Working and living together in a big family

Chaos.
Noise.
Messes.

Those are three words that probably come to mind when you think of living life in a big family.  And, yes, all three do happen from time time.  Okay, okay - daily!  But, and this is the kicker, they are minor in comparison to the love and sharing and caring that happen in the walls of  our home.   There is GRACE that God sends us to not only survive but thrive as we plow through the messes and chaos and noise of large family living.  And while we do that, we grow closer to each other and also to Him.

Yesterday was one of those days where I wish I could just pause time.  Ya can't do that though, so just like our Blessed Mother, I will hold them in my heart and cherish those memories...

**We are a puzzling family.  Last year, we even set up a permanent small card table in our living room as a puzzle table (because we were finding that a puzzle was constantly taking up our eating and school space on our kitchen island or dining room table).  It's so nice to have almost a continuous puzzle being put together there.  But sometimes, a puzzle is too big for that small square table.  And, St Nicholas sent one such puzzle our way on his feast day this year.  So it took over our big kitchen table for the last week and a half.  And yesterday, it finally was completed.  These three - 17 years old, 8 years old, and 4 years old - put the final pieces on (other than the one lost piece - lol!).  A 13 year age difference between the oldest and youngest puzzlers!!  Isn't that the sweetest?!

**Lady was treated to make up as her big sissy, Ariel (12), was getting ready for the day.  Instead of shooing away the interruption and distraction of her baby sister (2), she decided to scoop up little Lady and put some make-up on her.  Lady came running out with the mirror in her hands and just couldn't stop looking at herself in her hand-held mirror.  You could just see the joy she felt and that came from the love from her big sissy.

**We had a special family party to go to last night, and all our kids were excited and getting ready for it.  Melody (14) decided to use her new flat iron from St. Nicholas on her little sister, Rose (6), to curl her hair.  It took well over an hour, but Melody patiently and lovingly continued and made little Rose feel just like a princess.  And the beauty of these two just shone so brightly that night!!

++Thank you, God, for shining your light and love in our family as we do our best to lead them to You among the messes, chaos, and noise that come with large family living!++

Siblings and Friendship

Siblings make the best friends.

This is one huge lesson my mom taught me growing up. Although we went to school, we were with each other all the time outside of school. Our play dates and time outside of the home was rare. We *had* to learn to like each other. To love each other. To become each other’s best friend. The same has been true with this young crew of ours. Although they fight like all siblings do, they prefer mostly to be with each other. Home is where they are loved for who they are and they love to be here.

I can only hope and pray this closeness continues as the years go on. I am ever so thankful for my own sisters who are still my best friends today.

"The greatest gift you can give 
your child is another sibling."

-Pope Saint John Paul II

THE Most Perfect Gift To Give Your Children

++Thank you, God, for our nine 

beautiful young ones!!++

Thankful Thursday - ed #3

So much to be thankful for!!  

Today has just been a normal school day.  But here's three things that stand out from today that I am extremely thankful for...

The kids (who are done with school) are playing Lego's and Max and Pookey just came out to me with this cool creation.  I love how their little brains are not limited with time and most especially space when it comes to creating.  Isn't this Lego dude the coolest?

Little Yoda was ready for a nap, and thankfully his sweet sister (who is almost done with her school) scooped him and up, and rocked him to sleep.  She's a multi-tasker at heart, so she has to squeeze in some reading while keeping babe asleep.  She's reading the last of the Mysterious Benedict Society books on our kindle.  I read the first three aloud to the four big kids over the last couple of years, and told them they have to read the last one on their own.  So of course, Melody is wasting no time at all.

And progress!!!  Plaster guys are here today.  Painting (plain ole white is hubs preference) and flooring next week!!  Can we possibly be done in the next couple of weeks?  I think so!!!

++Thank you, Lord, for your presence living and breathing among us in the simplicity of our lives!++

Big brothers rock

During our zoo trip recently, it was so precious as a momma to see the love Fone has for his little sister, Rose.  He held her hand, walked with her, carried her, gave her drinks, lifted her up to see the animals, and more.  It's so beautiful to see the love between siblings.  Here's some pictures I took of these two sweeties...

++Thank you, God, for living so clearly in my children as shown by the way they treat each other with love and are so helpful like Fone was to Rose at our zoo trip!++

Siblings make the best of friends

Two weeks ago today, we had snow on the ground and more ice/snow on the way.   It's hard to believe that we've been enjoying temps in the 50's all week now.  Spring is finally here and we are loving it!  I can barely keep the kids in!!  Other than this little guy - he's staying inside plenty with me.  It's still pretty cool for him to be out.  Plus I like the one-on-one time with him!!!  He is so stinkin' cute and sweet.  He just coo's and goo's and giggles when he sees me.  I guess he loves his momma!  :)

This weekend was another Cursillo renewal weekend in our area.  How blessed I am to be helping chair the kitchen with my 3 sisters and my mom.  I never knew growing up how close we would be to each other as adults.  Siblings truly do make the best of friends.  So do moms (and dads too!).  I can only hope and pray that our own young ones will treasure their siblings and love them as much as I do mine!!

++Thank you, God, for the gift of siblings!!!++

A good morning song for you... (and Yoda!)

For years, I have sung this song to my kids in the morning.  First off, I am not a singer, although I love to sing to my kids and to Jesus. [My husband is the singer in the family, remember?  His name is Neil Young.  ;)]  So, once my kids have grown up a little and learned that, unfortunately, this song kind of makes them cringe hearing mommy hit those higher off-tune notes. But, God gave me this voice, so I'm still going to keep singing.  I love how the traditions you create and the kids are so used to day in and day out, become part of their own life, part of their normalcy.  So, what song do they greet their baby brother with in the morning?  The ever-so-famous-song-sung-to-them-for-years song!   :)

++May God bless you this day, each and every day!  Good morning, good morning, good morning to you!!++

A whole lot of sibling LOVE

You know when you go on a vacation with a .......l...o...n...g....... drive and how the kids ask every two minutes that question that drives every parent *W*I*L*D* --- "are we there yet?".  Well, having a new baby with older siblings is somewhat similar.  I bet you can't even guess that question, although completely wonderful and sweet, but asked a zillion times definitely can start to make your head spin --- "can I hold the baby?" -OR- "is it my turn yet?".  Yeah, we've been playing LOTS of baby hot potato around here and what a beautiful blessing it is that our new little guy has ALL these brothers and sisters who love and adore him so much!!  

~~Rose and baby~~

~~Pookey and baby~~

~~Max and baby~~

~~Ariel and baby~~

~~Melody and baby~~

~~Mario and baby~~

~~Fone and baby~~ 

~~All 8 of them~~

Isn't 8 great?!?!

++Thank you, God, for these eight beautiful, wonderful blessings you have sent to us!!++