Pictures.....

Pictures from the last few weeks, taken from the kids' school performance, a fancy dress up party, Holiday parties, and one pic of Thomas and Bo making mean faces :)

Santa Claus 2009

We saw Santa Claus last night. Thomas ran through the mall toward Santa screaming "Santa! Santa! Christmas!" He was hesitant at first to sit with him, but liked the coloring book Santa had, so he went to sit with him.

Emmy told Santa she wanted Heelys and a karaoke machine.

Callan told Santa she wanted "tinkerbell stuff" and an "eye looker thingy" (microscope).

Thomas told Santa, "I want Christmas, Santa." awww..... But later that night, Thomas told me he wanted a boat and a choo choo train. I think we have just about every choo choo train imaginable. But Santa'll find another one....

The kids are loving the lights and the season. Each year, for me, I appreciate the Holidays more and more. I'm so thankful for my family and the joy I experience with and through them.

Little things my kids have said the last month that have made me laugh

11/17/09- asked thomas if he wanted a "nugget" (soy chicken). He said, "NO!" I Said "Why?" He said, "That's Why! I said so, that's why!" This boy has a mouth.....



11/15/09- in Costco, we pass cereal, he says, "Hey, Mamma, how 'bout some Cherrios?" pointing to the big stack of Cherrios.



11/17/09- "Mom, I want a Hannah tv tray for Christmas." I say, "I don't think they make them, Emmy." She says, "that's fine, Santa makes them." Oh no!!!

12/14/09- Emmy tells Callan "You need to pretend you have a little Jean and a little Maryhelen on your shoulders and that they are sitting there and watching you and telling you to finish your work and to pick work out that you'll want to finish."

12/14/09 Callan crying: "My teacher laughed at me today." I ask "why"? "I was telling the rules of red light, green light and I said you have to stop on red but you can go again if it's all clear."

Growing and Changing and Staying the Same

Thomas has been going to school a few days a week for a month now and he's becoming more and more a Montessori kid. After the first week, he insisted on putting his dish in the sink after he finished eating, and tucked in his chair as he left the table. A few days later, he went and got a stool from the bathroom, carried it into the kitchen, got into our utensil drawer, got a spoon and told me he'd like some yogurt. Had he been able to open the fridge, I'm sure he would have managed to get his yogurt as well.

I welcome this independence from him because, thus far, he has been my most helpless child. He drops something, he looks to me to pick it up. If he has a cup of water and is finished drinking it, he will find me and give it to me so that I can put it down somewhere. He has two doting sisters who treat him like a little Prince and he has me wrapped around his little finger, so it's no surprise, I guess, that he is slow to do things for himself.

Thomas is still a very social and outgoing guy- charming even those to whom I think he is rude. He has no problem telling others when he doesn't like something. A lady at the school gave him a weird look (a nice, weird look, mind you) and he told her to stop it as he pointed at her and gave her a very serious look. He tells the older kids to leave him alone, and to be nice, and to go away. He says to me, now, when he's unhappy with me, "Mamma! Don't be mean! Be nice! You're rude! I'm not your friend.... EVAH! EVAH!" Yeeks. He gets the "I'm not your friend" thing from Callan- who was on that kick for a while a month or so ago, and gets the other stuff from me when I'm correcting him for talking so frankly to people. On the upside, most males cannot express their feelings. He has no problem with it thus far. And, to be fair, Thomas is very charming and usually has only very nice things to say to people. He gets along well with everyone and people see him and are drawn to his feisty little self. So expressing his feelings and being forthright are two things he's picked up from his sisters (and the rest of us- we're all kind of loud and outspoken). But Thomas also has picked up on liking the girls' stuff too. We were in a store before Halloween and he suddenly screamed "HANNAH MONTANA!!! HANNAH MONTANA!!! I LIKE HER!"

Thomas is IN LOVE with "Bea'" (how should we spell this?) right now. Up until a few weeks ago, he was head over heels for Papa, but now it's all about Bea. My mom was gone last week and the first day they were back we went over to see them and when it was time to go, he said " No, Mamma. I stay at Bea's house. Bea's home now! Yeah." And he handed me my keys and said "Bye Mamma. I love you!" and that was it!

I'm glad he loves his grandfolks and I'm thankful that he has them close. I have such fond memories of being with my grandmas as a kid. From getting Finch birds at the swapmeet and drinking out of those cold, brightly colored metal cups at the swapmeet with my Grandma BoBo (my dad's mom) or Grandma BoBo's turtles hiding on newspaper in her spare closet and being amazed with her rock tumbler, or the many times I spent the night with Grandma Bo (who was then Grandma FiFi) and having those wonderful sort-of-crispy-pancakes for breakfast, or eating dinner at the table with Grandma and the way there was always bread and butter on the table (unless a ball game was one, then we'd all eat on the tv trays in the living room and watch the Dodgers and drink high balls- mine was a 7Up), walking the dog every evening after dinner, and taking turns on the family room tv w/ my cousin when he wanted to watch Dukes of Hazard and I wanted to watch something else. Or being forced to watch 60 minutes and thinking that when they show that second hand ticking up to the 60 right before they click to commercial, that it sure seemed like it'd hit 60 waaay before that darn boring show ended (I was thinking it was 60 seconds, not 60 minutes). All those fun memories are treasured and I'm glad my kids will have their own.

Callan is reading more and more, learning all the little tricks that change the sounds the letters are supposed to make. She learned earlier this week to tie her shoe, which is amazing since she hardly ever wears shoes with laces. She was zooming right along in her piano book, taking pride (and voicing it) that she was catching up on her sister (who had up until recently, refused to practice) and now, in the last week and a half, hasn't been too excited about piano- I think she hit a difficult song. She is loving loving soccer still and is sad that her first season is coming to an end. We're planning to play in the Spring too, so no circus for us this year. We've signed up for a month of swimming lessons and Callan is really liking that. It works out perfectly because it's during the time of Emmy's dance class. I have a feeling, though, that she's going to want to keep doing it for a while. She enjoys school and enjoys her friends. She told me today that all she did at school was one piece of work, but explained that it was a big work, that it was grammar and that it was hard. Callan has a strong resolve, she focuses well and doesn't frustrate easily. The kid, a lot of times, out thinks me. She's got an analytical mind on her, and that, paired with her dry humor, makes her hilarious.

Emmy's still wearing soccer cleats to school half the days and singing her Hannah Montana songs. She's been playing soccer with the boys at school during recess, but lately has told me some of the other girls are playing now too. She's doing a dance class at school and she loves it.

As far as schoolwork goes, she enjoys math the most, I think. In her spare time, she is either conducting class (which she does quite well), writing poetry or her "rock songs (which are quite good), or reading. She's been reading a book a night for the last two weeks and is out of books. I was thinking at this rate we'd better start heading ot the library more often, but tonight, she decided she'd read Harry Potter now and she read the first chapter of that instead of whizzing through one of her Jack & Annie Books or whatever other old chapter books she's found lying around.

Emmy's verbal and artistic skills have always amazed me- even when she was a wee one drawing happy faces- they always had chins and dimples and eye lashes, her people had elbows and knees and such. She's quite the actor too and with her well-projected voice, I can see her in musical theater, though, at home she's mostly playing director, telling Callan and Thomas when to enter and exit the stage, what to say, how to say it, etc. Tonight I had someone from her school come up to me and tell me that they were going to gather some information on the different theater troupes in the area because "that kid needs to be on a stage." Emmy's a good kid. I worried for a while as we were venturing into the "big girl realm" of Hannah Montana and Radio Disney in the car instead of Kids Place Live..... But I'm ok. My sweet, level-headed Emmy is still there. She's growing up, but she's not completely morphing into a devil kid, thank God ("not yet"- I bet some of you are saying).

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

Today Thomas and I went with the toddler classes to the pumpkin patch. I'm not sure if he liked the bus ride or feeding the baby goat more. It seems like yesterday I went on this fieldtrip w/ Callie....
Three years ago: Emmy and Shad w/ the little pumpkins we got at the pumpkin patch (Emmy didnt' get to go to this fieldtrip- it's a toddler trip)

Callie 3 years ago.

This is of Thomas today. He loved the baby goats. Goats freak me out, but I was ok with the baby ones :)

Eating his snac

Pix :)

The ladybug has a gun:

Thomas found the remnants of his sister's ice cream:

Thomas' first day of school:

The girls peeking through the window, checking on their brother.

Thomas at playtime, taken by one of his teachers.

Happy Emmy jumping across her classroom :)

Work

I was going through the girls' old work from last school year and came across a map of the world that Em had made, but not finished. She had the outlines of the continents on there and a few continents cut out (you montessori folk will know what I'm talkin' about). Callan looked at it for a few seconds, pointed to half of it and said "Oh no, Emmy did this wrong. This is upside down." I showed it to three adults and nobody knew how or why it was wrong. Callan explained it all to us. Kind of amazed that she knew so quickly that it was off and how it was off. Emmy had the Europe side upside down. I couldn't tell.... So I have polygon work and geography work to do....

Kinda wish the kids had homework so I could brush up on things. I might actually catch on the second time around.

School and Soccer are in Full Swing!

Autumn is here and we're having fun. Kids have been in school for a full month, they let me know.

Thomas had his first day of school today and had a great time! He did so well. I cried, he didn't. I picked him up and heard great stories about his morning, that he played well, did great work, held himself well with the other kids. I was very proud. When I asked about school, he got so excited. I might have been imagining things, but I think he acted differently today after school. He had a bit more confidence, like he was really a big shot. He was funny to watch. We had lunch with Bea and Grandma Bo after I picked him up from school. He was just a character at lunch.

Callan and Emmy are liking school and doing well. Callan is playing soccer this year for the first time, Emmy is playing for her third year. They both are little tigers out on the field and all they wait for all week is practice and games. They are on great teams and are enjoying the heck out of it. They're already asking to play soccer in the spring too. I hope they keep up with their interest; I think it's a great sport and great exercise.

Callan also started piano this year. She has been telling me that she didn't want to start piano until she was officially 5 years old so now she is and she's doing so well! She is so motivated (at least for now). She practices and can't wait to get to the next song. She loves it! I'm kind of learning along with her, which is fun. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep up though.

Callan had her check up a few weeks ago and she was 15% for her height, 25% for her weight. She's still so little. Emmy is 75% for weight and 50% for height, which is funny, b/c everyone always comments about how tall Emmy is- perhaps b/c she is usually standing by my shrimps Callan or Thomas?

Lately my little kids have been saying such funny things, I'll try to memorialize them here more often so I remember and have a record of them. It's fun for me to look back and read what my babies were doing at a certain time, what their interests were, what funny things they said. One that's fresh in my mind is little Callan. She woke us all up at 5 something this morning because she wanted cinnamon rolls. We kept her at bay for a while and then finally around 6, she got up and started singing songs and telling everyone to wake up, it was time to wake up. As she walked into the kitchen, she walked past the dog and she said, "Everyone, be quiet! Dooc is sleeping! Shhhhh! Quiet!" She was the only one awake and we laughed b/c she was not at all concerned with us sleeping, but the dog. The dog needs to have an uninterrupted sleep cycle. Thomas is more and more talking in 4 and 5 word sentences. He's less ornery now, which has been great. And my Emmy, she's just lately obsessed with soccer and Hannah Montana. Still a sweet, happy girl.

Emmy's Bday pictures

Here are my pretty girl's birthday pictures. She had to wear her "medium sized bump it." She's stuck on her bump its :)The girls wanted to have their picture taken together. Little Callan won't take off her soccer uniform.... It's been 4 days (it does come off for wash though, Thank God!).

Happy 7th Birthday, Emmy!

Today my baby girl turns 7! What a beautiful young lady she's become. In this past year, she moved up from Primary to Elementary, made new friends, had her first "crush," and sadly, her first taste of a broken heart (MEAN, EVIL BOY!).

She is a wonderful helper with her brother and sister, a great role model friend. When she smiles, you can see the purity of her soul. When you look in her sparkling eyes, you know that you're looking into the soul of a little angel. She is genuine and real. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is always willing to share her love.


Emmy is an articulate little thing. She always has an idea and almost always talks everyone into her plan. She's outgoing, happy and social. She loves to take care of younger kids and entertain them. She is so patient with younger friends and her brother and sister. She is a wonderful big sister and a perfect daughter. I couldn't be more proud.

She'll have her birthday party at Jump Zone this year with family and friends. She has some odd requests this year. She wants "bump its," a light up glow doodle thing, a "Grecian history book," eggplant seeds, and a locket. She wants a Hannah Montana Birthday (though she's never watched the show) and wants to give out mini Barbies as favors (how am I gonna pull that one off?).

I've become sentimental since being a mamma. With that, I must do my annual indulgent retrospection.... I look back and can still feel my babies as infants. I try to explain that feeling to them and they love hearing me tell them about when they were sooo little.

7 years ago, my Emmy was born and in one instant, my world changed. I remember I first saw Emmy when the doctor laid her on my chest. I couldn't believe that something so perfect came from my body just like that. Unbelievable. She cried on my chest and stopped when she looked up at her daddy who was leaning over her. From the moment she was born, I've felt like I've known her like the back of my hand. I certainly didn't know how to be a mommy, but I knew my daughter. She was happy, determined, intelligent, thoughtful, and stubborn. 7 years later, she is still all of those things and more.

I remember the first few nights in the hospital. I had NO CLUE. I remember the nurse teaching me how to soothe a crying baby and telling me how, and how often to feed her, how to swaddle her, how to hold her. I had never changed a diaper before. I knew nothing. And yet, we've made it this far.

I remember when she was 9 days old, my mom took a picture of her and I, and, crying, I left her with my momma to go back to law school (lest be dropped). Everyone thought I'd drop out of law school when I was pregnant with her, but I wouldn't do that to my baby girl. I was determined to finish, so while it was indescribably tough emotionally, we kept on. She laid by me as I read case after case in my law books aloud to her. I held her while I briefed cases and we finished law school together. At 17 months old, I took my cranky baby with me to take the bar exam. My girls and I passed the bar exam together (I was 6 mos pregnant with Callie at the time). We did together.

And I remember her first day of school. She was 3 years old and though I believed wholeheartedly in her new school, I was nervous as heck when I dropped her off on the first day. When I went back to the school after an hour, there she was bawling, and her teacher was walking around the class holding my sobbing baby. The first few days were tough and then, before long, she started to love school and the friends she'd made there.

I look back on the 7 years since she's been in our lives and what do I remember? I remember her birth, leaving her to go back to school, her first steps, her first day of school, her falling cutting her head open at the Grand 2 days before she turned 4. I remember all these big events in our lives, but mainly when I think about these past 7 years, I just see Emmy. I see my baby girl's contagious smile and her beautiful, happy eyes. And I'm just so lucky. These have been, by far, the best 7 years of my life.

These past 7 years I have learned so much and I've questioned every decision I've made twice or three times over. I've learned the depth and purity of love. I knew nothing at all about life or love until I had Emmy. She has been a light in our lives since she was born. I couldn't be more proud of her. She has brought us nothing but joy and I thank the Lord for her. I am so blessed.

Happy Birthday to my big girl, Emmy Lou, who will always be my baby.

These pics are from our recent trip. We haven't had any parties for Emmy yet and she's still asleep this morning, so I've got no "actual" bday pics. Those are to come.

Self portrait:

Happy 5th Birthday, Callie Bones!

My Baby Girl is 5! I can hardly believe it. These past 5 years have flown.

5 years ago, at 5:30 in the morning, feeling both guilty and excited, I kissed my sleeping, almost-2 yr old Emmy goodbye, took a picture all big and pregnant with Shad and we headed to the hospital. I was unsure about how our lives would change, but ready to welcome our newest member. We went to the hospital to check in and I spent the day on Pitocin waiting for her.


After 7 o'clock that night, she was born. I remember the first time I saw her, I cried with joy because I was in love instantly. I was so overwhelmed with emotion and so thankful to have it. Up until this point, you see, I was worried that I wouldn't instantly be in love with this baby as I was Emmy. I couldn't fathom loving another person as much as I loved Emmy. But, looking back, I remember seeing her little face in the mirror, all squishy, with her eyes closed tight, and her features so defined, and I was in love. I cried and looked at Shad and looked back at my baby girl and haven't taken my eyes off her since.


I remember those first few days and weeks with her. Trying to figure out how it would all work. Being stressed out about everyone getting attention and everyone feeling loved. I've tried to give my all to these babies and, still, at the end of the day, it's very clear that I'm the one who "gets" the most. I am so blessed. I've often wondered what God saw/sees in me to give me such perfect little children. I've been blessed with the best gift in the world and these individuals are beyond words. They are incredible.


My Bones at 5: She is still very little, but very mighty too! She is so sweet. Tough and sweet all at the same time. She is confident, happy, and loving. She has a great sense of humor. She comes up with amazing insights on things and is very perceptive and analytical. She is a mamma's girl, sometimes a daddy's girl and a grandma's girl too. She certainly has my heart.

She likes Peanut Butter Bumpers for breakfast every morning, prefers soy milk now, likes meat (much to my dismay), and of course, still likes her sweets. She likes to play games, color, dress up, pretend, organize her Little People, and do workbooks, puzzles and game books. She loves her friends at school, is a fairly dedicated worker at school, can read and write. While she can read, she says she cannot and she refuses to unless she's confident that she can read whatever it is whoever it is wants her to read. That's the trick with Callie; Until she's ready, she isn't going to show you anything. My take is that she doesn't want to attempt and fall short, so she just doesn't do it unless she knows she can do it well. She likes to wear dresses that twirl with brightly colored socks pulled up as high as they can go (and she pulls this look off). When she grows up she wants to be either a butterfly, a dentist or a "trashman" with me (we're gonna be co-trashmans). She likes Phineas and Pherb on tv, likes pink and princesses and dancing and singing. Callie turns everything into a song. She is full of life and full of love :)

She had her party at My Gym this year and had a great time with a lot of her buddies and our family. There are some pictures from her family below. Thanks to all our family and friends who came out to make her day special. She felt like such a special girl.

She turns five today in Illinois, she's celebrated her birthday out of state every year. We will have a little party for her in the campground and all of the shooter folks who love her come and celebrate with us.


These past 5 years have flown. Our family is so much more wonderful because of Callie. She makes us laugh and think and she loves us so well. Today I thank God for blessing us with her. I can't imagine life without her.