Christmas Recap

So, Christmas was magical and I wish I took time to write about it. But here are some favorite photos of mine from the season. Santa came!

Coffee House 2013

Well I guess John Phillip, Dominic, and Isaac were bound to be natural performers with their family history. Any excuse to dress them up, I take advantage of.

The Simpson's host a "Coffee House" every year where they have friends and family come together for a night of fun, food, laughter, and most importantly, performances of any kind. It's mostly for an older crowd but our boys started it off with a special little number before they went to bed. Not knowing what to expect, I threw them out there with a costume on and an instrument in hand. They performed to The Little Drummer Boy song and loved it. They kept saying they wanted to do it over again. I loved seeing their little faces light up during their moment of fame.

Here's a clip from the night: Drummer Boy(s)

The Magic of Christmas Time

It's been a magical month for the boys...and for me to witness their little imaginations growing. Everything has been about Santa Claus and learning fun new Christmas songs. John belts Frosty the Snowman song from the top of his lungs every day. He has also learned some of Jingle Bells and his newest, "Rejoice! Rejoice!" song. Their favorite current movies are Frosty and Rudolph.

Here is John Phillip and Dominic playing "Santa." They were reenacting sitting on Santa's lap and asking for choo choo trains and horses. They strategized so John would ask for horses and Dominic would ask for choo choo trains, making sure they would get both. Smart boys. ;)

This video is pretty funny.  Link: Santa's Lap

Some photos from Phillip's change of command ceremony/Christmas party for the families. Phil serving everyone food when he was the one being honored that day....always a man of service. They had crafts for the boys and they got to see their favorite big man again...Santa!

 

These pictures/video are from their only snow day here in Nashville. Aunts Rose and Helen took them sledding! And they absolutely LOVED it.

Link: Sledding

Christmastime

We've been getting ready for Christmas here! John and Dominic act like they know exactly what's going on and have been talking about Santa before I could even tell them about it. They phrase John repeats every day is, "Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas!" while holding his belly. Dominic tries to mimic and follow along. And Isaac, well he's been trying to get more plump for the occasion but his high metabolism isn't cooperating. He chimes in on the fun too though and has quite the obnoxious scream lately when he wants attention. I've had to give him the naughty or nice talk.

When we were in St. Louis over Thanksgiving, Papa, Pete, and Paul got to take the boys to see Santa while we were in St. Charles for a parade and other Christmas events. They LOVED it! I was so surprised. They talked to him and took a picture with him. I think it was because aunt Grace went right before them and they want to do whatever she does. I know I'll cherish this picture forever. Good memories!

Here's some holiday cheer for you with their picture and some videos.

Link: Who's got a beard that's long and white?

Link: Ho ho ho!



Christmas 2013

Baby #4....Wowza

“Body and soul, I am marvelously made…
You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.”
Psalm 139

 

God has created you in a special way and already knows you and loves you dearly. We love you too! He is blessing our family with your life as opposed to someone else, and for this I am so grateful for! Someone might think we do not “need” you because you already have 3 little big brothers. But you are irreplaceable in our eyes, and we want you because God’s plan is perfect and always meets our needs in unexpected ways.

Each of our children has brought a new unique joy to my life. I wouldn’t have ever experienced that particular joy in my life if he was not born. That is what makes me most excited about the birth of this new baby…I will look forward to a whole new creation, a whole new love, a whole new little look and smile, a unique heavenly joy that no one or nothing else in this world can bring me.

Yes, I know this will be challenging to say the least…juggling life (and juggling babies too at times it seems) with four under the age of three. But how can I say no? If we are all here for a bigger purpose, this must be mine. Doing my best to bring up these little souls to be champions and soldiers for Christ in a world that needs it. God has big plans for these little men, maybe a little woman. And it will make a great story in history. So amidst the 6 diaper changes by 10:30am, 12 teeth cut in 4 months time, or refereeing wrestling matches all day, we make it fun and full of giggles as much as we can. God somehow gives us the graces we need to make it to another day. Seeing the friendships and irreplaceable bonds that have already formed with my children, the way John and Dominic get so excited to see each other after waking up, or how they dote on Isaac, is like tasting a little piece of heaven.

The thought of adding another little babe to the mix is overwhelming to think about at times, but something we look forward to and feel privileged to be a part of.  We cannot wait to meet you, little baby!

 

 

 

 

 From Dad,

It is hard to prepare yourself for what these few years of marriage have blessed us with and I never would have imagined having such a full life. I always new I would love having kids, and more (in numbers) than what most family would consider "appropriate" but never this fast.

We do get a lot of weird looks and inappropriate comments but I would never change what God has done with our family. I can't even imagine how my life would be like without them. While our life is not conventional by any stretch of the imagination, mine has never been and I don't think I would want it to. It is much more fun, exciting, and exhausting living this way. Having said all this though, I do hope we have a little bit longer of a break next time. :) 

To Baby #4: I got to see you with Mommy two days ago. The excitement we get from those small short moments with you never gets old. I am not patient by any stretch of the imagination and simply can't wait to see what you are going to look like. You might want to stay in though as long as you can. Dominic is a little crazy!

Let's go fly a kite!

It was a perfect Saturday afternoon to fly a kite and pack a picnic. After many attempts, then realizing we were missing a part and fixed it, we got the kite to soar! John and Dominic had a blast running around and helping Dad get the kite off the ground.

Video:  Kite Flying

Our Adventure-er

Dominic, "Nicki" (pronounced neekee), "stuffins", "pooh bear", "tum tum", "snickers",
you are one crazy boy these days, but we love every ounce of you. You like to bite people, you like to yell, climb on the table, mess with John, demand Mom holds you if she's anywhere near Isaac, jump in bathtubs, eat dirt, throw rocks, blow bubble with your snot (sorry, gross)....
You also love to give Mama and Dada kisses, eat bananas whole, play with John Phillip and make him laugh, stick your tongue under the running bathtub faucet, read your Blue's clues book, watch Winney they Pooh, play Mommy's kitchen stuff, but most especially DANCE.

You have such a daring, loving, funny personality with a pinch...or a lot of spunk. Your hair kills me, as well as your dimples and scrunched up nose when you smile hard. I love your fat head and big beautiful eyes. You're one of a kind and my precious little gem! Please stay little forever.

Videos: Banana Head    Exploring Isaac      Dog!      Pooh Bear



Never without crazy hair

Yummy dimple boy

Trying to drink up all the water



You like to wear your boots..they make you happy

 

Love your toes

 

Terrific Two's

So "the two's" prove to be not as terrible as people say. Our experience so far has been the hard phase being one to two years....yes, YOU, Dominic. ;) John's imagination is starting to soar, he loves to stack anything and everything...also line his animals up in a line, he is talking more, loves to dance, read books, play outside, and likes to be an artist of all kinds....painting, coloring, play dough. He likes to flirt with girls at church, or at the library haha (picture below). He also is starting to be a little sneaky and tries to lie or blame things on others now too, which is hard not to laugh at. Examples: walks slowly into the family room with food hiding behind his back, looking at me like nothing is going on. Or whenever he has a stinky diaper, he blames it on Dominic or Dad without fail...."Dom, poo poo." Nope, never Mom, haha. Only Dad and Dominic. He is strong willed, but very sweet, and always up for wrestling or playing of any kind. Never thought I would love having boys so much. I love watching you grow John Phillip!

Videos:  Dancin'      Painting      

We love to stack...anything and everything...especially the prized horses.

 

John loves to hold baby "eyes." This time he even put him to sleep with his special foot hold. ;)

 

 
 































Caught John and cousin Margaret in a sweet moment after mass.
John and Dominic like to gang up on her and treat her like another
brother...poor thing.

Library girlfriend

                                                                                     

                                                                        Little artist.

Favorite book = My First Farm (aunt "Mimi" gave him)

Heading to work in his pajamas

Always has to line his animals up just right