Birthday boy

My little Eli turned 1 last week.
His birthday present was a balloon, which was accidentally popped by his brothers the next day.  But he loved it while it lasted!

He has got to be the most loved baby in the world!  His siblings all adore him, and were so happy to help him celebrate.  He loved all the attention… especially when everyone gathered around to sing to him!

I’ve said it before, but I think babies are such great unifiers in a family.  One of the few things that everyone can agree on, is that Eli is the cutest baby ever.  And we have such a good time sitting around laughing at his antics together.

He didn’t mess around with that cupcake.  It was gone in about 3 bites!

Elijah at one year old:
-Can say “Mama, Dada, Hi and Thank you” but won’t say them on demand.
-Best tricks include waving, clapping, pointing, flexing his muscles
-Likes to play peek-a-boo and this little piggie
-Favorite foods: oatmeal, pb&j, all fruits.  Definitely NOT vegetables
-Wants to be held on my hip all day, doing whatever I’m doing
-He’s a sweet little snuggler
-Everyone comments on what a happy, sweet natured baby he is.
I sure am glad I have my little Elijah.  I can’t imagine our family without him!
Happy Birthday Eli.

Deep Thoughts

Yesterday, as the rain was pouring down, Simon sat at the table eating his lunch.  He looked deep in thought, and I couldn’t resist the urge to ask what was going on in his mind.

“Whatcha thinkin’ about buddy?”

“I’m just watching the rain come down.  And also, do shrink rays float in outer space?”

And nearby was this guy, enjoying his own lunch:

He always has a good time!

Important

I have a memory of riding in the car with my family as a teenager.  One of the younger kids was telling my parents the oldest joke in the book.  Repeatedly.

“Hey Mom!  What are you eating under there?”  Mom would fall for it every time, replying with “Under where?”  Get it?  Underwear?

The child would crack up!  Gut wrenching laughter until she could catch her breath, and then tell it all over again.  And I remember my parents busting up laughing, too.  Over and over and over.   I’m sure I rolled my eyes as I thought “I can’t believe that joke is still funny to them.”

Of course I realize now that the joke never was really funny.  Even when I told it as a 4 year old.  My parents were laughing because they were enjoying watching one of their kids find so much joy in that joke.

I can totally relate to that now.  Nowadays,  I find that my very greatest and deepest joys come from helping those I love to be happy.  Sometimes I find instant satisfaction, like being able to take them on a fun trip, and watching their eyes light up.  Sometimes it’s a more slow-simmering contentment, like knowing that the meals I make are teaching them good habits and encouraging long-term health.

On a daily basis, I find joy in helping my loved ones to accomplish the things that are important to them.  The things that matter to them, matter to me.  It’s my way of letting them know that they are important.

Here is a list of things that have been honestly important to me lately, because they are important to someone I love:

-Blueberries.  Eli eats them faster than I can stock them!

-Spiderman costumes and climbing trees

-“Organizing” a dresser (7 year old standards are very different than mine!)

-basketball

-finding parkour lessons

-redecorating a bedroom

-outfits and hairdos

-de-cluttering and minimizing

I often feel overwhelmed with the constant questions and requests for help that come with having 7 kids. But when I step back and think about it, being needed is what makes my life feel full and worthwhile.  My life is filled to the brim with important things!

Becca Boo

My little Becca Boo turned 15 this month!  How in the world did that happen?

From this:

To this:

To this!  (She’s gonna love me for posting that!)

We were starting a month of extra healthy eating as of August 1st, so we had her real birthday cake request a week early.  Chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake!  Yum!

On her actual birthday I made her a delicious custard sweetened with honey.  She was a really good sport about it.

The only thing that makes it OK for her to grow up so fast, is the fact that she’s doing it so well.  I couldn’t be happier with the person Rebecca is turning out to be.

She is so responsible.  I don’t worry at all about her getting her homework done on time, or doing her best at the jobs she commits to.  She keeps her word and prepares for her future.

She loves my babies.  I love watching her enjoy her little brothers.  They can tell that she loves them, and are so excited to see her when she comes home.  She will be a great mother.

She is forgiving.  In her teenage world, feelings can get hurt easily, and she has had her share of hurt feelings.  But when someone is unkind, she really tries to give them the benefit of the doubt.  She forgives them and does a great job of letting it go.

She’s learning to navigate well the ups and downs of being a girl.  She is really good at realizing when she is the one “feeling cranky” and takes responsibility for her actions.  Moodiness happens to the best of us, and she is learning early to manage it well.

She is fun.  I love to listen to Rebecca and Savannah giggling in their room. (When they should be sleeping!)  I have countless silly absurd videos on my camera.  Someday I will treasure those, right?

She is beautiful.  I worry a little about all those poor boys that are starting to hover around her.  Her dad is just a little bit overprotective!

She is a good communicator.  I love that she shares stories and details with me about what goes on in her life.  She opens up easily and isn’t afraid to talk about how she feels.

So…. Happy Birthday Rebecca! I’m so glad you were born!

So much more of me

In the Disney movie Pete’s Dragon, there is a scene where a chubby lady is mad at the traveling quack doctor.  She claims that his special diet pills made her gain a bunch of weight.  His defense is “Ah… but now there is so much more of you to love!” That seems to satisfy her.

Last night I was lying in my bed looking at a recently-hung wedding picture of Jeff and I.

I was trying to remember what it felt like to be that girl, and I found that I couldn’t.

I remember that she was happy and enthusiastic, with lots of good ideas and goals.  But there was so much that she didn’t know.  So much that she couldn’t understand, because she had never experienced it.

She didn’t know how comforting it is to wake up every morning for 16 years next to her best friend.

She didn’t know how much fun you can have, even when you’re a poor, married student.

She didn’t know yet that she actually enjoys teaching Sunday School, or that she’s a pretty decent choir director.

She couldn’t imagine how hard it is to be pregnant 7 times, or comprehend the overwhelming joy of rocking and loving that precious little baby once they finally arrive.

She hadn’t ever considered the effort it would take to try and provide healthy food for so many hungry people.  Every single day.  (It’s a good thing she didn’t see that one coming, cuz she sure as heck didn’t know how to cook!  She would have been terrified!)

She didn’t know the secure feeling of knowing all of her precious children are tucked safely in their beds, or the unsettled feeling when someone is missing.

She had never felt responsible for another person’s well-being; physical, emotional, academic, spiritual, etc., etc., etc.  She didn’t know how strong she would need to be to carry that load sometimes.

As I was thinking about all that I have learned over the last 16 years, I felt rich and full, if that makes sense.  I could see how my life’s experiences have stretched me and shaped me.  They have made my soul expand and deepened my understanding and my capacity to feel joy.

So back to Pete’s Dragon, now there is so much more of me!  Yes, there are the obvious extra pounds and wrinkles, but even those I wouldn’t trade.  Hopefully in 30 years I will look back on this post and smile, and think “ahh… but there is so much that she didn’t know.”

Big Brothers

 

Big brothers are the best!  They can do so many amazing things!  Just ask Simon.

Yesterday Josh stayed home from school.  He had thrown up the day before, but yesterday he was hopping and skipping (he can never just walk anywhere) all over the house. He decided first thing in the morning that he would spend his free day with Simon.

They sat down to make a list of all the fun things they wanted to do. 

Blow bubbles

Read books

Jump on the tramp

Make forts

Play a game

Climb a tree

Play puppies in space

It was an action packed day.  Full of all the fun things that Simon could dream up.

One of the other kids mumbled under their breath, “If I had a free day home, that is NOT how I would spend it!”

Instantly, my mind jumped forward 20 years to when Simon will be reminiscing about his childhood.  He will remember his big brother Josh with a little bit of magic.  How Josh could build the best forts, and blow the biggest bubbles.  How Josh always made him feel so special.

Maybe Josh should have been in school.  But if you ask me, I would say that the way he spent his day was eternally more valuable!

What are little boys made of?

I know the saying goes “Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails.”  But our modern version seems to be a little different.

Around here, little boys are made more of legos, video games and FIREWORKS!

This year even Jonah spent $10 of his own money on a big pack them.

They seem to never be too old or too young to be obsessed with fireworks.