International Night–Korea

 

Jeff came up with a great idea for our Sunday dinners.  Whenever we can remember in time to pull it together, we plan to do international nights.  The plan is to let each person take a turn to choose a country and plan the meal accordingly. Each of us will learn a new fact about that country to present at the dinner table.

Our first country was Korea, since Jeff had been craving some Chop Chae, Kimchi and Bool gogi.  (I have no idea how to spell any of those things!)

We ate with chopsticks and everything.  Simon dove right in and never needed a fork!  You should have seen the floor around him when he was done with that rice!

I’d say it was a pretty big success!

New England

About two years ago Jeff and I planned ahead for our 15th wedding anniversary trip.  We got our airline tickets about a year ahead of time to make sure we could use our sky miles.  We planned a trip to New England in the fall, so we could be there for all the beautiful colors.  It’s a trip I have dreamed of taking forever.

A few months after we made the reservations, we found out that I was expecting another baby.  Due the exact week of our scheduled trip!  Needless to say, it was postponed.

One year later, which was a couple of weeks ago, we finally made it!  We left the kids with my mom and sisters, and celebrated our 15th anniversary in style.

The trip was all I hoped and dreamed!  We rented a car and spent our days just leisurely driving around, enjoying the beauty of nature. 

Our first night we stayed in this charming old boarding school-turned hotel.

We passed through Salem, and toured this “Witch House” that was built in the 1600s.

We drove up the coast of Maine, and of course had to stop at a lighthouse.  This was one of the few pictures Jeff took without me nudging him in the ribs and handing the camera to him.  He said he was there to spend time with his wife, not to be a photographer.  Apparently the two don’t mix.

We pulled over a couple of times to just walk around and enjoy the scenery.  I wished that I could bring home some of my treasures.

We had tried to rent a Prius to save on gas, but there was a mix-up, and all they had left was this Camaro convertible. Darn!  We were determined to drive with the top down, even though it was freezing!

In Vermont we stopped at the Ben & Jerry’s factory for a tour and some samples.

My pictures don’t really do it justice, but I loved these trees!  The leaves were green in the middle, then a layer of yellow, and red on the tips.  So gorgeous!

Can you believe some people drive by sights like this every day, and think that it’s normal?

Our last day was spent in Boston.  This is Jeff looking studious at Harvard.

One of my favorite stops along the Freedom Trail was the Old North Church, where Paul Revere had two lanterns hung at the beginning of the Revolutionary war.  I love the feeling of being in a place that is so old, and especially one with such significance.

The book that I was reading on the plane on my way to Boston was about the founding of America.  It was perfect timing.  The day we spent in Boston got me feeling so patriotic and grateful for the amazing men who were the founders of our country.

Some of these headstones dated back to the 1600s.

The city reaching up into the clouds was so beautiful.  The locals kept complaining about the weather, but we loved it!  We carried umbrellas all day as we walked, and didn’t miss the sun one bit!

I can’t decide what was my favorite part of the trip. The weather, the maple trees, the leisurely pace, the history?  Actually, I do know.  It was the company!  I loved having Jeff all to myself for a few days, with nothing else to worry about.  I love being married to my best friend!

Now… where to go next?

Josh

Here are a couple of quick pics from Josh’s 10 yr. old birthday party.

He is all sweaty after having a super fun air-soft war with his friends.  The girls have a hard time understanding why boys would like to celebrate by inviting people over to shoot each other.  I have stopped trying to relate, and decided to just embrace it!  As long as they don’t ever shoot at me!

He has some great friends, and they seemed to have a really good time.  Even his cousin Alston got to be there!

Some things about Josh at age 10:

His smile lights up his whole face

He never walks anywhere!  He is always running, jumping, or sliding.  Consequently… he stubbs his toes all the time, poor guy.

He likes to give his mom hugs, and misses the days when he was little enough to curl up in my lap.

He LOVES basketball.  He is willing to practice hard, and it has really paid off!  He is a great player, and I love that he has a smile on his face all through every game.

He is thoughtful.  He is aware of others feelings, and tries to make sure everyone feels included.

He goes through books faster than I do, which is really saying something!

I sure love you Josh!

Thousands of words

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I’m going to save myself the trouble of writing and just post some pictures of what has been going on around here lately.

Eli got a handsome haircut.  He officially looks like a Davis boy with a buzz cut.

Jonah checking to see how much he has grown.

Simon does “boy school” with 3 of his neighborhood friends:  Kade, Mazden and Tigger.  They rotate houses 3 days a week.  Not a lot of “school” happens, but it’s lots of fun!

Simon likes to comb his hair up in the front every day, so it will look “cool like Caleb’s.”

 

Jeff and his brother Doug took 9 kids to the lake!  Now that is the definition of a real man (I guess I should say real men, plural)  in my book!

Caleb and Connor Payne cooked the burgers, while Jonah waited anxiously.

Playing with Audree and Olivia on the shore.  Good thing I insisted that Jeff let me pack a change of clothes for Simon “just in case his pants happen to get wet.”

Cute 3 year old cousins Grant and Clark.

Riding behind the boat.  Olivia, Audree and Jonah.

Caleb and Josh.  I think Connor was in the middle there…  ?

My cute little Eli.  Just because.

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!