Big Shoes to Fill

The children LOVE to play "shoe store". They get out all the shoes from the front closet and clomp around the house in the most ill-fitted footwear they can find. I have tried explaining to them, ever so gently, that this really isn't what happens at a shoe store. They then explain to me, ever so gently, that I have never brought them to a shoe store...so how would they know...and could I just bring them to a shoe store soon, because they WILL be good this time...and maybe while we are there we could get pretzels at the mall...and Joseph promises that he will most definitely NOT bite Thomas this time...and Thomas promises that he will try to make Jesus' heart so happy...and Sarah promises that she will try really hard not to hide under the clothing racks so that Mommy and Daddy can't find her and go in search of a security guard...

I need another cup of coffee.

Anyway, last night we took the children to the mall. Sarah needed sneakers. "No more velcro for me, Mom! I want laces!" Right! Because, as it stands now, we have to figure in an extra 45 minutes when we want to leave the house...just to put shoes on the children. I would have to add on more time to unknot the laces that she wouldn't untie before taking off her shoes the last time. And all the knots that she put in the laces while she was using her shoes as a leash for her stuffed dog, Frenchy. Then she would have to put on her own shoes and tie them herself. What's another 15 minutes among friends? A nice, even hour to leave home would be easier to calculate for my mommy-brain, anyway. "Sure, Sarah! Sneaks with laces, it is!"

All joking aside, I am really grieving as she begins this new stage. She is becoming so tall and independent. I cried in the shoe department last night as she was trying on shoes. When did my baby grow up? I remember the first pair of shoes. Delicate and feminine Mary Janes. I remember trying to squeeze her chubby feet into them. I couldn't buckle them. Matt and I laughed. I did not laugh last night as she picked out hot pink running sneakers (with laces) so that she could "go so much faster". Why does she want to go faster? Do they sell sneakers that make children slow down?

No pretzels last night. No biting. Tommy DID makes Jesus' heart happy, I am sure. Sarah did not hide under any clothing racks. But driving home, I still felt like someone knocked the wind out of me. Who knew that buying new shoes could be so emotionally taxing?

The Old Dirt Road

I learned to drive on the dirt road leading to our family's cottage. We would pull off Lake Road and Dad would move over to the passenger seat, allowing one of us (children) to drive. This began when I was 14. I thought I was so cool. When we were still pregnant with Sarah, I told Matt that I couldn't wait for her to reach the age when she could renew the tradition. "It will be really sentimental for me," I said. I thought we would start introducing them to the drive when they were teenagers...

Sarah has been driving for two years now.

Joseph started last year.

These pictures, above, are documenting Thomas' first drive.

Needless to say, I feel no sadness when these drives happen. No nostalgia. I laugh from the moment they sit on Matt's lap until the moment we pull into the cottage yard.The children enjoy driving on Daddy's lap so much that they begin arguing about who will drive the moment we leave our house...an entire hour of "my turn!".

Finishing Up the School Year

Do I love that Joseph face? Concentrating so hard. Just like his Daddy.

Thomas is so helpful. Just like his Mommy.

Stuck

10 months old. I love this age.

He's totally stuck. Can't get down, stuck. He knows how to pull himself up. He enjoys it for a minute or two, shrieking loudly. Then realizes that his little legs are tired and he really wants his blanket and...HE CAN'T GET DOWN! Shrieking turns to moaning which turns to crying. And I just stand there and enjoy every single predictable moment.

The "panic" is really funny when I think about how many times I have witnessed this with my other children.

With Sarah, I ran in the moment the happy shrieking started. I would calmly tell her that all the parenting books said that she had to get some sleep, and I would tuck her in all over again...which was a 30 minute-long process. I was such a thorough mother.

With Joseph, I would go in during the moaning stage. He was having fun during the shrieking, and I had 13 more seconds to complete whatever it was I was trying to complete..probably something silly, like eating.

With Thomas, I would sit outside the door immediately after laying him down. I knew that the moment I put him down, he would stand and get stuck. He knew that I knew. And he also knew how to play me. He would shriek with glee as I would carry him up the stairs to bed. He would moan as I would cross the threshold into his room, thus preparing himself (and me) for the stage that would follow. The panic stage, with Tom, wasn't truly panic. He would fake it, I swear. Too smart. Way manipulative. I loved it most days. He just made me laugh.

With Nate, I obviously don't leave the room. I take pictures. This stage is so short. Time passes too quickly. I invite the other children in to see how funny it is. I tell them about how silly they were when they were Nate's age. They enjoy it, too. I love motherhood. *sigh*

Best Buds

Thomas LOVES spending time with Nathan. They share clothes. They use the same size diaper. They weigh the same. They even have the same sense of humor. Tom-Boo has also recently started asking to sleep with Nathan... "Sleep" being the operative word.

Happy Super-Ultra-Belated Birthday, Matt!

Matt's birthday was before Sarah's, but I am still trying to catch up with posting. I finally came to the conclusion that I could post 4 times a day, and it still wouldn't be enough to tell the story of our lives. 

 Here is the glimpse that I have time and energy to offer...

 Poor Nate. He doesn't even bat an eyelash while he's being tormented these days. Such is the life of the fourth child.

 Patient boys waiting for cake.

Sarah was so funny when Matt was opening his gifts. She felt the need to explain each one to him. Even the fishing lures.

So, Happy Birthday Matt! We are so grateful for the gift of your life! And we always keep in mind that, without you, this train never would have left the station. We Love You!

Happy Birthday, Bean!

June 11, 2006

To our firstborn: 5 years ago, you changed our lives. The world has never been the same since you came into our family. We love you dearly and appreciate every single moment we have with you. You bring us so much joy, and we are so grateful to God for the gift of our princess.

Now, please stop growing.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Steamtown, USA

Couldn't decide what color the breakdown train was. The boys, settling the debate.

The Big Boy

Steamtown Mall

The train ride. Joseph in his Heaven.


A very important sign posted within our coach car.

Nathan was not keen on the "no spitting" rule.

Lovely.

Uncle Nick and Erika.

Nonna and Aunt Jill

Uncle Mike and Amanda

Trouble-makers...right before finding the bell.

The Clan

Hurray for the trains!

Grandad and Joseph

"Helping"

Okay, Grandad. We get it. You are trying to get us back for all the sleepless nights that Matthew caused when he was a baby.

10pm and still kickin' it with Grandad.

"And the angels have come to tuck Nathan in..."

The fuzzy-blue party animal was up all night with Mommy, who apparently isn't as good company as Grandad. Nathan finally fell asleep at 5am...with Matt.

Fishing

The lake was covered in fog. We truly didn't know which way was back to shore. We were cold and wet. Poppy hadn't caught a fish yet this year. Joseph, Sarah and Thomas were all being so patient. I thought, "Well, this was a nice boat ride. At least they had some good bonding time with their Dad and Poppy."

Then...

My first-born son caught his first fish. (Actually, Poppy landed it for him. I haven't seen my Dad catch a fish with a Spiderman pole, or the like, in about 15 years.)

Yes, he touched it!!!!!!!!

And...My Girl...


I know, as her mother, I shouldn't be laughing. But look at her face! She was giggling and crying at the same time.

The fish is almost landed.

Joseph, who was an expert at this point, kept saying,"Get the net! Get the net! Sarah, you caught my favorite fish!"

That's it?!?!

Daddy was the hero, for sure.

Tom-Boo, pausing the chorus of the alphabet song to say "hello" to Sarah's fish.