Williams, Party of Five

It's beginning to look a lot like...Christmas!

2009-12-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I was able to get out all my Christmas totes and start decorating for Christmas. No small feat for me with Micah...but he has started napping for little bits at a time on his own. Anyway, I love this time of year, as most do I am sure...I don't decorate for any other season, and I really like to do it at Christmas.

Mike had to work night shift until Monday morning, so we didn't get the tree out until Tuesday (since he is a bit comatose the whole day when coming off night shift.)

The kids were thrilled...Mike was "thrilled" and Micah loved looking at the ornaments on the tree...we can forgo the gym this month, we just put him under the tree with some "safe" ornaments for him to reach for and grab.

I love watching the kids put up the ornaments and asking how old they were with this one, who gave them that one, and then asking if they can put mine up as well.

They are getting bigger and better at this, and my compulsion to go behind them and move them is getting smaller...though I did have to have a talk about a few being too close together!

We have an angel at the top of our tree this year. We rotate between an angel and a star...I love this angel. I bought her at a local drug store in WA the first year Mike and I were married...she makes my tree look so cozy with her raffia body. I love our tree. We don't have a "theme"...we put up what is given and collected over the years. The generic bulbs Mike and I bought our first Christmas have now been replaced with many "baby's first Christmas", souvenirs from the beach, St. Nicholas day gifts, and special ones the kids have made. I like to think our tree tells a story...it is all about us and how we went from a party of two to a party of six...I can't wait to open St. Nick's gift to Micah tomorrow and put up his first ornament.

I miss blogging...

2009-11-27T08:25:00.000-08:00

I blog...I do...it is just blogging in my head lately. See, I have this precious baby boy, who I think the world of...I still look at him and can burst into tears because I can't believe he is here and he is mine....

And for almost four months I have held him at just about every nap time. See, he loves me very much and would just like to have me hold him. All the time.

And, so, I blog in my head, which doesn't do much for my poor memory which seems to get worse every day. But I sure do love the snuggle time with my little Micah.

Today I am going to try to get this little guy to sleep on his own without me. It is not going so well as he is crying in his crib at this moment...and my other three keep reminding me "Uh, Mom, Micah is crying"....yes my dears I realize this....and it is hard....

So, I am going to blog for a moment to try to block out the fact my little miracle is in his own crib. crying....

Here is a glimpse of what our party of six has been up to:

Caleb received the White Star Award for Upward Soccer this season, which is the most Christlike award...we are so proud of him!..one of the cool part about this was he was nominated by someone who wan't his coach...

My little Elisa turned six...complete with a princess tea party the day before...
...and Rebekah keeps losing teeth, while waiting for many to come in...

and this little cutie...is almost 4 months old, laughs so hard, smiles so much and loves his hands and thumb...

We went to Nemo on Ice...

Micah got to meet Grandma (and Papa) Lacy

...and we celebrated Thanksgiving...and we are so thankful for this newest addition to our family...

From the mouth of a little boy....and God's providence...

2009-10-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I started going through the seven totes of clothes I have of winter clothes for the girls. (we are very blessed to have people hand down clothes to us and we have an abundance.) I was having the girls try on pants to see which ones would fit for this winter. One pair Rebekah tried on were way too short.
I said "Bekah, those won't work, you can see the top of your socks." To which Caleb said, "then just buy her longer socks!" Mike was so proud!

Last night around midnight I woke up having a chill down my back. I sat up, looked out my window and laid back down. A few minutes later I was woken (soory if that is the wrong word) up again and saw Mike looking down in Micah's cradle. Mike sleeps downstairs on the nights he has to work so the little guy doesn't keep him up and he can be coherent the next day. Anyway, after I screamed, since I wasn't expecting anyone in the room, he told me he was asleep but woken up because he felt something wasn't right. He looked over at one of the wall in the basement and there was smoke coming out of the socket.

He took it out and it was melted. We don't know why this happened, we don't even use that socket, but for some reason it began to smoke...and for some "reason" Mike was woken up to see it, and he was asleep in the basement the night it happened.

Caleb was brought upstairs and the ciruits were turned off downstairs...There wasn't a lot of sleep around our house between the two of us, but a lot of thanksgiving to God that we are safe.

Three beautiful things...

2009-09-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Sarah...for reminding me to not only think of three beautiful things today, but to post them...

Sunshine...on my shoulders makes me happy...especially in the fall, and especially after a week of rain and wondering if we would have to purchase a boat on Saturday with the flooding...

Smiles...Micah is smiling so much now...especially when he first wakes up...so precious

Silence...Micah and I have had a few car trips to ourselves lately, and when is is asleep, I have found I don't even turn onthe radio...silence is golden to me right now....

I do have to add one more...
Roadside assistance...I got my first flat tire on Saturday exiting I 40...so thankful my husband got roadside assistance with our new van...rain plus flat tire and newborn baby...not a good mix...

So, what are three beautiful things in your life this week?

Singin' in the Rain...

2009-09-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

Dark clouds started rolling in yesterday late yesterday afternoon, after we had had a beautiful sunny day. My kids were outside playing when the skies opened very quickly and it started to pour. Mike asked where they were and I thought maybe they had come back inside and I just hadn't heard them...then I look out my front door and see Bekah walking on our rock wall...in the rain...soaking wet.

I remember doing this as a child and loving it...yet it is nothing I had let my kids do. Why? I don't know...I get uptight about things I shouldn't and I guess that was one of those things...but I looked and they were having so much fun...so I grabbed my camera and wached them run, jump, twirl and leap in the rain...it was really fun!!

Once the thunder started, and they came inside, I asked them what would be a good rainy evening movie to watch together and Bekah said "Singin' in the Rain." She had learned a dance to one of the songs this summer and never seen the movie. I wasn't even sure I had it. But, I went through all my VHS tapes and sure enough, it was there! And the front cover said "Helen" on it. I had my Grandma's copy. As the movie started, I teared up remembering watching this with my Mom and Grandma as a little girl. We watched it, and many musicals together growing up. My tears soon turned to laughter as my kids watched Donald O'Connor sing "Make 'em Laugh" The same song that gets my dad rolling on the floor laughing every time and is all our favorite scene.

And now when I tell my kids "Moses supposes his toeses are roses..." they know what that means...I love remaking old memories into new ones with my kids.

Week in review...squeezing in a little blog time...

2009-09-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

For the past month, I have not been able to access blogger at all...

That is a month being out of touch with my blog people, and a month that I didn't get to share pictures of my sweet new little boy...

So, hopefully I am back now and will try to get all caught up.

6 weeks...that is how old my precious little boy is now....here are some pictures to catch up...

We started back to school very "loosely" 2 weeks ago, thanks to my husband getting it all started for me. Not only am I a bit bleary eyed in the morning, I have a little boy who loves to be held. All day. And I really love to...it just makes getting all school done a bit hard...but I know how quickly it will go...

Our first two weeks were so nice and slow paced. We just stayed at home and got done what we could. Slowly, our school year activities are creeping back in...and I realize even though I thought I had backed off some things, we are still in for a busy year.

We are back to piano...our first trip back there was quite adventurous with my transmission going out in my van...which led to us getting a new one since the other was on its last leg anyway...

Caleb and Bekah have started a geography and map making class at our local Montessori school on Tuesdays. That is Elisa's all kindergarten day with me.

Thursday we started back to scouts. This year is Caleb's first year as a Webelo,Bekah is a Tenderfoot 2, and Elisa is starting AHG as a Pathfinder. She said to me on Thursday, " Does this mean I really don't have to go in the nursery anymore during scouts?" She is very excited. She calls her group her class..."who is teaching my class?...which of my friends will be in my class?"

This is the first year I won't be a leader in AHG...and she is a bit put out by that, so I had to promise one year I would be her leader. This year, I will just enjoy Micah...and do whatever Sarah may call on me to do...

We also have started back to soccer...our first game is today. Elisa is playing for the first time, Caleb is on his fourth or fifth year, and Bekah...well....that is just too much running for her....

And during that game, I will be shooting pictures with my new camera that came yesterday...a Nikon D90 that I have wanted for a long time...

Soon the kids will be starting science classes at the Discovery Center, Caleb will be taking AMSE classes, and we will have swim lessons once a week...yup...I did a good job backing off on our activities this year...

Micah James...

2009-08-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

Our precious boy, Micah James, entered the world on Thursday, July 30 at 2:47 p.m.

And, despite wherever I went having people tell me, "oh you are so big you are going to have a big baby..." He weighed in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces...my tiniest baby, and was 19 1/2 inches.

It was a wonderful day, a great labor and delivery, and he is a wonderful blessing in out lives...

Party of five....

2009-07-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

For the past five and a half years, we have been a party of five...I thought I was so clever to name my blog and email address by the same name...I love my little party of five...One amazing husband and three kids who I think the world of.
Tomorrow I say good bye to party of five and Hello party of six...
It doesn't sound the same (thanks to the tv show I loved so much) and I won't be changing anything on my blog or email (too much work to notify everyone)

I feel like I have been waiting for this moment to meet this little guy, not for the past nine months, but for the past 18...when I lost our baby last year I wondered if I would get the chance again to be a new mommy....and when we found out we were having a boy, it all seemed complete.

So, tomorrow, I will be a mommy to for children I think the world of (I can't wait to see who this little guy looks like) and wife to an amazing husband. I have had my last full nights sleep for awhile...am prepared for the physical pain of labor, delivery, and nursing...and can't wait to hold this precious baby boy in my arms...

Please pray for us as we start this new journey with another child...we are ready!!

Belly photo shoot...

2009-06-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

So, I have never had "maternity" pictures taken before...I always thought I don't want to remember how big I actually get when I am pregnant!! But, this time around, I decided that I kind of do want to remember how amazing it is to have your stomach stretch out so far because there is a new little life in there...So my friend Sam came over on Saturday and offered to take some....

Now, here is my disclaimer:

This post contains pictures of my stretch-marked, many veined, and very hot stomach that started to develop red splotches in the 90+ degree heat....though I did make some black and white to try and mask that :)

Monday Memory: Helen Williams 1921-2000

2009-06-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

Nine years ago, I was sitting on my sister's couch feeding my baby Caleb, then 3 months old. I remember looking up at the clock and it was around 11:30 a.m., 1:30 Evansville time, and wondering what was happening back there. My Grandma was terminal with cancer and we had already said our goodbyes to her on the phone.
Not much later, Mom called, telling us she had died...right around 11:30 our time...

It is hard to believe I haven't had this woman in my life for the last nine years. I have had two more children since then, and another on the way. I think about how she would love watching my kids play and teaching them card games or yahtzee. She would probably make chocolate chips with them. It really makes me sad to think they will never know her.

She was widowed at the age of 54 when my Grandpa died of cancer. She found a job,bought her own house and car (a '77 Chevy Nova that didn't even have 100,000 miles on it when she died) When my mom and her siblings were growing up, she ironed for other people so she could send the kids to Catholic school. She had to bury her third child, Jim, after he drowned at the age of 16. And she was a woman who loved the Lord. She was up early every morning reading her bible, and then on to church.

My Grandma was my favorite person growing up. When we lived near her in Indiana, I loved it when it was my turn to spend the night with her and then go to work with her. She was a cook at the rectory for the priests of her church. They all loved her, and her cooking. (somehow that gene missed me)

Grandma taught me how to play cards, and loved Yahtzee. We would go over to her friends' houses and play games. She loved to dance and would take me with her...and she loved to bowl. She was a fun person to be around.

After we moved to Florida, I would spend my summers with her, and when I went away to college, I chose to go back to Evansville so I could live with her. She was the first person I told when Mike proposed to me. (I was living with her) She told us "you remind me of me and Grandpa."

She would giggle when I would get something in the mail from Mike after missing him so much. She would get aggravated at me when I wouldn't keep up my end of the deal of living with her, and my room would be messy. She couldn't tell a joke without giggling at herself half way through, and always made me laugh.

I often wonder what she would think about me now, nine years older, soon to be a mom of four, just like she was. I hope she would be proud of me. I would love to have her over for coffee and a game of Kings Corners, I think I will teach it to my kids today...

I love you, Gram and I miss you...

Week in Review...A week of firsts...

2009-06-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

It has been really busy around here, and most of it has gone on while Mike has been on what his work calls "hell week." That would be three 12 hour day shifts into three 12 hour night shifts...we don't see much of him during this week. That, and he was putting the finishing touches on hosting a big concert Thursday night.

Sunday started with the Flag Day parade. It was Elisa's first time in a parade. She is now old enough to be in American Heritage Girls with Rebekah, so they both marched representing AHG. Caleb was with the Cub Scouts. It was hot, to say the least. And they had to line up an hour early, and then wait a half an hour to start walking. By the time they got to me at the end of the parade, Elisa was holding Bess and Laurel's hands and smiling, Bekah looked at me like she may kill me for ever putting her in a parade...

Afterwards, we went to my sister, Beth's house and celebrated my niece, Maggie's birthday...

Monday started way too early for Caleb and I. He was going to day camp at Wesley Woods for the first time. We had to get up a little after 7 (very early for us), finish his paperwork, make sure he had everything in his backpack and head over to Sarah's, who, thankfully, took Caleb with her kids over to the camp.

I spent the day with the girls trying to find my way back through my living room. We had had new carpeting put in the kids rooms the Friday before, and were preparing to put the girls in the same room for the first time. So, I organized, threw away, and sorted through all things girl trying to figure out how to make this work. (still working on that)

When Caleb came home he said he had a great day but wanted to go to bed on time that night. Not five minutes later, Bekah came up to me and said, "C is for Caleb, and Caleb is asleep in my closet." Sure enough, he was passed out on the floor...

Tuesday, Elisabeth came over to help me clean. When she walked in the front door and saw the living room she said, "I'm leaving." We ended up sitting in the very clean, now little boy room folding clothes, while the girls were at a play date. Tuesday was also the first night the girls slept in the same room. Elisa had declared it "not fair" that her daybed was in Bekah's room, and she was sleeping on a mattress on the floor of her "old room" Surprisingly, they did a great job....

Wednesday, Bekah had her seven year check up...sigh...she is very healthy, for which I am thankful...and very tall for her age. She also decided to pull her first loose tooth on the top...her smile is forever changed.

Thursday, we had piano in the morning, and then the girls had another play date...I spent the time alone going to Walmart and and getting a cheescake ready for my friend Adele's baby shower, which I could not attend. Why could I not attend it? Because it was Feed Your Faith's first concert of the year! And it was so awesome! Decyfer Down, DecembeRadio, and Sanctus Real all played. It was a stressful week for Mike, but he did such a great job, it all came together, and they are estimating over 750 people were there! I got to help at the product tables, and watch via the tv screes in the lobby since I couldn't be in the sanctuary with little boy on board right now. Oh, and a very worn out Caleb came with me...he is the cutest at concerts...he just loves it!

Friday, we all tried to recoop from Thursday. Mike slept in, after having been awake for 36 hours the day before, going from a night shift to the church to get everything set up for the concert...

Which leads me to today...we (and by we I mean Mike) put up the new closet system in the girls' closet...and I must say he did a phenomenal job! Armed with level and drills and screwdrivers, he helped get the girls a little more organized...now hopefully I will find my living room floor again...

Tonight we went to the kids awards ceremony for baseball where Caleb was given MVP of his team, and had been nominated for most Christ-like for the season....Elisa got her first trophyand Bekah broke hers minutes after receiving it....

Next week...VBS and all the fun that comes with that!!

Guest Post---Mother's Day from Mike's point of view...

2009-06-04T13:57:00.000-07:00

...ok, so I have been thinking alot about the "miserable, hospital post" and I wanted to take the time to write "what REALLY happened"!!!

It all started with my plans for a wonderful Mother's Day. I had to work on The Day, so I did some serious planning for a VERY memorable post Mother's Day week. Here are all the things I did for Donna. After reading this, I'm sure you will agree that I went above and beyond!

I took Donna out to dinner with the family at a fabulous restaurant!
I arranged for her parents to come over to the house and watch the kids after dinner.
I reserved her a WONDERFUL room with a view of the Smokey Mountains for a 5 day retreat.
She was served EVERY meal in bed for the entire duration of her stay.
She had a bed all to herself...adjustable to sit up and lie down I might add.
No one ever complained about the 120 straight hours of HGTV.
I arranged to have a personal servant respond immediately every time she pressed the red button next to her bed.
Personal leg massagers were provided to lovingly rub her calves.
I got her lingerie, including fancy robe and panties.
I arranged, via e-mail, for flowers to be delivered to her bedside.
I took care of getting the kids transported to baseball games, classes, etc as well as having child care provided for her entire stay at her "sanctuary".
Because of all the "planning" I did, she had dinner's delivered to her home for 2 weeks after returning home from her Mother's Day retreat.

Now...who wouldn't want a Mother's Day like that? I think I did a fantastic job!

And that, my friends, is the rest of the story.

Mike

Well...I wasn't expecting that...

2009-05-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

A week ago I had a list made for Mike and I of things I wanted to accomplish by this weekend so we could have my (favorite) Aunt and Uncle stay with us, while other company was in staying at my parents. A week ago, I was getting caught up on my laundry...done and folded. A week ago I was cheering on my girls in a baseball game waiting to go out to dinner with our family to celebrate a belated birthday for Mike and Mother's Day for me....

What I wasn't expecting, was, at dinner falling over in pain and begging my family to finish. I had this pain that started as a low back pain and ended up a stabbing pain in the right side of my back. Mike was sure I had a kidney stone ( I think he was wishing it so I could feel how he did last month) By the time we got home I was curled up in bed with chills and on the phone with my doctor. When they didn't return the call in 30 minutes, Mike took me over to the hospital and the labor and deliver unit.

After observing me in triage (and getting me some demerol), they admitted me for observation and sent Mike home to get some rest. That started a big snowball effect over the next few days. First, they discovered that the bladder infection I have had since I have been pregnant moved to my right kidney. Second, that infection had become so bad that the cough I have had for over a month had turned into pneumonia, and I was only breathing at about 85% of room air, so they put me on oxygen. My OB at that hospital became nervous with these two combined and me being pregnant, so I was sent by ambulance over to UT where they deal with high risk pregnancies, as well as premies, if they would have to deliver me.

At UT, they found that my hemoglobin and platelets were low...my platelets were 80,000...normal is 200,000-300,000....and so I needed a blood transfusion. The transfusion actually helped me to feel better, and for the first time in days, I was able to move my legs in and out of bed instead of asking Mike to do it for me...that is to go to the bathroom, the only thing I was allowed to get up to do. (at this point it is Saturday, and I am begging for a shower but they said no) Oh, did I mention my blood pressure hovered aound 80/40?

Oh, here is one of my favorite parts...I tried to explain to one of the doctors how my body was achy from being in bed all day, and because I wasn't breathing well, my neck hurt from sleeping (if you want to call it that) sitting up. Next thing I know, I am on respiratory isolation because I may have swine flu. So, they tested me for influenza A and B and told me it would take 3 days for my swine flu test to come back. Later, they told me I was negative for both, and that you have to test positive for A in order to have swine flu.

By Sunday, they weaned me off oxygen to give me a chance at getting a shower...and I passed! I sat in the shower for over 30 minutes...it never felt so good. By Monday, my first morning by myself because Mike had to go back to work, I was starting to feel a bit more human...but the doctor who wanted me tested for the swine flu came to check on me. He told me my chest x rays were "unimpressive" to him. I asked him what that meant, and he said "well yout pneumonia wasn't as bad as I thought" I said that was a good thing...He also said "and I can't believe you don't have the flu, we are just WAITING for our first case of swine flu here"...sorry to disappoint you, dr....and then I made the mistake of trying to explain to him how my body is still tired and achy from being in a bed and sleeping sitting up....next thing I know...I am back on repriatory isolation, and infection control says it will take 2 weeks for my swine flu test to be conclusive....

Tuesday, I learned to keep my mouth shut, and when asked by both my doctors if I wanted to go home I said "YES!" I have been on about 5 different antibiotics, and who knows what other kind of medicine...but I am home, with 3 different antibiotics....so good to be home...

And the baby? We had an ultrasound and biophysical profile done on Friday and he scored 8 out of 8...and 2 other ultrasounds since then. He is looking great. I don't know how all this medication will affect him, I pray it won't. I thanked God every day I was in the hospital that I was pregnant for another day.

So, hopefully, he will hang out in me about 10 more weeks, and will be a healthy boy when I get to meet him...and my kidney's will behave....

Monday Memory...

2009-05-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

Oh, this would have been such perfect timing last Monday if I had remembered to blog this...but I didn't so...a week late here is my first Monday Memory, thanks to Smallworld.

20 years ago this month I was finishing up my freshman year of high school. I was 15 years old. My sister Beth, and I were good friends, and I was in love with New Kids on the Block. So, when I found out they were coming in concert on, gasp, a school night, I begged Beth to take me and my parents to let me go.

This was also a time when I was a good scapegoat for Beth. She was grounded a lot but was allowed to "go out" if it involved taking me somewhere. So, I got to spend a lot of time with her Senior friends that year because she was taking "me out" and then we would go out with them. And so, she agreed to take me and also brought along her friend Nichole.

I remember it was May 4, 1989, a Thursday night. I had gone to Ross to find the perfect outfit for the concert...a Debbie Gibson style skirt with leggings and hat and some green shirt to go along with it. I remember the arena, the Bob Carr, which was small compared to the arenas they would sing at even a year later. I remember Joe singing "Please Don't Go Girl" and thinking he was oh so dreamy. It was a really fun night (though Nichole really hated it) and the start of a three year long obsession for me.

What sticks out in my mind the most about this night was coming home and Beth, Nichole, and I trying to figure out the "Right Stuff" dance. They both had some final to study for, but we stayed up trying to figure out those "fancy dance moves" If you know the dance, you know....it really isn't that hard or that fancy....

I went on to see them about five more times in concert....skipping school to meet them, and not...meeting three of them at the airport, and getting after show passes to party with them, only to be denied access because my friend and I weren't 18...hmmmm...

Elisa...

2009-05-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

My little 5 year old....she lights up a room...and my life...

I love when she comes to say good morning to me and then kisses me and my belly before asking "can I watch my movie shows now?"
I love conversations with her...she knows so much being the youngest and learning from the older two. Usually when I am frustrated with Caleb and Bekah for not listening to what I have just read them she will chime in, "I know what a bayonet is mommy."

So, here are three awesome Elisa conversations that I had to blog about from the past week...I don't want to forget them...she is too precious...

I was fixing her hair one morning and she says, "Mommy, did you know that God knows how many hairs are on my head?" I said," yes" She said, "how many do you think a hundred million trillion? I bet if I am real quiet God will whisper it in my ear."
I said "God does talk to us....I don't know if we will know how many hairs are on our head or not, but He does talk to us in our hearts and through his word..."
She said, "I talk to him too. Like the time I got in trouble with you and had to go to my room. I set the timer to brush my teeth and then I didn't. I lied to you mommy, so I went to my room and talked to God and asked Him to forgive me."

The other day Caleb and Elisa were talking about clouds, Elisa said "Caleb told me clouds were made out of water droplets, is that true? Because I thought they were made out of fluff."

And last night:
I should preface this by saying she is pumped about the baby, and my ever growing belly....she loves to hug it, kiss it, and talk to the baby.
So, last night before se went to bed, she lifts up my shirt for her to do all of that and she giggled that my belly button is starting to be an "outsie" and she said, "wow Mommy, how big is he now? Have you been reading your books?" I said, "the books say he is about 15 inches." And showed her how big that was.
She said "wow, so he goes from the top to the bottom...oh, and all the way over here too." (and she pointed to my ever growing "love handles"
I said, "nope, that is just all the extra cushion he needs."

My friend Leigh recently told me her daughter Beccah wants to have a little girl like Elisa when she grows up...I think we all need a little Elisa in our lives...

The Snowball bush...

2009-04-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Last year when we moved in to our new house, my mom took me around the yard to tell me which plants were which, and which flowers were which...I am not good at that. There was one tree next to my deck that she couldn't figure out...neither could Sarah when I asked her. I was ready to cut it down because we want to expand our deck and, well this tree didn't look like it had a lot of life to it. But, both she and Sarah told me not do do anything until this spring when it would bloom

Yesterday I was out on the back deck and looked down and saw this flower coming off of the tree and sitting on the deck...I looked over and thought "this must be a snowball tree." We had one when I was growing up, and so did my grandma...I have always loved them. So I had to call my mom and tell her. She asked me if I remember the story of the snowball bush from when she was a baby...since I didn't, she told it to me again.

When my mom was born, my Grandpa Williams, Cleve was over in Germany fighting in WWII. He ended up being captured and was a prisoner of war. My Grandma was very optimistic he would return home and would say, "hopefully by the this holiday, or that special occasion, Cleve will be home." Her dad, my Grandpa Becker told her, "When the snowball bush is in bloom, Cleve will be home." My Grandpa ended up making friends with a German guard who helped him escape. And that year, just after my mom turned one (he had never seen her), and when the snowball bush was in bloom, my Grandpa made it home. And when he did, he wanted his picture for the newspaper taken in front of the snowball bush.

Here is a letter he wrote to my mom on her first birthday....

He died when I was not quite two years old. I don't remember him, but he will always be one of my biggest heroes....

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T17:43:00.001-07:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

My three little people with our Easter lilies in memory of my Grandma, and our baby we lost last year, Gabriel

Cecelia Grace...

2009-03-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today I became an Aunt for the 9th time...and my sister became a mommy for the 6th, giving birth to her second daughter, Cecelia Grace....

Happy Birthday, Caleb!!

2009-03-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

9 years ago, Mike and I became parents to our Caleb boy...what a blessing he is in our lives!

Caleb also wanted his party at Tumblebears ,and got the added benefit of having his best buddy, Duncan spend the weekend with us since his parents were out of town celelbrating their 20th anniversary....little did I know, I would accumulate 2 more little boys who wanted to spend the night too!! It was a fun weekend...and the first time we have had a big sleepover...the boys were so awesome...

On the trampoline...this party was a bit more wild than Bekah's with all these boys..but we had a great time!

Caleb and Logan...best cousins and best friends...

Caleb and his newest stuffed animal...Jake the snake...

My crew for the night....6 kids...can't believe we did that...and that they were all so good!

Bekah's birthday weekend...

2009-03-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Happy 7th Birthday, Rebekah girl!!

We started celebrating Bekah on her birthday, and followed it with two more days of celebration with family who couldn't join us on Saturday...

Happy birthday, sweet girl...how time goes by...

Bekah had her party at Tumblebears with lots of friends...we are wrapping her up in the parachute to spin her around...

Some of her good friends, Anne and Emma

Jumping rope...

Daddy and Caleb getting in on the jump roping!

We celebrated at Aunt Beth's the next day since she couldn't be at her party...They hadn't celebrated Elisa's birthday either, so we had a party for all three kids....(since Caleb is coming up on a birthday)

And finally at Grandma and Papa's the next night...They were out of town on her birthday...Bekah made the cake and decorated it as part of her Baking badge for AHG

Grandma made new clothes for Bekah's doll..the nightgown matches the one Grandma made her hits winter....

It's a.....

2009-03-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

What a blessing today has been for me. A year ago I was heartbroken, having lost a baby we named Gabriel the month before...I had wanted another boy so bad for our family...

This year when I found out that I was pregnant, I wasn't even concerned about the sex of this baby...girl or boy...didn't matter...I just wanted to get through each day and still be pregnant.

Then there is my son. When I was pregnant with Elisa and he was 3, he told me, "Mommy I prayed that God would give me a brother, but I know he is going to give me another sister." (we didn't find out the sex until she was born) And I think he has been praying for a brother since. Even when I didn't think I wanted anohter child, he would pray for a brother. So, my heart wanted so bad for him to get a brother and hear the words "It's a boy" today at my ultrasound.

What we heard was...."well, there are some boy parts right there!!!" Caleb was behind me in the room so I didn't get to see his face, but Mike did...he said he lit up...! And I, of course, cried! How blessed I am to have been given two boys and two girls...what I wanted even when I was a little girl...and the chance to be a new mommy again...And I thought how awesome God is that he heard the prayers of a precious little boy who has been praying for years for a brother...

So, here are my four!! children...though one is still in a picture...we will meet HIM!! in about 21 weeks!! God is good...and our baby boy is healthy!

(the girls really are excited...but look who has the biggest smile!)

February....

2009-02-27T06:07:00.000-08:00

Yippee! tomorrow is the last day of February. It has become my least favorite month of the year. And, I never seem to blog much during the month because, well there isn't much going on around here during February.

Well, except for this....

My Aunt, Uncle, cousin Julie and her husband David came over from N. Carolina to visit with their litlle boy, Lincoln. This was fun for me because my cousin is 10 years younger than me and we have never had a lot in common...now she is a mommy and we had a great time talking and getting to know each other better...

and this....

Our American Heritage Girls had a Father Daughter dinner dance the day before Valentines Day...Here are Mike and Rebekah getting ready to leave. They had so much fun..he brought her back in asleep on his shoulder...a very sweet night for the two of them...

oh yeah...and this...

We got last minute tickets to Riverdance thanks to Smallworld...It is my favorite broadway production...and my kids loved it too!

Last year February meant the loss of a life in me and I could barely function through the rest of the month....then just when I finally thought it was over....I wake up and low and behold it was leap year, and on February 29, Mike came in the house before going to work because he couldn't find our car. The one I parked at the top of the hill the night before. And apparently forgot to put onthe emegency break. And was now parked in our neighbors deck a bit down the hill....but enough on the hill so that we had to have it towed back and then driven down the hill....

Tomorrow ends the month! Yeah, which means March is almost here, and is birthday month around here...and one of those birthday's just happens to land on the first day of spring....hopefully I will be more inspired to blog...

Snow, take two...

2009-02-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday started with a trip to the doctor in the rain. Elisa was up the night before with a bad, dry cough and sore throat and fever. We had to skip our Monday classes and head over there instead to make sure she was ok and wouldn't get someone else sick! Seems she just has a bad cold... Our pediatrician has also become a friend over the years and I coach his daughter on the same cheer squad as my girls. I asked him if Elisa should go that night and he said, "I don't think we will practice. It is really snowing out there." What? Snow? Again? Here? We left the room and went to pay...it was amazing what an hour of snow can do! Oh my! The cars were covered..trees beautiful...and it wasn't letting up!

Both kids said " Can we play in the snow?", while we were checking out. (side note, Caleb also had a cough...Bekah got to go on with a friend to Monday Fun) I said, "no, we are here because you aren't feeling good...and as your mom, I don't think it is a good idea." The nurse said, "and as your nurse I don't think it is either!" Thank you, Ginger...

So they didn't get to play...yesterday...but today we bundled up and had a great time...

An Elisa-ism

2009-01-30T05:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I went downstairs to wake Mike up about 11...a.m., not p.m. He had come home from work around 7:30 that morning and wanted me to get him up so we could go to lunch together. He sleeps in Caleb's room when he works at night, since Caleb sleeps in the basement and has no windows.

Elisa heard me come downstairs and ran into the room when she saw Mike was awake. First, I have to say that Elisa knows how to light up a room and make you feel loved. It could be five minutes, five hours, five days since she has last seen you and she lights up with a big smile and big dimples. She just makes you feel so loved. So, she runs in to see Mike and I, and soon after in comes Bekah.

Mike says, "I have my three princesses here with me. No, make that one queen and one princess."

Elisa says, " Yes, Daddy, Mommy is the queen, Bekah and I are the princesses, and Caleb is the servant!."

Of all the stupid things....

2009-01-27T18:09:00.000-08:00

The day started out good enough...I didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to pee, that is a plus for me right now, and I got to sleep until 8:30. Today was the first day of a new class Caleb gets to take over five days at a local Montessori School. I got up and did all that I do and decided since I am less than 10 minutes away, and am really lazy in the mornings, I would just put a jacket on over my jammies, which are sweats, and run Caleb to the school and get back home to the girls (Mike had just gotten home from work) No bra, no makeup...just in and out.

Did I say it was pouring rain? Oh, well, it was POURING. I took the van because his seat is already in there, and off we went. When I got there I decided to park close to the building and run in. I chatted with some friends and got back in my car. My friend, Tammy was parked next to me, and waved me to go...and I tried, but my wheels just started spinning. Tammy's too. See...with all the gravel around us, Tammy and I were "smart enough" to pull forward just enough to get stuck in the mud. Zach ,the teacher at the school was so nice about it...the lady helping him...she wasn't so thrilled with us...

So, for the next hour, the kids, and teachers at the school shoveled, wheelbarrowed,and pitch forked mulch under out tires and cars to help push us out. It worked for Tammy's little civic...not so much for my big ol' van. And so, Tammy took me home so I could call a tow truck...we are wet, cold...and did I mention I didn't put on a bra this morning...and we headed back.

Five minutes and $50 later, the tow truck got me out...and two hours after I dropped Caleb off, I went home.

This was supposed to be my snuggle and read to the girls days. It ended up with me reading one chapter out of a book, get them lunch and grab a nap before I needed to shower, get back to Caleb,and head to work.

Just another Donna trick for our car. I am pretty good at them by now...and luckily I have a great, understanding husband who laughs at me and says "these things happen."