Tommy Turns Ten!

Esther has met a true bosom friend in Clare, and little Sarah has become so dear to all of us. It has been a treasure to have met so many little GIRLS here in Michigan.

Sarah and Charlie: matching hair/faces/temperaments.

Mom's big helpers

Matt, being himself

Tommy's birthday was perfect.

 The weather was mild, so he stayed outside playing with the neighborhood children until after dark. 

He asked for this hat, which is intended to make him look like a magician...but he really resembles Abe Lincoln. I laugh heartily every time he wears it.

His big gift was an basketball hoop. It took us 3495827458927 times longer to set it up than the box would have had us believe. 

But!

This game has been used EVERY SINGLE DAY since the end of January, and I think we have some budding Scottie Pippins on our hands.

Tommy requested homemade pizza and cookie cake.

 A Ray themed birthday.

And when we lit those candles, we singed the poor cartoon flying squirrel.

(it was hilarious)

dab

dabbing shirt

HE'S A TEN, ALL AROUND!

It's A Girl!

Halfway through January, in the midst of a ton of personal turmoil and another round of layoffs looming on the horizon with General Motors, we had some very exciting news! 

The Edwards came over and stayed with the children so Matt and I could go get a sneak peak at our new baby!

Both girls have worn this shirt so far, and it was Esther's first priority to find it and get it into the washing machine and ready!

I told the children months ago, with 100% certainty (call it mother’s intuition, familial history, statistical probability, or whatever 🙄), that our new babe was a boy. We’ve all been calling the baby “Wally”. So when we had our ultrasound and the technician revealed our perfectly healthy and beautiful baby GIRL, we were floored. Needless to say, the children were even more shocked than Matt and I. It took Esther the longest to realize that she *DID* actually bite into a pink cupcake- and that it wasn’t a mistake.
To say we are thrilled to pieces would be an understatement. 🌈👶 Baby girl, you are SO LOVED. ❤️
#ivebeenwrongeverytime #allthefacepalms
#butsomuchJOY

A New Year- A New Start

We ended 2018 with a visit from Matt's brother and wife, and began 2019 with a visit from my family.

Both visits were relaxing and rejuvenating. We are so grateful for good friends, love, and peace.

Sarah and Joseph began the New Year with a huge change: Mom let them leave the house! 

They started Youth Group at Immaculate Conception in Lapeer, and LOVE IT. They have made a lot of friends and really enjoy playing the parish priest, Father Hurley, in foosball.

#22

The children have been a little sassy when it comes to their school papers. It's been a long year. We had a pep talk and feel like we can push through the second half of the school year, but in the meantime, I'll continue to laugh in secret at their tests and compositions.

There are many, many things I love about living in Michigan; the SUNSHINE is probably my favorite thing. The house is so bright and I cannot get enough of the sunrises and sunsets right outside my window. Sometimes the children and I linger at the breakfast table, just to sit in awe of God.

 

 The children have not ceased making huge messes, but I am encouraging them to clean up after themselves...and pushing the independence that they've been asking for, for so long.

 We met a wonderful family close by that tolerates us just enough to spend free time and do all sorts of activities together! The Edwards are a blessing to all of us. 

Now, if I could tell our girls apart...