December was a big month for me. I started walking. Everyone had been trying to get me to take a step for months and I wasn't interested. I could keep up with the older sisters by crawling. I'm a fast crawler. Sometimes I put my head down and go into Turbo Mode and can sprint-crawl about as fast as those girls run. So walking seemed unnecessary. Except if I want to see over the edge of the table or carry things as I go.
So I walked. And then ran.
I still take two naps a day. I love bottles, baths, and Goldfish.
I have a suspicion that the family is doing fun things without me while I sleep.
I have repeatedly heard my sisters begging Dad to play Bugs in the Kitchen with them after he puts me to bed. They are obsessed with whatever this is...but honestly I'm too tired by bedtime to try to figure out what's going on.
Speaking of fun things: one day I was napping and when I woke up there was a Christmas tree! So shiny. So many things to touch. I tried to keep my hands off it. I would think about touching it and then shake my head and pull my hand back.
But! So shiny!
It seemed like every day of December I was caught messing with the tree. I wasn't trying to hurt it...I only broke two ornaments. And I figured out this trick where I could pull the tops off them. I liked to make piles of ornaments and piles of tops. Then my parents would catch me and kick me out of the office again. I suspect they put the tree in there to keep me away from it but my sisters were kind enough to leave the door open and let me explore.
When I wasn't rearranging the Christmas ornaments, I like to sit on the couch. There's a better view up there.
And we got to go see the girls at school a couple times. Once to eat lunch with them on Vivian's baptism anniversary. She actually lost a tooth that day.
That Viv. She is really the funniest person I know. And the smartest. I mean, look at this example of her brain at its finest! Dad is the best. I love when he comes home! And watching him fix things!
Another time we went to Mass because Miriam received a Virtue Award for Purity. Well deserved. Miriam is always trying to do what is right. She has a soul that wants to please God.
Plus there was the Christmas Program. I can't say I remember much of it. Too busy squirming and being passed around.
Let's see. Other good stuff...I'm the master of stirring things. Truly. I can stir any container with any utensil! I attack the dishwasher when Mom cleans it out for spoons and bowls. If the girls let me in the playroom I go after the food toys and stir whatever I can find in there. I love when Mom holds me while she cooks. The best is the Kitchenaid Mixer...Mom turns it on and I could watch it spin for an hour. AUTOMATIC stirring. Ah.Maze.Ing.
Also, Grandpa's birthday. I ate cake.
And hung out with Elijah. We cleaned up Grandma's refrigerator. It's a thing we do together.
Miriam made her first Reconciliation. We were at the church for a while, but they let me pace the pews so that was alright.
You know, the only thing I didn't like about December was the snow. My sisters seem to love it. I don't get it. I cry until Mom carries me around and then takes me inside again.
Then at the end of December, life changed. It got more full...more people were around, the girls were more excited. A stranger dressed in red came to our house.
We made cookies. The Kitchenaid mixer was involved so I stayed close to whoever was using it.
And I ate a cookie. Or two. Isn't Aunt Maria so impressive with her decorating skills?
We went to the PJ party at church. My sisters were counting down the days until this party. At first we just wore pajamas and Mom took about twenty pictures. Not exciting. But when I got there I could see why they love this party so much. We ate pizza. And lots of candy. And played games. And people held me pretty much the entire time.
So there's more to say about December, but I'll let someone else talk about that. It's time for a bottle and bed.
When we weren't celebrating birthdays (there was a lot of that) back in November, we enjoyed normal life with four children.
Normal can mean different things to different people.
A typical day means the two older girls and Tim rolling out of the garage around 7:40 while the other half of the family waves goodbye. Often Sarah is on the phone with her mom as Mom drives to work. Simon loves this part of the day! Just waving and waving!
Simon goes down for a nap around 8:30, Sarah and Felicity sit down for preschool activities.
Simon wakes up around 10 AM. Practices walking. But has no interest in taking any steps alone. When we encourage him to walk on his own, he bends his knees and goes limp. Not happening.
Occasionally we go to story time at the library.
One week Felicity got to be the "book holder". She was extremely proud of this job! As the third girl, her responsibilities at home aren't as "large" as her older sisters' but this time as the big girl in the librarian's chair made her feel so capable and important.
Then lunch. Playtime. Both kids are down for an afternoon nap around 1 PM.
Pick the girls up off the bus in the afternoon, come home, snack, homework, playtime, dinner time. Days go so quickly! Mommy remembers how slowly time moved in the late afternoon when there were just two little girls in our family. Sometimes it would be so nice to be able to go back in time to a "slow" day to appreciate the tempo of our lives like we didn't then.
One evening, just after dinner, Tim showed the girls "selfies".
It gave us some amusing photography.
Tim gives Simon a bath after supper. This was during the phase when he half-hated baths and cried every time we put him in. (WHY?) He now loves baths and would take them four times of day if he could. But two months ago it meant tears until he acclimated to the water again. Odd.
Bedtime for Simon was around 7:30 PM-ish. The girls were in bed around 8.
But some days were not as normal. Like when Tim got to take the girls to see Wild Kratts Live at the Embassy! This was Miriam and Vivian's birthday gift and such a fun night for these four.
Miriam had her very first piano recital in November. She played two short songs very well. So proud of how hard she is working to learn the piano. Mommy never played an instrument and Daddy is, frankly, so busy with work that she is kind of on-her-own when it comes to piano. It's amazing what 30 minutes a week and nightly practice for just three months produces!
The end of November meant Thanksgiving weekend. It is a BIG, FULL weekend in this house! The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we went to Fort Wayne's light night. Our traditional stops include the Gingerbread Festival, Santa, the Cathedral Bookstore, and several of the huge light displays on downtown buildings. This is a pretty special night for Sarah's family. Somehow it seems to signal the beginning of weeks of festivities. Annette (very pregnant), Catherine, and Tom even make it all the way from Canada!
Simon took a grab at Santa but Santa was too quick! No one cried when they met Mr. Claus, so all was a success.
Thanksgiving Day we hosted for about 35 people at lunch and supper. Including Tim's parents! Papa had recently been released from the hospital after 11 weeks of treatment. His presence was it's own miracle and something to be continually thankful for. No one knew how or if his body would heal. But Nana's faith never wavered. She spoke repeatedly about her certainty that God was taking care of every detail - He did - and that she would not worry. Papa's healing continues in his own home now as he regains physical strength each day.
Then Black Friday shopping! Sarah, her mom, and sisters really enjoy this time spent together. None of us is running through stores at 4 AM trying to grab the last 102" TV. We just like shopping together and Black Friday is a great excuse to do it! Friday night we all - men, women, and kids - went bowling. Our girls LOVE to bowl! And Simon was pretty content to hang out, too!
Saturday morning we did a family fun 5K at Sarah's parents. Then, Daddy went off to join the men for an auction and the Escape Room. This was also Miriam's birthday so we made sure to sing to her several times all day long.
With November wrapped up, we are firmly into the magic of the holidays!
