Summer Fun!

We have enjoyed our weeks of summer vacation with no rigid schedules, homework or many extra activities.

Here are some of the highlights:

In June, we took two one night camping trips--one with several neighborhood families and one with A's Brownie troop. A enjoyed a drama camp, while J took some golf lessons. J went to boy scout camp the end of the month. We enjoyed our neighborhood 4th of July parade.

July kicked off with 4th of July parties and my grandma's birthday (on the 4th) and our annual viewing of the fireworks at a local country club. The next afternoon we got on an airplane and headed to California for our annual trip to see dh's family. We were gone 10 days and the kids had a blast. We visited our favorite beach went to Disney and California Adventure where I went on California Screamin! Wow, that was fast!








We spent lots of time playing and swimming with grandma, aunts, uncles and lots of cousins. Grandma also took us to the Long Beach Aquarium and we enjoyed the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival.

We were able to see special neightbor friends who now live in San Diego and enjoyed a night watching dh's brother and SIL perform at a local taco restaurant in Dana Point. The time always goes much too fast and we miss our family a lot.

The end of July we took in two county fairs, pooltime, BBQs with friends. J enjoyed 3weeks of band camp to get ready for middle school band class and the two girls went to farm camp for 5 mornings one week. We also enjoyed lots of playdates and sleepovers with friends.

August brought a trip to a friend's lake house, trying to learn to waterski (J) for the first time, a beach day with a night-time beach bonfire, back-to-school shopping, more playdates and a last hurrah trip to Michigan Adventure.

Of course, we stayed up later at night, often playing with friends, the crickets and fireflies outside way past our usual bedtimes. We then "slept in" and cuddled all in bed in the mornings. We love summer and it went by way too fast.

Happy 11th Birthday JJW

Eleven years ago on a early spring morning in April he blessed us with the most precious gift of all--being parents. Our first born child and son. He took his time coming out, but we were so happy to finally see meet him once he was here. Our buddy boy. He was our guinea pig as we navigated the waters of parenthood for the first time. Those early days as a family of 3 in our little house will always be special (even with the colic :))

These years have flown by and he has changed and grown so much. This is the year he leaves elementary school. While he may be short in stature, his heart is big. He is sensitive and empathetic to others, yet moments later stubborn and challenging. However, always with so much love for his family. He loves adventure. Never scared, he will ride any rollarcoaster that he is tall enough for. And, funny, is that boy ever funny. He loves jokes, tricks, magic, etc.

We say he would make a great lawyer (for his strong debating skills) or a pediatrician (because he would never be in a hurry and parents would love him for that).

His mind is amazing and he amazes us each day with his thoughts, ideas, analogies. We can't wait to see what the future brings for you.

JJW, we love you so much our buddy boy. Even though you a pre-teen you are still our little guy. Happy, happy birthday to you!

First Communion Day!

Congratulations AEW on your First Communion Day. We were lucky to have Ama, PaPa, Aunt Donna and Grandma W with us, plus lots of other family and friends.

God bless you today and always!

Love

Happy Valentine's Day!


My Valentines



Homemade Butterfly Valentines for AEW's classmates


A Valentine Breakfast Dinner

Bedtime Conversations with CKW

Last night while Daddy was putting C to bed.

Daddy: "How did a daddy like me get to have a piper (nickname) like you for a little girl?"

C: "My goodness Daddy that is a hard one. Well, God choosed to put me in (insert my full name) tummy so I could be born and you could be my daddy."

Brrrr....It's Cold Outside

It's a chilly 0 degrees outside right now with a nice layer of snow on the ground. My plans for the day are to try and avoid going outside at all costs. We went to church last night and I think I have dh convinced to go the grocery store. I have my coffee in hand and my slipper socks on. We have some school projects to work on, Christmas thank yous to write, a meal to cook for a friend on bedrest, and some Girl Scout cookies to sort. Two little girlfriends are coming here to night for a special sleepover (no school tomorrow) and we are going over to our neighbors/friends to watch some football later on this afternoon (so I guess I will have to go out once!). A perfect frigid, winter day!

Stay warm!

The King of Hearts

Every year my children's elementary school puts on wonderful plays and musicals. This year they are doing Alice and Wonderland. The musical was open to any 4th and 5th graders who wanted to particpate, with a few lottery slots for 3rd graders. It is a very popular activity at our school with lots of interest from both boys and girls. JJW is in 5th grade and this is his last year at our wonderful elementary school. He has participated before in the plays/musicals as part of the chorus, but has never tried out for a part. Well this year he tried out for a speaking role. Yesterday he found out that he was cast as the King of Hearts! I am so proud of him for trying out, something not completely in his comfort zone. I know he will enjoy it.

So, JJW, we can't wait to see you in the musical. Break a leg!

Silent Night, Holy Night

Another Christmas Eve is here. We've enjoyed a busy, tradition filled Christmas season. Starting Thanksgiving weekend when we head out to chop down our family Christmas tree and spend the next few days decorating it and our home for Christmas. December brings lots of activity--cookie baking, a family Christmas dinner with long time friends and kids, the Nutcracker, two special birthdays, advent Sundays, bunco and book club dinners and gift exchanges, a journey to Bethlehem at a local church, a drive through a local neighborhood to see the lights, and a 10 year running Christmas party that we host the weekend before Christmas (this year attended by over 90 people at some point during the evening). Of course there are also Christmas cards to send and many gifts to buy, wrap and send to family and friends afar.

Tonight we attended Christmas Eve Mass at our church. All together in one pew, our family, including Grandma, PaPa and Great Grandma, sang Christmas carols and heard the story of Jesus's birth. Cold and wintery outside, but warm and inviting and filled with many friends we love inside.

Now the stockings are hung, the presents are wrapped and Santa has just left. I sit here in the quiet by the light of the tree with the Christmas music playing just taking it all in. It always comes to quickly for me and ends so fast. I just want to sit here for awhile and enjoy this moment, soak it up, hang on to it for just a moment longer.
It is Silent. It is Holy. It is the best night of the year.

Gospel
Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Happy 8th Birtday AEW!

She came bouncing into our lives on a cold, December afternoon eight years ago (12/9). With Christmas music playing quietly in the background, I looked down at her and couldn't quite believe that she was here and that she was mine. A daughter. Our second child and first daughter. While we secretly had known she was a girl, the joy of finally actually seeing her made my heart melt.

She has brought much happiness and love to our family. Full of life and spunk, she has always made us laugh. At 18 months, she started calling herself "Bobby" and everything out of her mouth for the next year was "Bobby Do." She had a little pixie haircut and oh was she a firecracker! She always asks us, "Was that when I was a Bobby Do?" She is smart, funny, imaginative and caring. Stubborn and headstrong too. Drama? Oh, yes. Ignoring mom? Ah, yes. She embraces life and all it as to offer. She is a social girl and loves a party. "What are we doing today?" and "Can I have a friend over?" are her two favorite sayings. She is kind to her friends and people like to be around her.

So, my sweet girl, momma loves you with all her heart and wishes you the happiest of birthdays. Hugs and kisses to you.

Happy Birthday CKW!

My baby turned 6 on Tuesday, September 25. How did that happen? SIX!! That sweet baby girl came into our lives on a beautiful fall day, surprising us all with her arrival almost 3 weeks early. We tell her she just wanted to come out because she heard all the fun her older siblings were having and wanted to join in. She is our third child, our second daughter. Blessed with an older brother and sister, she completes our party! She was born exactly two weeks after 9/11 and I always take special interest in the stories about babies born in those weeks and months following 9/11 to moms who lost their husbands or partners that day. I say a silent prayer for those babies, most who are now in kindergarten, who are growing up without their dads.

She is a pipsqueak, hence why we call her pip, the pip, pippy, and pippy girl. She is a petite little thing, but filled with spunk, energy and lots of laughs. Sensitive, loving and kind, yet stubborn and fierce. All in one!! I love this little girl so very, very much and sometimes I have to stop myself from squeezing her with love and hugs. Her last six years have flown by, bittersweet for sure.

Sweet C happy, happy birthday to you my special girl!

First Day of School!

Summer has flown by once again and here we are at the beginning of another school year.

JJW is in 5th grade. AEW is in 2nd grade. And, my baby, CKW, is in Kindergarten! It seems just like yesterday that I was taking my first born to his first day (when CKW was a baby!) and now she is off to school. It is a truly bittersweet time for me.

We have been blessed with a wonderful school and teachers. It's a great little community with involved parents and many opportunites.

Happy first day of school--J, A and C! Have a great year!