Out of Hand: June 2017

Thirty-Five

Friday, June 30, 2017

I had a great milestone birthday, the first in five years when I wasn't either pregnant or just gave birth. I'm currently feeling great! Birthdays have been a time for me to recollect and be grateful. The kids put out breakfast and decorations (with a lot of help from DH) and sang to me all day. DH and I went to Filomena's in Georgetown for dinner. We knew it would be a winner because of the homemade pasta, etc. Check out the reviews! Anyway, I don't have much time to blog lately, so I let my phone make a video/picture collage. Thank you for all of the cards, checks, calls, and texts. They always make me feel loved and refreshed! <3

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

It's almost impossible to put into words the importance of a father. Here's something that Pope St. John Paul II said about his own dad:

Day after day I was able to observe the austere way in which he lived. By profession he was a soldier and, after my mother's death, his life became one of constant prayer. Sometimes I would wake up during the night and find my father on his knees, just as I would always see him kneeling in the parish church. We never spoke about a vocation to the priesthood, but his example was in a way my first seminary, a kind of domestic seminary.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Our Sweet Pea is two. She loves to give hugs, smile, make eyes (especially when in trouble), swing, and read.

"Push me too high!" is how she asks for a push:

She can get her brothers and dad to do almost anything for her. :)

She "told" on The Eldest for the first time last week. He was surprised and enraged. "Mama! Chauk-et bar! Mama! Chauk-et bar!" It was pretty awesome. He still likes her:

She likes her dolls and guns equally. It will be interesting to see which hobbies she develops as she gets older. She knows how to make car, gun, and body noises. Sigh.

She has beautiful eyes and continues to receive compliments wherever she goes. She receives so much TLC because she is the only girl. She's a smart, outgoing, and motivated little girl!

She immediately opened her Oreos and ate all of the middles and walked away. Gotta love two-year-olds!

She received a princess crown:

Had her toenails painted. (I love this part of being a girl mom!)

Went to a baseball game.

She received many gifts and treats and had a wonderful birthday! We love her so much!!!

She's still our petite little girl:

Height -- 32.25", 11th%

Weight -- 22.5 lbs., 12th%

Head -- 20", 65th%

See her at Birth and One Year.

The Engineer: Four Years Old!

This was a year of emotional and psychological growth. He is mostly potty trained, puts on his own clothes, brushes his own teeth, and has strong opinions about clothes and food. He is our most reserved in public, not to be confused with biggest doormat.

After an afternoon in a crowd:

He woke up earlier than ever on his birthday morning and shouted down the stairs, "Is anybody down there?" before DH left for work:

He ate donuts and doritos and watermelon for breakfast:

We went to his favorite park:

He received a special delivery of one of his favorites, chocolate-covered strawberries:

He received so many gifts and a visit from Pop Pop and Grandma, another favorite!

I am always surprised that my sensitive boy loves beating the crap out of his brother and shooting people and sparring and having water balloon fights, etc. Somehow, the sensitivity doesn't hinder his need for fighting...

Aggressive play gives him a thrill.

He requested a carrot cake:

I wish I captured his smile when he first saw the cake -- his entire face lit up as he looked lovingly at all the frosting-carrots on top.

He was pretty tired by the end of the day:

He wants to be a dad when he grows up. This is a consistent trend. I think he will be a good dad.

Here are a few of his current quirks: backward shirts,

Orange everything -- we are pretty convinced that his favorite color is actually blue but he likes the attention that comes from the "orange-boy" act.

This is the face he makes every time I say "smile":

He really, really likes to make people laugh:

We think he looks a lot like his paternal great-grandfather, especially here -- same hairline, same cheeks. Incidentally, he's also our most stubborn so far. (Notice the use of "most" because we are. all. so. stubborn.)

He is very good at sharing when he's the big boy (when Big Brother is not around). He and his birthday twin have complementary personalities. I see them getting along well as adults.

He often hops into the pac n play with Mr. Serious. He likes to cheer him up.

He grabbed a stool so he could get over the edge. Intelligent life. :)

Here he is making the baby laugh. He loves it when the whole family is together. If someone is missing, he asks me where they are. He was born for big family life! We love him so much!!! <3