Jane celebrated her third birthday in style at FOCUS staff training in Champaign, IL, with 200+ missionaries and dozens of random high school kids singing to her. She enjoyed the celebration! Then, we spent a week with Matt's family in Swanton, OH, where all three girls rode Baxter with Daddy. Matt looks right at home on a horse. The girls were loving it. We returned home to start packing our house and preparing for our move. We took some time Sunday to enjoy the Colorado mountains by hiking in Nederland - Cate and Jane are great little hikers, even in skirts. Making dandelion bouquets for mom is what keeps them going. Ann is the first of our three to stay in the backpack with only mild squawking.

White dresses

Just had to get this photo of the three girls in their white Easter dresses up here. Also, here is Ann's new trick - climbing. She now climbs stairs, too! She loved to perch on this CD case, until we packed it away to our storage unit because - as of today - our townhouse is on the market!

Thoughts upon the death of Al Ariniello, April 13, 2009

Last summer I was touched to see Grandpa hold Ann. He sure held a lot of babies in his lifetime! He just looked very peaceful and she slept happily. I remember he held her for a long time at her baptism party. Just a week ago, he came to celebrate Cate's 5th birthday with us - yes, he was moving slowly, and had his new oxygen tank with him. But he and Nanny came. He drank wine, ate dinner, and told me my rum cake was good. He asked Matt about his job, and how his parents' visit was. These past few months, I have tried to drop by their house more regularly with the girls after Cate's gymnastics class. I think I only actually made it twice. Just on my last visit, Grandpa was going to make me espresso, but his machine would not work. I am tickled that he liked to make me espresso when I came over. And it was always so GOOD. Jane got really concerned about a month ago when grandpa's elbow was hurting him badly. "He should see the doctor and get some medicine." She also thinks Nanny must be "really sad" now. I was deeply honored to sit next to Nanny and cry with her just a short while after grandpa died this afternoon. I brought little Ann, and Nanny loved seeing a baby, as did several of the aunts and uncles. I am so happy that Grandpa died at home, surrounded by people he loved, on this beautiful Easter Monday. I am thankful to him for taking the time to come to our family birthday parties, and for coming to see me in the hospital after the births of Cate and Ann - he really showed us how important and special we were to him. Lord, welcome him home.

Third Child

Our little Ann is such a sweet third child. Her smiles radiate from her face to her little toes which curl in delight when her sisters come near. You've probably heard us talk about how blessed we are she is such a good sleeper. Well, lately as she has become more active and aware, Ann is less of a good napper. Our sporadic family schedule and noisy house probably don't help. She often catches her morning nap in the car on the way to gymnastics or the grocery store.

I have been used to Cate and Jane needing a good afternoon nap, so I thought Ann would just fall into place and take one as well. Not so. The past few weeks, I have had a difficult time getting the smallest one to sleep in the afternoon. I can usually get Jane down, and Cate is old enough she will rest and then go play, but little Ann is smiley and awake when I was sure she should be tired enough for a nap. We try everyday. Including today. After stories and "rest" for about an hour, I gave up and let everyone get up at about 4pm. Cate and Jane decided to take a bath, and I put Ann sitting up on the floor with some toys. I made my afternoon coffee and sat down to read. After a little while, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ann sinking down slowly, and looked up to find her folded up, asleep. See the cute photo. The bright side is that even if she goes to bed at 5:30, she's been sleeping a straight 10-12 hours. Love that girl.

Oh, the girliness!

Lately Jane is WAY into her shoes and jewelry. She has to put on her necklaces, bracelets and sparkly shoes immediately upon waking up from a nap or in the morning. This photo was taken not in late morning, or after lunch, but at 7, yes, 7 am a few days ago!

So, for the far away aunts, uncles and grandparents, Ann can now sit on her own and play, she has her two bottom teeth, and she has started eating rice cereal, bananas, carrots, pears and the McCartney staple baby food, guacamole! Jane hugged her Friday and said, "I love you with all my heart!" Cate loves to play with Ann, too, which is a huge help.

Overheard at the library

At the library yesterday I overheard two moms talking. One was saying that she had decided to allow her little boy (probably 18 months) to watch one video a week. Once, four years ago, that was me. I smiled, admiring her idealism and sharing her sentiment. I also wanted to (and did, for most of Cate's first year) use cloth diapers. I thought about making my own baby food. We bought a lot of baby food that never got eaten. Guacamole is much more enjoyable for all of us.

I have had some wonderful days with my children this week, fascinated by how they learn and play and experience the world. And videos? Yes, we watch them. But half of our days this week were video and TV-free (now an accomplishment in my willpower, because Cate certainly asks and asks and asks.) We keep our TV in the basement, and we may not get the converter box come Feb 17. (We may be one of those "unprepared" households who might fall off the face of the earth. I kindof say "bring it on.") I have found my children like to read stories as much as they like to watch a video. They also like some very noble and beautiful musicals Fiddler on the Roof (see photo for my girls singing Matchmaker) and Sound of Music. I think they have the stomach for these rich works of art because they have not been fed a steady diet of whatever awful kid shows and commercials are on TV.

I love how they play and sing and are mostly oblivious to all the latest fad toys and clothing they could have. I love how they don't like most Disney movies because the villains are scary. Sheltered? Possibly. But sheltered for the right reasons and from the pop kid culture that is only preparing them to be consumer adults. Let them be kids. Let them sing their hearts out, enjoy the sunshine, make messes having real tea parties, build with blocks, cuddle with mom, romp around with dad.

Sometimes I just need to remind myself why I'm trying to do things the way I am doing them, and why I want to homeschool. Perhaps that is what this post is about. I'd love for us to be able to do "one video a week" but for now we limit as much as we can, and we are sure to spend time outside, read tons of books, get our hands dirty finger painting. Maybe when we have a clothesline outside and I am not working the cloth diapers will come out of their box again, too.

Ordinary work with extraordinary peace

Happy New Year! It feels like spring today - a balmy 63 degrees. My days are filled with normal, everyday "mommy" type things - today it was a trip to Office Max, then the doctor, then the post office. And usually I get lots of "my, you have your hands full!" comments. Going through a regular day with three little ones is simply normal now, and I allow extra time for everything to accommodate bathroom breaks, snacks, walking on rocks, jumping out of the van (rather than being lifted by me) buckling their own car seats, etc. After our errands, we landed at Sacred Heart of Mary church, where I had one more errand (turning in some paperwork) but we spent an hour and a half there, playing on the playground, walking in the cemetary and visiting Jesus in the church.

My meditation reading this morning was about Jesus working for the vast majority of his life on earth in a simple carpenter shop, doing very ordinary work and having very ordinary interactions. This was a great comfort and inspiration to offer all the little things, and little moments of the day to Him. It reminded me to wait patiently while they get buckled, to listen patiently to their observations and stories, to laugh.

OK, above you see Jane flaunting her new skirt over her "leohard" and to the left you see Cate showing her form in what looks like gymnastics, but could be pilates. Those were both Christmas day!