Wide

I have heard the term wide family tossed around, however I never really gave it much thought, until Paul Thomas said, "When Bennett's my age..." 

My heart leaped into my throat because when Bennett's your age, an age that is very, very much a child and very, very much my baby you will be the same age that I was when I had you.

Follow? When Bennett is Paul Thomas' age (almost 12) Paul Thomas will be almost 24. Paul Thomas was born when I was 23...yup that all went crazy in my head/heart/stomach at just those four words being uttered. So I guess we have a wide family...children span many age ranges and as it is something that is a bit foreign to Philip and myself, as our families growing up were fairly tight in size and span it has been the most wonderful of gifts God has given. 

As I write this please know that we understand that this is a gift. A gift in which we have been richly spoiled by God with, and in no way want to come off flaunting or bragging or come across as "a good catholic family". We do want to celebrate what we have received as we are able to witness God's love in our everyday with our family. 

All the children were lining up for a big class picture at Co-op and as I turned to find my littlest, there he was in the midst of his proud, adoring brother. And by the end of the photo three more boys had held him and loved on him. Not one child minded having a little around and instead it seemed more complete to have this wide range. This is the blessing of a wide family and wide friends.

Baby Tap

He did this for an hour!

His Daddy calls him Party Boy and it fits.

Dying for Heaven

These two were doing what these two do best these days...wrestling, pestering, pushing boundaries with each other while trying not to get into trouble after Mass in the car. Avery through a giggly/slightly painful laugh, "No no, I don't want to die!" 

(Just the part I opened the door to hear; there was some sort of escalating fictional scenario happening.)

George from the back seat in all sincerity, "But Avery if you don't die then you can't go to Heaven."

Aren't we, as adults, so often focused on the wrong thing...death is not the end.

Friday Photo Favorites

HOW? WHY? WHEN?

When the Cats Away

Everyday is something new with Eleanor...everyday is a new unique request.

Friday both George and Annie were at Gia and Poppy's so Eleanor's request was especially funny to me-a girl-with sisters-with closets full of clothes. 

As Philip was getting her dressed nothing would suffice and finally she said, "Mommee, come here"

"Come with me"

Hand in Hand we ended up staring in the big girls' closet

"I wear 'Stasia' mass dress."

Ummm...okay.

There will be so many peace treaties in our future.

Two days later Eleanor had a major melt down because Anastasia was going outside to play in the snow and she was wearing Mary Colette's too small boots, which all of the girls knew formerly belonged to the oldest giggly girl. Oh the tears that were shed, Eleanor so wanted and could not understand why Anastasia wouldn't/couldn't wear her four sizes too small snow boots.

There is a video...

This morning as we were cuddling when Bennett began to really holler, so in an effort to get all on board with rescuing the caged baby, "Oh I hear our Bennett! Shall we go rescue him?" in a way too excited voice for that early in the morning with too little sleep.

Her responds, "Maybe we should cover our hears." Which she did and turned into me for more cuddles.

The other evening at dinner after a full tummy she leaned back and said, "Daddy, I happy" in a rather melancholic voice. Pretty sure happy meant content and tired, put me to bed. At least that was the interpretation we went with. 

After a nights rest she came bouncing into the kitchen and asked, "Mommy, I be funny?"

"Yes you can be funny."

"Ooo-tay, I go be funny." and she bounced away. 

She was struggling to get wrapped up in her blanket so I helped, tears and tears, "No, I not be Mary" I put the blanket over her head because all the days before she would cry because her hair was cold. Oh the life of a melancholic two year old is very distressing, to her and very amusing to me. 

Friday Photo Favorites

Anastasia Kim!

We love you!