Unmissables

Sometimes, I forget that I have the life I have for SO LONG dreamed about!!! Last time I posted pictures of the kiddos, Cousin Emily commented on how much it reminded her of the drawings I used to do of "future children."

 

Just because I didn't have the imagination back then to include w/ my dreams the struggles that so often accompany them, I think I too often miss out on really enjoying what's in front of me.  But as they said on "Call the Midwife" tonight, "WHAT IS JOY IF IT'S NOT RECORDED?" Here is a taste of what should have me pinching myself that I get to do this!

This is an older shot, and not an exact replica of the moment, but I do NOT want to forget that for a while, every day after Anne left for school, I got to take my newborn (younger than this picture) snuggled to one side of me w/ Lucy on the other, cozying up for a nap, many times during VERY cozy storms--rain and/or snow, and life for moments, felt blissfully perfect.  It was SO good! (We still have naps, but Jane does better in her crib, so I just close my eyes and remember).  And while we're on cuddling, who can resist a teenage boy getting soft over his little sister? Brent often asks me for Jane after school--baby therapy is great for Jr. High anxiety :), and Jane loves her big brother.

 Okay, so babies spark gratitude, but these girls LOOOOOOOOVE their baby sister, and though she often goes missing when I'm not watching, and is sometimes loved a little too excitedly, we seriously have days full of moments like this one where Anne and Lucy tuck the baby into some makeshift bed and read her stories, sing her songs, or dance for her.  I also love how Lucy never seems bothered by her crying.  If she's holding Jane, and I go to take her while she's crying, Lucy does not understand why her turn is so short, and if I'm not fast enough, she will just talk sweetly to her and sing her quiet songs to calm her down--can that be real?!

This was Anne's latest recital--it's been 2 years she's done Suzuki now, and as she's finishing Book 1 (!!!), I MARVEL at having a child be able to do something I canNOT at all! I REALLY love (most days) practicing with her and listening to her play.

It is also super-amazing to me to have so many girls in our house--this isn't even all of them!--just a cute moment on the couch--though I kind of have to re-think "Father-Son Outings" w/ 6 of us left home instead of 2, it is really a blast having so many to chat away with, share outfit ideas with, watch "Call the Midwife" or "Downton Abbey" with, or share book ideas with, among many more things.  As Lucy said the other day to me, "You're my sister!"  which in a lot of ways is true, and PROOF that things do all work out eventually (5 brothers, now not only many sisters in-law, but 5 daughters!).

Having children also means an excuse to walk around schools w/o a pass, and that still feels almost rebellious to me, but here was our Moustache Teacher Appreciation Door this year (I've done at least one for the past 3 years)--thanks to Emily's great help, we even got pictures of all of the kids w/ a mustache to put on the door!

 

 This is Spencer at the 4th Grade "Wax Museum" playing Philo T. Farnsworth, which he sees as exceptionally cool since he's a relative AND a scientist.  Watching him eat that up is like watching Emily fill out her 12 Generation sheet, or Maddie spend time on Family Search, and it feels like opening up doors to leagues of angels watching over us.

And last, but not least, there's Emily at school AND doing something I can't--being in the school musical, and doing a fantastic job!! Sure beats my joining the high school drama club long enough to pay $10 dues, and never show up again out of sheer cowardice! They did the Emperor's New Clothes, and we all sing along to the music now--she was terrific.  There's lots more that I just don't take pictures of, like getting to read Narnia every night w/ Spencer, and all of the music--piano, singing, clarinet that's always in the house, having everyone say nice things about each other on birthdays, tons of homemade cards and gifts, and hugs and treats--there IS so much good, that without some struggles, I'd be worried about my life being TOO dreamlike!
To boot, I successfully took (and HUNG) pictures of the children so that the braces placement is more uptodate, and I could feel good about our modest camera/abilities!

(I just used the ones we had done of Jane, but here are some of her anyway)