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. 

Friday Photo Favorites

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)

Halloween-y

Two day's before Halloween and some little ones where expressing, continuously, our lack of Halloween preparedness. So a pumpkin for everyone and craving tools in hand these amazing kids (and Daddy) whipped out some pretty spectacular pumpkins. In 2 hours and 15 minutes we accomplished 7 jack-o-lanterns and dinner! 

Always listening

We are currently fostering four kittens with the intention of keeping one or two or three or please no don't go there.

Our efforts to get them acquainted with the outside failed miserably. They scurried to the shop, no biggie, but then they found a golden hiding spot-the engine to the van. Well, the first time I easily extracted two kittens after much pleading with St. Francis to not let me pop the hood to find bloody cats. No blood just scared little critters and all was well and I thought that was that. 

Well, two days later and we need to go and I beg Philip to check the engine before we back out...three!

After thirty minutes and many frustrated words and broom pokes that last cat came out and was caught, that cat ran back into the engine as Philip was backing out so there were words about the intelligence of this creature.

So just before we get to Gia and Poppy's, thirty minutes late Eleanor ask, "Mommee-a, Super Cute was in the engine?"

"Yes"

"And when a cat's in the engines that's why they're an idiot?"

Absolutely.

Hello-ween

My Goodness, it's been awhile!

Life has been crazy-crazy good, crazy hard, crazy disheartening, crazy busy. 

Yes, I know, "This too shall pass." 

And, "In a few years all this will seem like a lifetime ago."

However, it's not a few years at the moment, at the moment it is right now and right now is crazy. 

With the new school year we took the bold approach to join two more co-ops making it a total of three. All day Tuesday and Wednesday are filled with wonderful classes and even better people and then once a month we meet for a really fun Geography co-op. All is so much fun, but really taxing on the daily home school schedule. Which translate into studies taking place up until 5:00 and then after dinner most nights and still not enough time. 

Whenever I complain about the lack of time two teachings ring in my ears. First when the sisters complained to St. Mother Teresa about lack of time and she replied with adding an hour of adoration to their schedule and the passage in the Screwtape Letters about how easy it is to make the temptee believe he is in charge of his day and forget the entire day is a gift from God. How quickly we plan and forget to be thankful. Unfortunately, even as I am reminded of these two prodding I still find myself in the same state at the end of day. I know an hour of adoration is not feasible at this point in my vocation, however a few moments of intentional prayer is.

Well, that was not exactly what I had planned on typing, actually I planned on typing very little and just sharing a few Halloween pictures, so onto the pictures...

 

Oldest and youngest

Averykin

Always the antagonist.

The long long time ago crew.

Our Little Angel

She wanted a blue princess dress to be a Blue Princess.

And finally the best dressed award this year goes to, Fly Ballerina Unikitty!

I did not get a group picture so maybe we can do it later. (That will never happen)

Today is an off day of school to celebrate my favorite feast day.

All You Holy Men and Women Pray for Us!

Sweet Heaviness

It's dark and quiet. Heavy breathing fills the house. It's our time, only our time. Through my grogginess we settle down. How I wish you slept through the night. Right side first-always. Your body relaxes as does mine. Your hunger is satisfied-now for your comfort-left. I sigh as your profile is tell-tell baby. You need me still in such an intimate way, a way the others have out grown. You sigh and look up with your content half smile, eyes happily glazed. Up on my shoulder, one, two, three, four, five steps a small settling burp and your body collapses into sweet heaviness. You allow me to kiss you and inhale your fleeting moments of babyhood. You grab your blanket and roll over in your crib. I hope you wake up tomorrow night.

(I found this in the bottom of my desk drawer, it must have been written back in February or March as you did indeed start sleeping through the night soon after.)