A day

There is the everyday.   The days that stretch on a lifetime until you look back and you know how fast they go.    The days that are filled with 4 children.   Filled with screaming and arguing, laughing and crying.   There is not a moment of quiet.      Contentment from all 4 is rare.   In these moments we learn and grow by playing.

Playing in the pots.

Arranging and banging.

Stirring and mixing.

Making pretend oatmeal just like her mom.

Cooking in the kitchen.  Football in the living room.

Passing and catching.

Looking for the first down.

Over the couch.   Under the fan.

Touchdown.

The game never really stops.

No one keeps score.

Full of emotion.

 There are other games also.

 

Games that a 4 year old likes to play.

To turn your back for a second means you come up on the unexpected.

A little girl in the recycling.

Rearranging the pantry.

That little girl coming to give me a snotty kiss after all the rearranging.

A timeout has been called in the living room.  Time to sit beside your brother and talk about game.

Time to discuss what to play next as the minutes march on.

All of us

One afternoon in the Arizona sunshine a friend brought his camera and captured our picture as a family.

Little Grace

Christmas morning

I lay in my bed, listening for those feet pounding down the stairs.  The click of the gate.  Whispers between brothers.   I glance up at the clock.   4:30.   The quiet morning surrounds me so I sink deeper under my covers and doze back to sleep. 

Several hours later, I finally hear the click of the baby gate.   Gabe and Owen are excitedly whispering in the living room.   The moment that I have been waiting for.   I jump out of bed and sneak into see what they are doing.   

They have found all their gifts from Santa and can't wait to show me each one.    They talk at the same time so I'm not able to understand it all but, they show me each gift and explain how Santa had left something for everybody.

"Look, Mom, Santa brought me my favorite candy". 

"And, a new set of golf clubs".

"A new car seat for baby Grace".   "Can you believe it?" 

Gabe takes me out to the garage to show me his new basketball hoop.    He explains that Daddy will have to put it together.

And, now we wait for the little kids to get up.    We turn on the fire and sit together looking over all the items in our stockings, wondering how Santa manages to get everything just right.    The boys don't sit for long.   As the sun comes up, they run and get their new guns.   They practice shooting targets until they hear Eli coming down the stairs.

As they hear their little brother they run over to him so they can show him everything that Santa has brought.

Such a sweet moment between brothers.   As the sun starts pouring in the windows the boys huddle together and share in Eli's excitement over his new angry birds.

Now, it is time to play!

Gabe gets his rainbow loom and works on making new bracelets.   He works on them all day.   Getting frustrated but, not giving up to easily.

And, the little boys play some Angry Birds.   Owen playing so sweetly with his brother.

 And, of course there was some serious target practice going on.

There is a cute little girl in a santa dress this Chrismas.   A little girl who toddles around and likes to play peek a boo behind the door.

The boys could have stayed home and played all morning.   Christmas mass was on the agenda and it as beautiful.   Here is a picture of Gracie on I on the most blessed of days.   The day that our Lord was born.

Merry Christmas!