Another October

 

Daddy and his girls, early-morning style



Kitty Pajama'd Ladies



The playroom on a mildly messy day.



Green Suit Part V.
Find Previous Editions Here.



Care Package from my parents that arrived while we were waiting for Sandy.



How the Dining Room looks every day, c/o homeschooling.



Pumpkins have become so much easier since we started using Potato Head pieces.



Those Pernot genes are so strong.



And when I say that doing pumpkins has become so much easier, I am also taking into account the 19.2 volts of fury that accompany the carving process.

The boys, trying to smile.



Nathan's pumpkin should disturb me. But after living with him for 2+ years, I have come to expect this.
He tries to recite his colors, but it sounds like he is counting in French.
He tries to sing his alphabet and ends up singing Happy Birthday to Nay Nay, instead.
He pokes Esther in the face and screams, "HE TOUCHED ME!"



Darth Tater and Storm Masher take over the galaxy....and remove all pieces from Joseph's pumpkin.



Love-ly



Plump-ly



"Scooping out the guts"/ A peek into the daily life of Anne



Joseph drew his pumpkin face on with a dry erase marker. Smart boy just kept drawing and erasing until he made the perfect pumpkin.



Enthralled Esther.



We bribed Nathan with candy. Obvi.



The light saber was blinding.



Girlies



Halloween was exhausting for the Duchess.



Halloween wouldn't have been Halloween without one of the children getting sick. Nathan obliged by throwing up all over the playroom carpet. I cleared off the floor and steam cleaned. Twice.
Matt came home and saw the state of the room and gasped. I heard him ask one of the children last night why the playroom looked like a boxing ring and if they set it up like that on purpose.
This is why I never clean: I don't want Matt to have to ask so many questions.
I only care about your well-being, Dear.
 

Autumn

 Esther was baptized the weekend we found out about Matt's job. What initially seemed like an incredibly rushed and stressful day ended up being a huge blessing. Everything turned out so beautifully and now we understand why it all had to happen that way.


The holiest person in our house.
Squeaky clean soul.

And God Bless Wegmans! Last minute cake turned out to be amazing.



Grandad brings out the best in the Child of Colic.



Practicing for Halloween



Third child to wear the dragon costume from Joseph's godparents.



Tom "prac-sticking" for Halloween too!

 

Our neighbor lets us borrow the leaves from his yard every year, since we have no trees. The children get so excited. I guess I was grateful that I didn't have to rake so much each year, but now it seems really sad that I have to take leaves from someone else's yard.

 

Esther has started babbling recently. She came with Matt and I to Michigan this past weekend and we got an incredible chance to bond with our fifth born. She started really trying to converse with Matt on our trip. It was different, not having one million distractions and four other children talking at the same time. She had our undivided attention, and it was delicious just being able to soak her up.

 

The four olders stayed with our parents and got spoiled out of their minds. Their time included, but was not limited to, 3 sleepovers, making homemade pancakes and pizza and monkey bread and pretzels, movies and popcorn at night, jumping it out on air mattresses, playing Lego Creator, picking out pumpkins, swimming lessons, hot-tubbing, daily Mass and a trip to Friendly's. It was a great time for all of us and we are still going through "re-entry" now, as it was our first time away from the children.

 Ever.

 

Esther is still up about every 1-2 hours at night. She has fussy periods (all day) and does cluster feeding (all day). I thought that maybe she was teething and then remembered that normal children don't get teeth for another 4 months. That's how tired I am. ;)

 

Nathan is huge. He is maturing so quickly. His vocabulary is growing by the day and he now finds that a good place to practice full sentences and arguments is in Church.

 

Thomas is just as sweet as ever, always making us laugh and asking us how we feel. He seems to be out of the trouble-maker stage and has entered the sensitive and wanting to please Mommy phase. I love it!

 

Joseph is working on his eye contact and has focused so hard on his conversational skills that now he just can't stop. He wakes up at 6am talking and falls asleep at 8pm talking. Matt and I are in awe of how far he has come. Having him homeschool with Sarah this year has been a huge blessing.

 

Sarah is too good to me. She is a huge help with the baby and has been so good about running around and getting things for diaper changes and bathtimes and meals. She loves to be busy and hates to be bored. When she is not schooling or drawing, she pretends she is a nurse. We all get checkups multiple times a day...hopefully this will ward off any bugs that venture toward our house this fall.

 

It's busy around here. Most days, I forget to return phone calls and drink water and go to the bathroom and pay bills. These children are so busy and full of life! They keep us young...and honest...and going to Church.

 Its a good life.

 

 

God Never Changes

Almost two weeks ago I receieved a call from Matt at work. He told me that GM had decided to close his site and relocate to Michigan. I laughed. Funny joke, Matt.

He wasn't kidding.

The past couple of weeks have been full, emotional, and exhausting with a side of terrible.

Post-partum Anne is a "No-Fun" Anne. Couple that with potential unemployment, sleepless nights, a questionable move to another state, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Even in these crazy moments of indecision and confusion, God's grace has me reeling.

"Let nothing disturb thee. Let nothing dismay thee. All things are passing. God never changes."
-Saint Teresa of Avila

3 weeks

How much time do I have for blogging these days?

I started writing this post and took these pictures over a week ago.

Now, it is 3:13 am and I am typing this one handed as I bounce her worshipfulness in my other arm.

I might be a while. 

 

We are just getting over the last runny noses of the first sickness/croup of the cold season.

 Hot showers, Vaporub, cold night air, up all nights... it has been a tricky ride for the past week.

School has taken a back seat, along with sleep for Mommy and housecleaning. Priorities, man!

However! I have some exciting news to share! No, not pregnant (yet). Give me some time.

 

 Esther turned four weeks old yesterday and we only just had to go grocery shopping and make our first meal last night. People have been so kind. My fridge and freezer have been stocked! Hot meals have been delivered to our door. Four whole weeks, and I haven't had to think of a recipe. SO, last night I made Matt wish for postpartum week two when I made grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner.

Sorry Matt. Welcome back to reality.

The Boys

 

 

How are the boys these days?  I realize I am in new baby mode, but I have no fear that my boys are getting the love, affection and attention that they so desperately need...from one another.

Desperate is the operative word.

 

Pleasing the Newest Pernot

Nathan is very sensitive to "Baby Estow".

He loves to rub her head and kiss her and count and name her body parts.

He also loves to try and make her laugh.

It hasn't happened yet, but he keeps trying!



Yes, he is reading her a book.

Favorite page

Holding it up so she can see the pictures in the book.

Trying on all his firefighter helmets...still working hard for that smile.

Sisters

"How is everyone adjusting?"

 

Well, the six of us who have been breathing this air for 2 years or more have been doing just fine. Thanks.

 

Miss Esther is struggling a bit.

 

 

Sarah and her new (very angry) dolly have a strange relationship.

For some reason, Sarah is under the impression that when Esther looks like an angry elf, she is most happy! 

And, if she's happy, then we should take more pictures!

 

And, plus, we got all dressed up in matching pjs!

Esther is coming to terms with being "Number Five".

Adjusting, for realsies.