up with "Yay Nana!"

Bennett helps out with the Mary Colette and George's PE class at Co-op and for a few weeks we did square dancing. At home he made up his own dance and would call it out for all of us to follow. Of course I didn't get a video but trust me it was awesome.

He jumps really well, both feet clear the ground by a few inches. And he is faster than Eleanor, which causes delight for one and heartache for another. 

His vocabulary has exploded lately and the best part is hearing him call out his siblings every morning. He knows each one and is the first to call PT-PT. He calls Avila, Sweet Baby Girl. Heart Melt!

Bennett is the absolute goofiest. When he is caught doing something he thinks he ought not be doing he stands real still and gives a little wave "hi, all is okay here".

His newest addiction is trains. He lays down on the floor to be eye level and can play for hours. 

He shakes his head yes in one swift very intentional full body bow. And when he encounters food he enjoys he shimmies. 

Bennett, you are such a delight and bring such joy and happiness to our family. How very blessed we are to have you in our family. 

CONSTANCE CONTRAIRE

"Avila stuck out her tongue! Hee hee, like I do when something is really hard, like traditional dance."

Getting up next to me and sighing in a rather dramatic way so I ask, "What's wrong? Do your shoes hurt?" (Because they were too small, but she insisted.)

Looking at me as if I am complete disbelief that her mother could be so simple minded, "Your shoes can't hurt."

"Yes, you're right, do your feet hurt?"

"Noooo, my foot hurts."

About every other day there is huge battle about buckling up in the van, she insist that only I can do it and it becomes a huge battle of wills between, well everyone. After Mass recently she was insisting her way and I was not going to give in because crawl two rows back while being nine months pregnant was not happening. After several minutes of back and forth I sternly said she must buckle up!

To which she replied, "NEVER!" in such a Hollywood fashion that the entire van erupted in laughter and tears. Needless to say she did not appreciate our reaction. 

It's 34 degrees outside and Gia told her to put a jacket on before going outside and in the most inconsequential way responded, "OK, whatever." (There was no disrespect, just um okay I'll do that.)

Eleanor is so very, very Constance...she talks all the time. So one night while we are cuddling and I am fighting the head bobs, I make those, "uh huh, and oh really, and is that so" remarks and then she says, "Mommy, I'm not talking to you, I'm just talking." Relieved I rolled over and fell asleep with her rehashing her day with the most patience guardian angel of all time.

"I am not going to be a human being, I am going to be a horse. That way I am not a sister or a daughter." Told to me after she and Annie had a fight. 

Eleanor is our little conundrum, She is 80, 16 and 3 all at once. She is super sweet and unintentionally sassy, and shy and bold. She is always hot, and wears dresses, unless its bedtime and then it's no pj's at all. More tears have been shed this winter over outer wear than all tears combined in our household over clothes. She used to insisted on a bow to bed as well, but has out grown that and no is very intentional on how her is to be fixed, but you only get one shot so make it count. 

Somehow even though she is so stinken stubborn and makes for really long days, I find myself chuckling and just loving her and her ways all the more. 

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Sisters!

Introducing...

Avila Jean Blaxton

Born February 15, 2020 at 1:14 pm.

7 lbs 10 oz and 19 1/2 inches and perfect in every way.  

(lips)