Maximilian ~ Two Months

We had Max's two month check up.  He is not on the growth charts yet.  He is a whopping 9 lbs. 5 oz. up five pounds from his birth weight.  Before the appointment I was so excited because I truly thought he was doing really well and had certainly gained some ground in the growth department.

Not so, darn it.

The doctor is not concerned, but thought we should try to get some extra calories in him to see if we can encourage him to grow a bit faster.  So, back to boosting his milk...yippee...I love bottles!  Now, we're just recuperating from immunizations.

Max loves sleeping in the sun ~

If we can find a spot with the sun 

streaming through a window he is in heaven....

definitely my boy!

Ski Days ~

We went on our first family ski day Monday.  I LOVE ski days.  It is so refreshing to totally unplug, even if I'm not skiing.  While hanging out with Max in the lodge, I was eavesdropping on a conversation between a man and the lodge owner about how the absence of wireless really made it difficult for the gentleman.  He uses too much data on ski days.  It saddened me and I hope to heck they don't add wireless service any time in the near future.  Sitting in the lodge simply enjoying the silence of the day is too treasured!

The day was bluebird skies like none I have seen for a long time.  Others at the hill were even commenting on the color of the sky against the white snow and crisp, green trees.  It was magnificent. My heart longed to swoop down a couple runs, inhaling the frigid, sprucey air but I had made the decision to keep this ski trip simple and sit at home base for the kids to come and go...besides Grandma was there to ski with the kids. With the sun beating down and people running around in sweatshirts no one would have guessed the day began at a scant five degrees.  Typical Montanans!

In the peace of the quiet lodge Max was all smiles relaxing in the sunny windows.  I love those first little baby grins and would love to catch one on camera, but am soaking each one up, loving that they are pretty much just for me.  Finally, on my eighth child I no longer care what people think of me seemingly talking to myself. Max and I visited all day long.

For some reason whenever we are at Disco Theresa is on my mind. She would have been all smiles and rosy cheeks on Monday!  Watching the kiiddos love the snow so much makes me happy that they were able to learn to ski while T was still around to ski with them a bit.

Nickles finally "got it" this time.  I signed him up for ski school and he had a guy instructor.  This dude was am.a.zing.  He had three little boys with him, managing to get them up the chairlift, off the chair and down the hill with no major mishaps.  By noon, Nickles was rockin' out the bunny hill.  It was hard watching at first when Nickles would fall.  I wanted to run out and rescue him.  It's all about learning to let them fly and he certainly didn't need rescuing.  I thought about that letting-go-thing since Michaela wasn't with us.  She had a chemistry class and had decided to remain at home.  I knew if I leaned on her hard enough, she would choose to come skiing, but she had to make this small decision herself despite loving each and every run down a ski hill and decided she could not get behind on her class.  It will feel kinda empty when she's gone next year, but certainly we'll be able to talk her into playing hooky a time or two!

I had forgotten that Nickles had decided to skip breakfast that morning so at lunch he was famished.  He was barely chewing before swallowing as he scarfed his food down, tears brimming over, he was so hungry. And cheese fries were waiting!  Another mother-of-the-year moment.

After a couple runs on the Magic Carpet, 

Nickles was ready for the bunny hill

"And I went soooo fast."

My little snow angels ~

"Say cheese fries!"

Nicklisms

Nicholas has been cracking us up lately.  It is his age for sure. I would love to bottle his energy and record every entertaining thing he did and said, while happily forgetting his naughtiness.  Today I was trying to track down a burning smell in the house when I happened upon Nickles with the plug removed from the bathroom sink, the drain filled with pistachio shells, (thank you Grandma) while he tried to dig them out with my curling iron.  It was a mess.  I may or may not have uttered a profanity, which may or may not have been repeated the following day by Nicholas.  And the burning smell....that was never located.

Dom and Nickles love their cousins Kolby and Tristen, but Dom has learned to not ask me quite so much about having them over. Nickles, not so much.  

"Mom, Aunt Chummer isn't calling me, so I need to call her.  I wiwy need to.  Twisten is coming to the beach with me and sweeping in my bed. I need to talk to her."
This conversation goes on all day long.

At night, wandering into the kitchen right before bed, "Mom, I'll have a peanut butter sandwich, banana and coffee."
"Uh, no you won't.  This isn't Perkins."

Randomly stated in the middle of the day, "Mom, I wiwy wike you.  Actually, I wiwy wike girls."

Since Nicholas received a Captain America costume for his birthday, he believes he has acquired super powers.  He has also realized that when Mom is nursing he can pretty much get away with anything because Mom isn't going to (typically) disturb Maximo to discipline someone.  While I was feeding the little guy the other day, I asked Captain America to use his humongous muscles to scoot the laundry basket into the laundry room.

He responded, "Captain America doesn't do dose things."
When I insisted that he did so do those jobs he told me to count to 10 and he'd be back.
Unfortunately, at that moment Captain America's nemesis arrived on the scene....Dad.
Captain America was stripped of his superpowers immediately.

"I can't wait to be just like you, Nickles."

As frustrating as it can be to raise this little guy, I do realize how finite this time is....okay, okay, maybe not in the moment, but shortly thereafter.  The hilarity certainly makes up for the little tornado that he can be!  

College

Michaela has been stressing about college.  I suppose this is simply a taste of what's to come as our children grow and prepare to leave the nest...or fly the coop.  Shannon and I knew that there would not be an issue with the colleges she wanted to attend, but kept teasing her that she'd have to repeat another year with us here at home.  She was totally concerned that she wasn't going to be accepted to any college, so when she received her acceptance letter from Carroll today she was greatly relieved.  She has pretty much made up her mind that Carroll is where she wants to go to school, but would love to receive acceptance letters from the other two colleges to which she applied.

Congratulations Michaela!

Sisters ~

Growing up I was always a bit envious that Maria and Theresa were so close and had one another for friends.  Now, watching my two girls I love seeing their friendship blossom.

We had a rule that the kids couldn't attend dances til they were sophomores, but rules are made to be broken.  As the Christmas dance at St. Andrew's approached, Michaela began negotiating for Katherine tagging along and they were on eBay searching for dresses together whenever they had a chance. 

"Mom, it's my last year and I want to go together.  I know I didn't get to go til later, but I don't care if it's fair or not."

 How could a Mom and Dad say no to that? 

It filled my heart up, knowing that my girls are not only sisters, but friends for life!  

Sisters ~

Michaela is slightly annoyed that Katherine is looking a shave taller than her.

The girls are blessed with two Aunties that are much more talented 
than their mother in the fashion department.  
They left for the dance with impeccable nails and salon-worthy hair ~

Best friends and cousins ~

Life is Good ~

Trust

Last January Shannon and I went to Hawaii.  At one point we were snorkeling on a reef of which Shannon knew the layout much better than I.  When the waves came up, I wanted to return to shore immediately while he insisted on the correct thing, skirting the deep edge of the reef.

"Just hold my hand and I'll get you back to shore." 

In a panicked state, I took off straight for the beach only to bump into the shallows, literally, with my knee and hit a sea urchin whose spines embedded in my knee.  At that point, fear really struck as I realized I was bleeding, thus chumming, and ripped my snorkel mask from my face so I wouldn't be looking down when the shark struck, doggie paddling back to shore.  That's the literal description.  I now wish I had stayed with my spectacular, wonderful, incredibly wise husband.  

~the last sentence was written at gunpoint ~  

After dragging myself ashore I tried to remove some of the spines, but they just kinda crumbled, so I figured in time they would fester and the body would naturally expel them.

Hahahahahahahahaha.

In May I headed to the doctor because my knee was hot, infected and I could still see some remaining pieces. He dug around a bit and pronounced everything removed.

Months went by, yes months, and my knee was still not back to normal and it had an ungodly lump right on the knee cap.  It looked lovely and it made doing anything on my knees quite uncomfortable.   I thought I'd better seek medical advice before Max arrived, or rather Shannon not-so-subtly mentioned it.  A large cyst that had almost wrapped around the tendon was excised and I skipped out of the office believing the ordeal over.

Except it wasn't.

Weeks later, exudate was still oozing from my knee.  But then Max arrived and I would have gladly forgotten about it except one morning my knee was so swollen and red that it was painful to bend.  Today another cyst was removed and I was told that if this didn't heal up it's off to the orthopedist to determine how this has affected my joint.  Shannon, while concerned....kind of.....continued to remind me how it would be best if I never leave him.  "It would kill ya, Babe." 

The moral of the story for me is God is right there to hold our hand, to guide us through life, yet we shove Him aside to swim on our own.  We believe we know the best way, the best route, when God in His infinite wisdom has a better path for us to follow, it's just not in our time.  He will hold our hand and show us the way through the swells we are unable to see over.  When we are feeling as though we will drown, all we need to do is reach out and grasp his fingers that are always opened towards us, always waiting for us...........and TRUST.

My Lifesaver

One thing I really hate hearing is, "Oh, honey you look awful....."

It is difficult to accept anything that follows that statement graciously.

But when Shannon came home the other night and made the aforementioned statement, I took a deep breath and waited.  I was looking at a pile of cupcakes that needed to be transformed into Mike Wazowski and felt more tired than I even appeared after many sleepless nights.  

"Why don't you take a shower and go snuggle up in bed early with your little guy and I'll finish the cupcakes." 

Birthday cakes are my thing and I hated letting go of controlling just how imperfect they could be. I was more than a bit worried when upon finishing a shower I heard Shannon and all the kiddos laughing hysterically.  A bit scary for a control-freak but they did an awesome job and had fun doing it while I rested. 

I love you Shannon!

 

Happy 4th Birthday Nickles ~

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Nicholas,
Happy Birthday to you!

My little Nickles~ you have went from being my baby to a superhero all in one year!  When you received a Captain America suit for your birthday it only sealed the deal. 
How does a mother raise a superhero?  We shall see!
We all love your exuberant spirit and the laughs whenever you are around.
Now, let's move-it, move-it!

Love,
Mom

Mike Wazowski cupcakes ~ 

Dad, you are the greatest!

All this excitement for ME!

"Oh YES!

Thanks, Steve!"

"You're welcome nephew."

One.candle.at.a.time.
Thank heavens there is only four!

One of Nickles' favorite big guys ~

Oh, James, I remember when you were four and all I wanted was a blond little boy...God is good!

and probably laughing like crazy right now ~;o)

One of Mommy's superheros ~

Happy Birthday Dominic ~ Now You Are 6!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Dominic,
Happy Birthday to you!

Oh, Dominic, you have grown up so much this past year.  Last year you still seemed little, but this year you are a big school boy, learning to read and counting to 100!  You can even count all your school money by yourself.  Even though you are growing up I will always remember the day after you were born when all the big boys in Auntie Roses's family visited and passed tiny, little you around the room.  It is one of my treasured memories!

I love you ~

Love, Mom

I can't wait for dinner ~ and birthday cake ~ 

so I'll just sit here.

It's so awesome, money in the cupcakes ~

Oh, to be six again, everything is so exciting!

Almost one blow ~

Listening to a lesson from Grandpa

on gratitude ~

Whew...I almost didn't get to open my presents.

Wow! Thank you Joshie!

Christmas 2013

Wow ~ what a busy couple weeks.  Between a complete lack of sleep and the typical holiday craziness I am ready for...and I cannot believe I am actually saying this....school to begin!  We can begin ski season then! Kath and Michaela hold a couple ski passes after the holidays, so they are rarin' to go.  

Christmas was wonderful.  We were blessed to attend Midnight Mass which we typically don't do because of the time.  Everyone was slightly exhausted the following day, but it was a good exhausted.  Shannon awoke to Nickles telling him he had just gotten sick so that was a bit of a bummer, but I think Shannon may have enjoyed staying at home and relaxing with his little buddy for the evening.

We have continued to celebrate the Christmas season with visits with cousins and get-togethers.  It has been relaxing for sure, yet a little crazy!  

Our Advent wreath~ preparing our hearts for Christmas ~

                                                              Making toffee for Uncle Steve ~

Lessons & Carols at the Cathedral ~

Showing off baby Max ~

Why use a meat mallet when we can just pound the meat with our fists ~

Eric strumming his guitar ~

Wow ~ just what a boy loves ~ an Iron Man mask ~

They were all jealous!

Our bestest Christmas gift ~

Whippin' up a batch of fudge for St. Nick ~

Christmas Eve dinner...simple & delicious ~

Smoked salmon from Alaska....mmmmm!

The chaos begins ~

Just what I wanted a fishing rod!

Oh, Auntie Margaret, I LOVE this jacket!

Snuggled in ~

Ready to hit the slopes ~

Hopefully the cafeteria won't distract me this year ~

A special box from Grandpa Bell & Linda

Not feeling too hot ~

Going for an exerting walk/field trip ~

Hot tubbin' it redneck style ~

Singing our hearts out while making cookies ~