Today was the start of our Christmas celebrations. My parents went to Christmas Eve mass with us and then came over to the house for dinner. They left just before we put he Shecklets to bed so the house could get prepped for Christmas morning.
Nana and Papa are coming over tonight after we all go to mass. The Shecklets are baking Papa’s favorite gumdrop cookies for dessert. (Great Grandma Fran’s recipe.)
Little #4 crashed out on her big brother’s lap this afternoon while visiting Nana. Little #1 is so good to his siblings.
The 3 older Littles love playing with the dress up clothes/costumes in our basement. It’s not surprising then, that the idea of collecting candy just for dressing up is sheer brilliance in their minds. I’m pretty sure that the level of excitement doesn’t stem from the possibility of eating everything they bring home. They purely enjoy dressing up, greeting the neighbors, collecting, combining, and then sorting what they were so generously given.
This year, our Littles went as a mummy, baby dragon, cowgirl and a gnome. It was so much fun seeing Little #2 wear the mummy costume that Uncle Tony wore as a kid. Little #4, the dragon, was the third Shecklet to don the warm, fuzzy, green outfit. (Little #3 was too little her first Halloween and too big her second.) We put a pink bow on her head to make her a “girl dragon.” Our cowgirl was a superhero with her pink mask, and our garden gnome was grinning from ear to ear, but you couldn’t quite see it through his long, white beard.
Trick-or-treating began after school when we stopped by “the loft” to visit Papa, Mr. Eric and Uncle Tony. Auntie Kristin also came by and brought the kids a treat. From there, we went to Nana & Papa’s house to run up the front sidewalk and ring the doorbell. After a few group photos and adding non-edible treats to their buckets/bags, we loaded back up and drove home to get ready for round three in our neighborhood.
Two of our friends joined us for the fun. The guys walked the kids door-to-door and the ladies took turns holding Little #4. Little #3 joined us back home after making it around most of our block. From what I was told, the boys made mad dashes between houses as they went around the rest of the neighborhood. It was cool and slightly misty out tonight, so I’m sure running helped keep them at least a little warm.
Upon their return, Little #1 & Little #2 dumped their candy into one pile. Little #3 didn’t want to be left out, so she added hers to the mix. Then, being the organizers that they are, they set to work on sorting the candy by type. Who knew that Halloween could double as math exercise?
We ended our nightly prayers by praying for the people who handed out candy tonight. It was a great way to talk to the Littles about what generosity means and how we can in turn be generous to others – and not just when it comes to candy. I love to see their little hearts so open to such a concept.
We took a trip to Jake’s parents’ house today and were able to enjoy the beautiful weather! The kids got to trick-or-treat at Grandma and Grandpa’s house and then we headed to the apple orchard where my mother-in-law works ever fall. The older three Littles loved checking out the animals, climbing the hay bales, playing on the wooden train, going for a tractor ride and navigating the corn maze. Little #4 wasn’t very enthralled with taking group photos with her siblings, but we tried.
Such a fun day! Little #3 thoroughly enjoyed turning 3. I love that our friends and family came to help make her birthday extra special.
Dear Little #3,
It’s hard to believe how fast two years has gone! You have grown so much in the past year. We love to watch you try new things, say new words, and follow your brothers around. You always want to do what they’re doing. However, you definitely have shown us you are a girl. You have opinions on what clothes you want to wear, love to play with your dolls (feed them, change them, carry them around,) and you love to play with my hair. One of my current favorite phrases of yours is, “I like your hair.” (It sounds more like, “I yike yours hair.”) You say this with your thumb in your mouth as you grab on to my ponytail. It’s very sweet.
Your birthday was celebrated three times this year. Daddy was out of town on your actual birthday, so we texted him photos of you eating the yummy German chocolate cake that Nana brought over for us to eat. Once he got back into town, we had a party for you (at the rental house we’re living in for a few months) and celebrated with Nana & Papa, Grandma & Grandpa, Great Grandma Lois & Papa Dale, Aunt Kari, Aunt Larissa, Uncle Jason & Bri, and Michelle & Angelo. You had fun opening your presents (so did your brothers) and we topped the evening off with cake & ice cream. A week later, Uncle Tony & Kristin came over for dinner and we got to celebrate again 🙂 This time, we dined on cupcakes!
You are going to make a great big sister! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for you in the coming year!
XOXO,
Mommy
We’ve had the Easter Bunny living in our attic for several years. The boys have seen him a couple of times, but I always forget to bring him out on Easter. While purging a bunch of stuff from the attic this afternoon, I decided to pull ‘ol Mr. EB out from the corner and place him in the rocker in the boys’ room.
Backing up a bit, my in-laws took the kids for the day so Jake and I could get a few things done around the house. Jake worked in the yard, I went in to the office for a couple of hours and then did some purging of things we don’t use/don’t need any longer. We took advantage of being kid-free and went to get something to eat. When we returned, the kids were back, bathed, and reading with Grandma Patti. Mr. EB was also snugly tucked in on the floor of the boys’ room.
Mr. EB was a gift from Sammy, my adopted grandma. We grew up living away from our other grandparents. Sammy over-flowed the grandparent void that Tony and I had with love, attention, & simple everyday experiences that left a life-long impression on both of us. Knowing I can share some of her with my own kids makes my heart smile. I’m sure she’s smiling down on all of us from Heaven, too.
We roused the crew at a very unusual time this morning. We had breakfast and were out the door in time to start greeting people at 7am for Easter morning mass. The kids did a great job saying “Happy Easter” and handing out mass leaflets. I was really impressed with the way Nolan took ownership of his “job.” And Lincoln was a super “leaflet restocker” for us.
After mass, we went home and treated the kids to orange rolls for breakfast. After a failed attempt at getting Ingrid to nap earlier than usual, we headed to my parents’ house for an early Easter dinner. We dined on ham, scalloped potatoes, sweet potato casserole (a favorite of mine), cranberry relish & cabbage slaw (also a fave and recipe of my Great Aunt Frances’.)
Later in the afternoon, Tony & Kristin joined us and were so sweet to our kids, as usual. They have such a knack for entertaining them. They “decorated” the sun room and dining room, which seems to have become somewhat of a tradition when they’re together at my parents’ house. The kids also smothered icing all over enhanced and then ate the rice krispy bunny that Tony made them. Kristin put together the cutest Easter gift bag for them, complete with stickers, fruit strips, and grow your own grass & flower kits.
Thank you Lord, for giving us the opportunity again this year to be together as a family and celebrate the ultimate sacrifice Christ made on the cross. He is risen! Happy Easter!
Dear Lincoln,
I am sure we say this every year now, but I cannot believe you are 4 years old! It seems like such a short time ago that your daddy and I were preparing for your arrival. Your entrance into this world is one that will always be extra-special because of the fact that you were born on Easter Sunday. So in a way, your birthday gets remembered twice each year. Once on your “real” birthday and again on Easter, because it was such a special day for us.
You have grown more this year than ever. Gone are the toddler features you had when you were three. You are a full-fledged preschooler! (Complete with a shorter haircut than you had last year 🙂 ) You love to ask questions and discover the meanings of new words. Your handwriting is impressive as is your ability to remember what you learn at school. I am so thankful for the Godly instruction you have twice a week. You’ve even taught me a few things!
Some of your favorite things include riding your scooter, playing in the pool at the gym, casting with your fishing pole, playing in the sandbox, and constructing forts & buildings with your brother. You also love your little sister so much!
We celebrated your birthday by taking you to the science museum to see the “real pirates” exhibit. Your favorite part was the movie in the beginning, but you also liked raising the flag, looking through the periscope, and the treasure chest of pirate booty. After the museum, we went out for pizza and then went home to get ready for your party.
Family & friends came at 6:30 and the weather was so unseasonably warm that we had everyone gather outside in the driveway. That was a first! I’m guessing there won’t be too many years where you’ll be celebrating your birthday outside without a jacket. You requested a “volcano cake” so I attempted to come through for you. I made two angel food cakes, placed them on top of each other and dumped two cans of cherries on top of them. You loved it, which is all that counts! (It actually got rave reviews from everyone else too, and there was only one piece to spare at the end of the night.
As if cake & ice cream aren’t enough on a 4th birthday, you asked your dad if we could also have s’mores. So your awesome daddy brought the fire pit up to the front, started the fire, went to get s’mores ingredients and we had round two of sugary treats. I have to say, you were in rare form when we finally put you to bed.
You are a sweet, smart, spunky boy, Lincoln. We love you so much! And we’re looking forward to watching you learn and grow in the coming year.
XOXO
Mommy & Daddy
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I found this list of questions on another mom’s blog and thought I would start a new tradition of asking you and your siblings to answer them every year around your birthday, just for fun.
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