On the Homefront

The beautiful 5 year old.

Oh my goodness, how can you be five already?  I know every parent says this, but it really does not seem like that long ago I was carrying you inside me and wondering what life would be like with two children.  I told everyone that I did not care whether you were a girl or a boy, but deep down I wished and prayed (yes, I actually asked God for this!) that you would be a girl so that Therese would have a sister close in age.  My prayer was answered!  You have been a beautiful, fun and energetic little lady since the day you were born.  I recall being slightly concerned when, as a toddler, you would not sit on my lap for more than one book.  You thought exploring your surroundings was much more important!  Well, now you can definitely sit for longer periods and you love listening to stories and books, but you still have a vivacious spark and desire to be “doing” all the time!  Often my prayer these days is “Dear Jesus, help me keep up with Myriam.”  Your daddy and I love to watch you with young children and babies.  Your joy is palpable when you have a young one in your arms.  Monica was only a week old when you asked if God would give us another baby soon!  Although I am posting this a day late, Daddy and I want to say we love you and Happy Birthday!

Facts about Myriam:

• Favorite Book:  Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Favorite Food:  Tacos
• Favorite Sport: T-ball
• Favorite Saint: Saint Elizabeth (Our Lady’s cousin)
• Favorite Hero or Heroine from literature: Snow White (she loves this book)
• Favorite Board Game: Connect Four
• Favorite Game to play with Siblings: Freeze Tag
• Favorite Pastime:  Play with my sister Monica
• What I am looking forward to about being 5:  I can go off the diving board at the pool.  I can play new games like T -ball.

Birthday Menu:

Breakfast: Baked oatmeal, bananas, orange juice and milk.

Birthday brunch: Sausage-Egg casserole, Vegetable-Egg casserole, spinach quiche, chocolate chip banana bread, pumpkin bread, veggie tray, fruit salad, clementines and feta/cranberry/walnut salad. Orange juice and kool-aid for beverages.  (This might seem like a lot of food, but Myriam’s birthday fell on a Saturday- February 26th- and we had a small party to celebrate BOTH the girls getting older this month.)

ICE CREAM CAKE for dessert

Mommy's homemade ice cream cake

Dinner: Tacos

Uncle Mike and Monica

Uncle Mike was able to squeeze in a quick visit while attending a conference in Virginia.  This was the only quiet moment of his time with us.

All smiles

… and we are loving every minute!

Brendan swings high

Therese practices hitting

Brendan and Monica

Birthday Buddies

A nature hike on an unseasonably warm day adds to a pretty perfect birthday that included: French toast breakfast, then Mass, then piano and history narration  (before Mom agreed that schoolwork could be put aside for the day).  We enjoyed bacon and eggs for lunch before heading off to the final skating lesson.  The girls got high marks on all their skills and asked to take more lessons.  Then we headed over to Brookside Nature Center for a hike because the day was too beautiful and none of us wanted to go home yet.  Then we had a steak dinner followed by peppermint ice cream pie (new recipe that Mom made up the day before).

Monica in the ERGO enjoying the hike (best spot in the house!)

Sisters run ahead to explore

Brendan looking for frogs and insects (unfortunately many things are still hibernating- but he is determined to find a frog)

Happy to be outside

Peppermint Ice Cream Pie (doesn't look too appetizing in this photo, but it was yummy)

Therese blows out her candles

Aunt Karen with Therese and Myriam

Aunt Karen and Big Anthony surprised us on Sunday with a fun, edible activity to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Dipping in the chocolate

Strawberries are the perfect partner for all that chocolate!

Hard at work- dipping AND tasting

All the industry in the kitchen

Time to fill the trays...

Thanks Aunt Karen and Big Anthony!

Therese in one of our "ice castles"

These photos are from the storm a few weeks ago that took away our electricity for three and a half days.  The evening it started to snow it took Tim 8 HOURS to get home!  I felt so bad for him… I was sitting in the dark at home waiting for him and I was a little nervous when I woke up on the couch at 11:30 PM and he was still not home.  He made it home safely by midnight, but he had left the office at 4 PM.   We watched our thermometer drop over the next few days and it hit the lowest at 42 degrees.  It was cold enough in the house to keep the milk on the counter!  We were blessed by wonderful friends (Thank you, Pat and Elena!) who invited us over for dinner on Friday and then let us use their house all day on Saturday while they were not home.  They tried to convince us to spend the night, but we thought we would all sleep better in our own (very cold) beds.

The ice was so heavy it pulled our Crape Myrtle to the ground and made a great fort for the kids!

A different view of the Crape Myrtle in front of our house

Therese takes the hill

Myriam helps dig the car out- at least our road was plowed by Day 2 of the storm

Close up of the icy branches

As I am posting this the forecast is predicting 60 degree temperatures for this week.  What a difference a couple of weeks makes!

Big Girl- 7 Years Old!

It is hard to believe that seven years ago I was crying and daddy was crying and we were smiling at the same time because you (finally) decided to join us after too many hours of labor (and 10 days past your due date).  Wow- seven.  I admit that most of the time it doesn’t seem like that long ago and  Your hopes and dreams are often spilled out in long soliloquies- you are never at a loss for words (except when your nose is buried in a book).  We have loved watching, growing and learning with you these first seven years.  How much you have taught us about life, love, sacrifice and being parents! I am sure these are just the “beginner lessons” but I can honestly say I am looking forward to the rest of them!

Enjoying french toast and fruit

Facts About Therese: (all these are given to me in her own words)

Favorite Book:  The Odyssey, The Fellowship of the Ring (series read aloud to her by Daddy), Saints stories and books about God

Favorite Food:  Tacos, French toast casserole, bacon, steak

Favorite Sport: Ice Skating and Swimming and Soccer

Favorite Saint: Saint Therese

Favorite Hero or Heroine from literature: Hercules and Odysseus, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Favorite Board Game: Monopoly and Clue

Favorite Game to play with Siblings: Freeze Tag

Favorite Pastime:  Playing with friends, reading and seeing my God sister

Lighting the breakfast birthday candles

What I am looking forward to about being 7:  Playing softball, First Communion and First Confession

Siblings ready to celebrate

The meal: French toast casserole and fruit salad

Birthday Menu (chosen by Therese)

Breakfast: French Toast Casserole, Strawberry and Grape fruit salad

Lunch: Bacon and Eggs

Dinner: Steak, Homemade Oatmeal Bread, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Dessert: Peppermint Ice Cream Pie