Into the Fold

Simon was baptized Thanksgiving weekend...we needed to pack another family event into those four days while everyone was in town!

Aunt Annette and Uncle Tom are Simon's godparents...a second priest-godfather in this house! Should make for holy kids, right?!?! We're counting on it...

Tom con-celebrated the Mass with Fr. Tim, our new pastor, which made it extra special for Simon's initiation into the Church.

Simon was well-behaved. His sister's tried to be, as well...

...but you know how that can go. 

Fr. Tim loves babies and holds Simon every chance he gets.

Which is funny, because Fr. Tom also LOVES babies and wants to hold Simon every chance he gets.

 Maybe someday Aunt Annette will have a turn holding Simon.

Welcome to the Family, Little Simon!

Miriam: Age 7

Miriam turned seven years old the day after Thanksgiving. SEVEN!!! We celebrated on Thanksgiving day. Mema's birthday is the day after Miriam's, so these two often get to share their birthday fun. Nana made sure everyone had their dessert of choice. Miriam asked for brownies with strawberries. Chocolate + Strawberries has long been Miriam's favorite flavor combo.

Miriam is very responsible and helpful. She gets her homework done pretty independently each evening, can clean out the dishwasher and take out the trashes on her own, reads to Felicity, and loves to draw pictures or write love notes to her parents and teacher. Her 1st grade teacher tells Mommy frequently what a sweet girl Miriam is to her classmates. Miriam's favorite center at school is the Prayer Corner. When a friend's family was dealing with the recent hurricane in Florida, Miriam's friend asked Miriam to join her in the Prayer Corner where they prayed a decade of the rosary together. We love the faith that is beginning to grow and become something Miriam claims as her own.

Miriam has a great sense of humor. And when she's comfortable with the company, she can be really goofy and giggly. She's an adventurous eater, loves to play Barbies and ride her bike (without training wheels!!), and still seems happiest when she's outdoors - even as a tiny baby, Miriam loved the outdoors.

For all the ways she seems older than 7, she still does funny "little kid" things. This week she told Mommy, "I can't wait until I'm in 4th grade and can dress up as a saint and go to the casino."

Mommy stared at her in shock for a second before realizing Miriam's mistake. "You mean Coliseum!" All the 4th grade Catholic School students in our diocese dress up as saints and trek to the Coliseum in Fort Wayne for an All School Mass. Miriam's slip up gave us a good laugh! 

Miriam and Daddy went to a hibachi grill for their birthday date. She ate so much that when her birthday ice cream came at the end of the meal she was only able to eat a bite or two! 

Happy 7th Birthday, Miss Miri Pants. We love you.

Seeing Double: Six

Yes, it we celebrated that time of year again: the three-ish weeks that Miriam and Vivian are the same age. Most people in the house appreciate the unique specialness of this time.

...one person does not.

You-know-who doesn't like it one bit. Someone wants to be the older sister.

Daddy somehow captured their feelings about these weeks PERFECTLY last week. Just bringing up the idea of a "shared age" produced these pictures. Simon, wisely, slept through the ordeal.

Maybe when You-know-who and her younger sister are both 40, You-know-who will appreciate not being the older sister for a few weeks in November.
 
Maybe.

Vivian: Age 6

Vivian's 6th birthday was a couple weeks back. In the midst of Simon's arrival, Daddy and Nana very carefully ensured that Vivian's birthday wasn't missed. She wanted corn dogs and an ice cream cake. Nana made a special trip to the grocery to pick these treasures up. Nana said, "I've never bought corn dogs before..." And Mommy said, "Neither have I. I don't know why she wants this as her birthday meal." And Vivian said, "I had them at Aunt Maria's college and liked them." And Aunt Maria said, "I don't think we have corn dogs at our cafe..." 

So the corn dog request is still a mystery.

But the ice cream cake was logical...and yummy.

Daddy and Vivian went on their birthday date. Tim takes each girl on a date for their birthday. It's something they look forward to all year long. This year Vivian chose a Mexican restaurant...and ordered chicken fingers and fries.

Fun facts about Viv at age 6:

• Loves school! Adores her teacher! Has only earned "green smiles" for her behavior so far this year!
• Still totes her stuffed dog Woofster with her everywhere. She's tucked him under her arm on her way out the door to school without even thinking before Mommy reminds her that Woofster isn't allowed at school.
• Is very into animals and babies. Lucky for her we have our very own baby living with us!

• Carbs...pasta, pancakes, white rice, mashed potatoes. This is Viv's favorite food group. (Making the request for corn dogs even more mysterious.)
• Girl has a six pack. Probably because she bounces and runs and twirls everywhere she goes. There's just no moderate paced walking in Vivian.

Happy 6th Birthday, to the one who's so "full of life!"

October B.S.

B.S. ... That's Before Simon.

Tim frantically did yard work the entire month knowing how the coming Baby would slow down our lives. He was certain this tree would fall; during every storm he had an ear out for the pending crash. But it's still standing...or leaning in our woods.

October entered with the last day of the county fair. Perfect weather, a small town parade, a few more rides, and a final fair donut to tide us over until next September.

Mommy got serious about making the unicorn Halloween costumes.

Miriam earned a special treat at school for her great classroom behavior. The teacher text Mommy this picture of Miriam enjoying her snack at Mrs. Marshall's desk. She got to choose where she wanted to sit for the day and picked the teacher's seat! Looks pretty pleased with her choice.

Vivian's also been doing very well at school. She's only come home with "green smiles" on the behavior chart which makes her Mom and Dad very proud! 

Mid-month the girls had a Thursday off of school so we went to Indy to visit Aunt Maria, the Children's Museum, and Tim's sister and her family. It was a packed day, but so much fun.

Mommy turned 33 this month. It's funny because most days she doesn't know how old she is...when people ask, she has to really think about the answer. But Miriam ALWAYS knows and answers for Mommy sometimes. To celebrate this birthday, Daddy took the girls to get donuts (still in their pjs). Mommy loves apple fritters and the cinnamon rolls with maple icing. He found an apple fritter with maple icing! Perfect!

Our family group from church got together for our annual hayride and bonfire the same weekend. Very fun, like always. But what really came to light at this event...Vivian's crazy picture face. Somewhere in Viv's brain "Say Cheese" translates into "Show me your goofiest smile!"

Sometimes it's just fun to look through our pictures and laugh at the faces Vivian makes. She's a cutie pie with a great little grin...but put a camera in front of her and it's wildness to the max.

And if birthday and hayride weren't enough for the weekend, we also had the school Pumpkin Festival! Old school carnival games (like a cake walk...we took home two cakes...definitely don't need those!), face painting, prizes, kids in costume, and treats!

Round out the month with some cuddle time with Nana...

At-home preschool theme weeks. Including an All About Me week that resulted in Felicity's self-portrait...

...and a field trip with Vivian's Kindergarten class to the pumpkin patch...

And we're up to celebrating Halloween. Which means Baby's due date has come and gone and Mommy's still very pregnant. 

Felicity's story time Halloween Party...still pregnant...

...A beautiful Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa's...still pregnant.

Miriam in high heels drinking out of a coconut...she's been looking at our honeymoon pictures again...

Sunday, October 30th, Mommy is crafting like crazy. Determined to complete an Advent Calendar for her goddaughter.

Daddy is furiously doing yard work and house projects. All these things must happen now because everyone can feel that "still pregnant" won't last much longer.

It doesn't. 5:04 AM, the last day of October. Finally meeting Baby.

Since that moment Simon has been welcomed by so many family and friends. We can't begin to thank everyone for all the meals and help and cards and happy thoughts and prayers! Adding a fourth child is certainly another level to our chaos. But we're easing in and figuring out a new system around here. And soon we won't remember what life was like B.S.