Verse A Day

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

A Little about Each

Ben is days away from crawling.  Go man!  
I am sure we are the rare set of parents who are excited to have our "baby" move through motor skills. 
 She is our fashion designer.  She and some friends from class make paper jewelry & accessories for each other.  She came home with this.  It was quite cute.  She is pretty pumped that her favorite holiday is coming up.
 She also exhausts me lately.  I am not even sure how to pinpoint the reason except that she is just more of her own person and we Dennis-blooded women have strong wills & opinions & lots of determination.  And just sin too (call it what it is, speaking for myself) that we war with to not just think of ourself & want our own way.
 On the snow ice day last week, we made a heart banner (once again, getting ready for Valentines Day).  (We can love the idea of love, without really being able to do it well- speaking for myself again.)  She had mentioned wanting to sew, so this what our first step in developing that skill. :)
It was really, really fun to create together, even something so simple.  We also made one to hang over the kitchen sink and it makes me happy.
 Here it is in her room, along with the flags that were already up from her 4th birthday
I think it may be fun to add to over time. 
 With the extra days off recently, there has been lots of pretending, which does my heart good.  For the record, their recent favorite ones are "baby love you more than anything", "animal school", & "the marry" (wedding- "We have to get ready for the marry!  Jip and Cherry are going to marry!")
She got a Doc McStuffins kit for Christmas and she LOVES it.
Peter... I don't have many good pics to add of him.  But he has been surprisingly, shockingly, a fairly easy child lately.  He has been home more than he has been at school the last two weeks.  He had a fever the first week back.  Last week, there were snow days and a very short lived fever.  He has been surprisingly so pleasant and even mature at times.  And not be missed, after 6 years of waking up in the 5's, he can now sleep in til 7 or later.  Now that he has to go to school.  But no complaints.  It still benefits us on the weekends.  Having him home has given me the chance to read more books with him and see the strides he's making in reading.  I felt a little concerned at the start of the year, but feel like things are clicking more over the last few weeks. 
I think this pic is "baby love you more than anything".  But I guess that's obvious.
And we didn't really hit the window to have three in the bath at the same time (that's OK, God is good all the time), but we did it one night last week just to say we had.  They all thought it was a hoot.
 Storytime with Daddy.  Everyone (& cat) had to be there.
 I love everyone's intent faces. 
 And I had to zoom out a little to get all of Peter's books in the pic, that are often scattered in his room (a good problem).
And if there was an update, a critique of me, like all of the kids, it would be that laundry and housework & maintaining everything exhausts me, & I am sure that shows to them.  I am so glad I get to do it, but it is no less exhausting.  I am hoping that this little creative outlet will somehow make it feel more charming, and less humdrum.  And dare I say it except that it reminds me that we will never be satisfied this side of heaven, I love my little man to death and he is as good as a little man can be, but this caring for a baby, family life, parenting, dwelling-maintaining gig is no joke. Whew. 
And the bickering after school.  Kills me.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Blacksburg or Bust

We had a slow- maybe too slow- few days early in the second week of break, and some fun dinners with friends.  The kids stayed a night with Goo & Pop.  :)
Then we all headed to Blacksburg.  In 2010 & 2011, we went to hotels with pools over break for a little family getaway.  In 2012, we did a trial membership at the JCC pool.  This year, we realized we needed to reinstate that get away.  It happened that our niece in Blacksburg was turning one and we realized we could combine the two into one!  Woohoo!  
We headed out on Thursday and stopped at Natural Bridge.  
The baby-wearing I mentioned earlier.
 My handsome, compassionate, & silly firstborn.
 My pretty, sweet, & thoughtful secondborn.
 We enjoyed getting to see John & Jessica & their girls at the hotel. 
Boots, tights, & swimsuits- yes, please!
 Family Foto
 Group Foto (minus Jess, the photographer)
It was nice to be away together and to get time with family, still around Christmas.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Christmas & After

Waiting at the top of the stairs for the "go".  There is a definite 7am or later rule here.
 real camera "selfie" with Daddy
(I never thought Peter & Lily look especially alike.  
But this baby looks like both of them- especially Lily through the eyes.)
 P&L ran right past their piles to look under the tree but nothing- haha.
 I think we are all OK with this guy stealing the show.
Its still surprising to me how much Peter (esp) & Lily adore him.
We enjoyed a nice family walk and then all napped that afternoon. 
Our kind neighbors gave Peter & Lily a cookie decorating kit.  So Mike got to it with them.
I am not a cookie making mama.  Its too much, I can't handle it (& we've never had an overly great set up for it).  So this kit was so perfect!!
Benny is now over the moon for his Daddy.  Over Thanksgiving break, Mike ended up taking the three kids over to his parents house while I finished up getting ready.  Ben definately has some separation anxiety and looooves his mama. Because Mike was the most familiar person there (his siblings families), he only wanted Mike and has loved him ever since.  He has a definite groan (ugh) that he does when Mike is nearby to signal (ugh, why aren't you holding me?!) & reaches his arms out.  He is quite taken to be this close to Mike in the backpack (& babywearing pics to come-first time for Mike!).  I think Mike equally enjoyed the extended time over break to hang out with Ben & cuddle our last/bonus baby. :)
 Does that look amazing or what?! Its Winter Break. Eat your heart out!
 They each decorated one for themselves then it was on to more of a production line.
 My parents came and stayed with us on Christmas night.  It was fun to have extras in the house.
The next day Mom and I went shopping (just for fun) and the men took the older kids to the science museum.  Loved these pics Mike took.  I think this is a social media thing. :) 
 That weekend, the baby and I were both a little under the weather with a fever, so Mike and the older kids ended up with a day at the Farm House.  I think they had fun!  :)

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Christmas Eve

We spent the morning at Mike's parents for gifts and brunch.
Peter got Legos and Lily got art supplies (their favorites!)
 Benny got this cute snowman book that was a favorite of Peter's when he was a baby.
 As close as it gets to a family picture
 Benny got a travel bag (the big kids also got one for their first Christmas- exciting, I know- but oh so practical for years to come.
 We enjoyed our church service with Mike's parents.  And I remembered praying to live along the corridor that we now live last Christmas after that service- & Mike told me I should pray for things more important- so we did :).
We ordered eggplant parmesan from a nearby Italian restaurant and enjoyed it that eve at our house with Mike's parents.  It was quite lovely.  The whole day felt quite relaxing, luxurious, & quiet to just be together with Mike's parents.
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That night we set out "Santa"...
The kids got quite "boring" things from us but had gotten exciting things from Mike's parents and family. I was surprised at how much they still liked it all.
Each got snow bibs & boots (after last year of making do), a gymnastics class (at the same time!), a "toy" (science experiment kit for P & pom-pom making kit for L), and books.
Peter's:
 Lily's:
Jamin's:
More to come...

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Our Littlest Elf

Yes, nothing new to say.  He kills me with his cuteness!!