His Cheatin' Heart

I should be used to his wandering heart by now, but it always seems to catch me off guard.  It starts off innocently enough, a little comment here and there.  Then come the furtive glances at his phone, always aware and connected.  Updates from all possible means of technology.  By Thursday, his plans are starting to form for the weekend: how best to indulge in his leather and chain fetish.

Like a wino on a binge, this new love consumes his thinking.  Conversation, chores, and adventures all revolve around the mistress.  And she's a clever one with her classy little monogram.



She draws him in year after year, but its the same old story. She'll play his heart for a few months, teasing him week after week.  There's always a climax, a week of wild play.  And then she's gone, leaving him high and dry once again.

But for better or for worse, I'll stand by my man.  He'll eventually come to his senses (at least for a few months!).

Back to School

There's just nothing like going straight from vacation to starting school.  But that's what we did this week.  And considering the full Week of Vices, detox wasn't really that bad.

Monday morning we started out at our home-based learning center (a.k.a. The Kitchen Table) but we were excited to once again join our friends at our weekly co-op (that dash is really important).  Despite the hassle of getting everyone out the door, it has been a rich blessing in our lives.



Andrew - 9 years old - 4th grade

Stephen - 7 years old - 2nd grade

Matthew - 5 years old - Kindergarten

Jonathan - 3 years old - Preschool

Josie - 2 years old - Nursery

The morning went really well.  The big kids like their classes and their tutors are great.  Jonathan had been making plans for what he was going to do to his classmates (Hello, my name is Julie, and my son is the class bully), but apparently he was able to control himself and made it through the morning without me being called to his class.  When I told him how proud I was of him, he said, "Well, I was only a little bad."  At least the boy is truthful.

 

Week One down; 35 more to go!

On Having Six Children

But we thought perhaps the G.B. - it is short for Generous Benefactor - would not like it if there were so many of us.  I have often noticed that it is the worst of our being six - people think six is a great many, when it's children.  That sentence looks wrong somehow.  I mean they don't mind six pairs of boots, or six pounds of apples, or six oranges, especially in equations, but they seem to think you ought not to have five brothers and sisters.

The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit

LEGO: The Three Way Car Crusher

 

or The Junk Yard Machine.

Back to the Grind

If detoxing from vacation isn't hard enough on its own, we decided to throw in resuming studies, too.  Personally, I'm setting my expectations kinda low to begin with by settling for B's and C's (vitamins and caffeine are a mom's best friends).

 

All my good intentions to make some rudimentary plans while traveling came to nothing.  But a friend once told me, she doesn't use curricula that requires planning; she just picks books where she can do the next thing.  We've got that covered but I still like a gameplan (even though it never works out!).

My afternoon planning time has been curtailed by a certain young lady with charming smiles and witty interjections.  I'd much rather kiss these cheeks than create a detailed agenda for the year; it'll all come together anyway but these baby days fly by quickly.

Katherine at 6 Weeks

 

She really doesn't have a strange deformity to her ear - simply my hand supporting that wobbly head.  Those sweet smiles are really too hard to catch especially on a phone.

Katherine at 5 Weeks

Bad baby acne but lovely first smiles.

Ready to Go

This is what happens when your bed gets folded up and packed in the van.

 

 

I hope she doesn't mind - it's all for a good cause.

We're off to the beach - a week with grandparents, an aunt & uncle and lots and lots of cousins (hopefully lots of sand, sun, and seafood, too).

Katherine at One Month

So new and yet it feels like she's always been here.

 

 

In that first week Matthew would coo over her and say, "I just love your new baby!"  (pause)  What is its name?"  Katherine.  "Oh, oh, Katherine...I forgot." 

 

 

Jonathan needs some work on his pronouns as he often refers to her as "It."

 

This little girl has taken up her place in our home and completely stolen our hearts.

My Half Dozen

I forewarned them that I wanted a group picture.  And, afterwards, I told them I had only one complaint: there were too many good pictures from which to choose.

 

 

I think it was a first.  No complaints (after they changed their shirts).  Nary a tear was shed.  Two minutes and a dozen shots later, we were good to go.  Wonders never cease.

Look Alike


I remember talking to my dad while we were still in the hospital and he asked the inevitable question, "Well, who does she look like?"  I generally have a hard time with this because most babies look alike to me (the exception was Jonathan who had that crazy hair which was a dead giveaway).  I explained this to a nurse who said, "Just give it a day or so and you'll see."

Well, as we were waiting hours (literally) for the doctor to discharge me, I held Katherine and suddenly it was clear: she looks just like Matthew.  I pulled out his photo album when I got home, and sure enough: she's the spittin' image of him.

See for yourself.

Matthew

Katherine

 

Katherine

Matthew

Katherine

Matthew

She's already working on her own funny faces. 

 

I hope she gets his spunk and confidence, too.

The Girls

Can I even describe the thrill in my heart the moment I first realized that I could say The Girls?!

 

Josie - 1 week

 

Before I was even pregnant, Stephen would randomly say, "It would be nice if Josie had a sister."  And once I knew I was expecting, I thought so, too.  (There may or may not have been some prayers offered indicating such).

 

Katherine - 10 days

Now that she's here, I can dream...of girly rooms and matching dresses and doll houses and dress up clothes and crafts and tea parties and so much more.

Sibling Love

 

 

 

 

Isn't She Lovely?

Isn't she lovely?

 

 

Isn't she wonderful?

 

 

Isn't she precious?

 

 

We have been Heaven blessed. 

 

I can't believe what God has done.

 

 

Through us He's given life to one.

 

 

Isn't she lovely?

 

 

 Made from love.