Happy 9th

We've come a long way over these past nine years.  It certainly hasn't been the journey we were expecting, at little bit of the "for better and for worse" met us along the way.  As we are at the crossroads of our journey, allowing the dust to finally settle from the past three years, we continue forward together - thankfully under one roof again. I know that I am lucky to live my life next to you.

I love you because. . .

Our girls still flip their lids in excitement whenever you walk through the door.  They love us equally.  A girl's self esteem is built by a father and I would pick no other than you to play that role in these precious girls' lives.

You always put your four girls first, me especially.

You bring me apple juice to my bedside every morning - even if you are running for a 5:00 am flight

You carried golf bags and painted neighbors houses while holding your head high when there was no other source of income.

You find a way to put a positive spin on everything (wait a minute, isn't that what drives me crazy at times)

You fought for Adeline when I had lost hope and couldn't.

You want for nothing.  "My girls are all I want."  No fancy boy toys, no nice cars - you wear ancient clothing and shoes with holes happily and almost with style??

You NEVER complain!

You look as good as the day I married you - (if you don't start aging, people are going to think I am your mother!)

You can run a sub - seven minute mile after drinking countless cokes, eating nothing but chips, and having not exercised in months.  It has to count for something right?

You held me up in the NICU when I couldn't stand balanced on my own two feet.

You do my laundry, pick up the house before you go to bed, and help me load the girls in the car each morning.

I love you because I know you love me!

Here we are nine years later posing for our amazing six year old.  More later on her amazing anniversary celebration for us.

Blowing out our "wish" candles that Savannah provided us.  

Lila's Christmas Program

Our Lila Grace is more musical than any other three year old I know.  She sings - always!  If there is music she hums, if the words are slightly familiar she tries, and if she knows the song she belts it out.  She has favorite parts of movies, favorite adult songs, and favorite children's songs too.  You would really have to see her perform to understand her unique love of music.

We were so excited to watch Lila perform in her Christmas program right before preschool let out for the the holidays.  This was Lila's time to shine, she would be in her element.  Not only would she be singing numerous songs that she knows, Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, and Papa would be there to watch and praise her.

Miss Lila was very cute walking into the sanctuary that morning.  She smiled and waved but was very focused on the job head.  She took her place on the riser and began singing the moment that the music started.  I began to notice that she was crossing her legs and losing her balance over and over again.  She didn't seem to mind because she didn't miss a word or a motion.  Unfortunately, she was so squirmy and off balance, by the crossed legs stance, that she fell off of the riser.  I was heartbroken for her because I thought she would be embarrassed.  I quickly ducked back into the parents and let her teacher come to her aid (I would elicit crying for sure).  In no time, Lila was up and singing again.  By this time, she was looking at her Daddy (avoiding eye contact with me) and whining his name quietly between songs. I knew.  She was doing the potty dance and in pain.  I didn't know what to do.  Take her down off the stage and have her miss the short performance, it is after all her moment?  I ended up leaving her and quickly grabbed her after the last song was sung.  I swept her into the bathroom where she covered her eyes and cried.  She had peed in her pants but avoided opening up the flood gates, thank goodness.  She was so ashamed and upset when I pulled off her tights.  That was it for her mood during the reception too.  I was heartbroken for my little girl.  Instead of feeling proud she felt shame and stayed buried into her Daddy's lap for much of the reception.

A couple of weeks have passed and I am beginning to see the future humor in all of this.  But for now, I am happy to have this clip of her redeeming herself at home with the last couple line of, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (motions and all).

Here is clip of her performance and fall - please excuse my sudden outburst of prayer?? at the end



Here is a clip of a very pained face after the fall while still doing her very best to hold it

Remembering. . .

I am pretty sure I was still going through the motions and running on adrenaline, three years ago. Today, I am still working on allowing myself to feel the fear and pain while recognizing the amazing journey.

Three years ago our Christmas card was sent from the NICU (the first picture of my three girls). The picture touched me which left me praying that the girls would learn to love and feel love, especially after watching their older sister love them unconditionally. We begged God to heal our baby girl who was still fighting for life after three long months in the NICU. Looking back, God answered those prayers and Adeline made a remarkable turn around in three short weeks. On Christmas day, Adeline was discharged, and joined her family at home. The love of sisterhood has grown each day since.

This year, we celebrated the ease of life, the health of our girls, and joy of family. 

We are thankful for God's lessons over the past three years. I feel that our family remains centered during the season, reflecting on the gift of family and God's grace. The stress levels and chaos are down and the presents are lower in number, while the "moments" with one another continue to multiply.

Christmas will always be about Adeline and her fight for home.  She will always be the gift that made my family complete.

Here is The Belle on Christmas morning, thrilled that Santa put Goldfish in her stocking. 

 

Merry Christmas

Scenes from Christmas Eve

Thank goodness for a big bed and Curious George - why do the Holidays always wear me out?

A rare moment of Adeline snuggling in                                             Making the dough

There was a lot of wrapping done today while Adeline ever so gently placed the gifts under the tree

Dressed for church

Feeding the reindeer

Decorating Santa's cookies

The cookies are baked and ready for the Red Guy

A sibling exchange before bed

Santa Train

We were very lucky to catch the Santa Express this year. After almost two feet of snow, we weren't sure if the train would run or if we should venture out. Turns out the roads were fine and the snow only made the landscape that much more beautiful from the train window. This year we were accompanied by Grammpy and Papa, Charlotte and her family, as well as the Shield family. This provided both my twins and big girl with a peer for the train ride.

Santa paid each girl a nice long visit which included a gift and a photo opportunity. We shared our train car with only one other family outside of our group which was absolutely amazing. The snow must have held many other families back because we are usually packed shoulder to shoulder while holding all of our winter gear.

Adeline was so excited to ride the train. She has fallen in love with Thomas Train over the past month and couldn't believe her eyes when she boarded a real train. She listened to the whistle and both her and Lila Grace repetitively said, "Go fast, go fast." Lila was thrilled to board the train as well. She sang many songs during the ride and had some quality Charlotte time. Savannah was beaming from ear to ear after handing Santa her note which said, "Santa, I have been a good girl." He called her by name and told her that he would hang up her note when arriving back at the North Pole. It was one of those priceless moments.

We lucked out this year with snow because we had a wonderful time letting the girls move around on the train, chatting it up with Santa, and feeling like the Santa Express was running exclusively for our family.

Snow Up to Our Eyeballs. . . Well Almost

 That winter storm hit us hard yesterday. The girls were in awe of all the snow and the adults were too. We got close to two feet of snow but the drifts were much larger. Lila Grace was in her element, even when freezing from forehead to chin from laying face down in the snow and lapping it up. She is obsessed with eating snow.

Alex took all three girls out in the daytime hours and Adeline was right back in as the pelting flakes and wind rubbed her the wrong way. Savannah soon followed due to the severe temps but Lila Grace hung with her daddy while he shoveled the driveway.

Later, I took both Savannah and Lila out in the dark. Many of the neighborhood kids were out playing on the big mounds of snow sitting at the edges of the shoveled driveways. Lila would only walk through the snow and not on shoveled walkways leaving her up to her thighs most of the time. She loved sinking in up to her waist and leaning back and forth, back and forth, until she broke free and went flying face first into the snow. I had to carry her kicking and screaming into the house once I realized her face was numb because who can really lay face first in snow and not find it painful?

The First Snow

As I type this, we are experiencing our first real winter blizzard.  I am hoping it snows so much that we are trapped in the house all day with Christmas carols, cooking baking, and NO schedule.

Our first snow was a couple of weeks ago.  It was funny how two girls ended up bundled and one in a swimsuit.  I woke the girls and told them that we were going to go to the YMCA and swim but that was soon forgotten by Lila and Savannah when they spied the white stuff on the ground.  Savannah chose an odd outfit for sledding, tights and dress, but it was no odder than mine which was shorts and tall boots as I was still holding on to the workout/swimming dream.  We found a way to squeeze both activities in since Adeline wouldn't take off her suit and was determined to swim while caring nothing about the snow.

Lila had to have a snowball in her hand the entire time.  She never moved off the sled and was determined to eat as many of the snowballs as possible.

Hershey 2009

We headed out to Hershey, PA last week and had a great time.   We were able to enjoy Chocolate World and Sweet Lights.

The girls really enjoyed it.  The lights were absolutely amazing.  Chocolate World was a bigger hit than expected because Santa was there.  The girls were very eager to see him.  Another favorite activity was working in the Hershey Kiss factory.  Each girl got to pacackage some kisses.  I was pleased to see all three follow directions! 

Miss Grace's Fall

Lila is one of those kids who doesn't look where she is going and often ends up hurt and on the floor.  Sometimes I wonder if she clumsy or off balance.  Her Daddy reassures me that her spills are because her eyes are looking in the opposite direction of where her feet are taking her.  Someday she will learn. . . I hope.

Here is a picture of her latest and greatest owie.  In her defense, she wasn't the cause.  There was a domino effect at school while walking across a little bridge that leads to their playground.  Lila was happy to reinact the whole thing - fake crying and everything.  I love the way she said Mrs. Jones gave her loves and told her to stop crying. 

Tree Part II

I had to follow up the cutting down of the Christmas tree with a decorating post.  I have received many comments about how large our tree is. I agree but I must report that we took a good four feet off before dragging it in the house. I am looking forward to sitting on the couch and enjoying the beauty of the tree late into the night this week. The kids are done with a school and this family is on vacation!!

FYI just in case you can't reach the top of your tree this year, a shark head on the end of a pole works really well. Make sure and pick one up when you go down the shore this summer!