DJ, age 5

How do you feel about being five?  

Good! And excited.

What kinds of new things do five-year-olds do?   
Play video games. Start kindergarten.

What are you most excited about for the next year?
All my presents and my cake.

Who are your best friends?

Leland, Colin, Brendan, Wesley Toy, Wesley Cody, Otto

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Otto, my sisters, our dogs, Eddie and Mary Cate, Dad and Mom

What kinds of things are you good at?

Helping mom. I'm best at being best!

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A policeman.

Why do you want to be a policeman?
Because that's my favorite thing.

What’s your favorite song?   
The Paw Patrol song!

What's your favorite food?
NOODLES!!

Favorite movie?   
Inside Out

Favorite book?   

The Bible

Favorite color?   
Green, you're writing the words green! [I'm writing the words green because I know it's your favorite color, DJ!]

Favorite place to be?

McDonalds. We've been there today!

What are your favorite things to do?   
I don't know, that's a tough-y! Ooh, play with my new toys that I got for my birthday!

What is your favorite present that you received?
My Paw Patroller. Because you can fit all my Paw Patrol guys in it.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
It's my birthday! That's special because you get bigger and bigger until you go to heaven.

Christmas Eve service

(12/24/2016) Two viruses buzzed through our house this week and hit Kevin at the same time today, so I am taking the kids to church on my own. I'm imagining us sitting there, basking in the glow of candle lights and the joy and hope of Christmas. I'll keep you posted.

UPDATE: It was mostly basking. There were low points...tears over not getting the coloring book (turns out they weren't really out, the usher brought her one); a meltdown over a dropped crayon, after which the meltdowner covered his ears for the entire service because it was "too loud;" when the pastor invited kids to the front of the church and asked what they wanted most for Christmas one said (to the whole congregation) a Harry Potter wand. Not sure how the Baptists feel about Harry Potter, you know. There were high points, too. Our parenting skill reputation was redeemed when another child knew all three gifts the wise men brought, Mary Cate cooed happily through the entire thing, and Eddie sang his heart out to every carol. But he only sang the ABCs. Loudly.

The packed service ended with everyone lighting candles--the kids' were electric--and singing "Silent Night." It was beautiful and just how I imagined it, only with hot wax all over my fingers and pants from holding my candle far away from Mary Cate's reaching hands. Then it ended and we went to McDonald's for happy meals. And everyone was happy!

Matching Christmas outfits

Real life, including naked toddler. And toddler toilet.

Mary Cate, 3 months

Seriously, how cute is this baby? She's also turned a personality corner. This weekend she started playing with toys, talking and singing to us constantly, and only cries when absolutely necessary. Like when she tries really hard to sit straight up from a propped position and lands face down. I'd cry, too! She's not anywhere close to sleeping through the night, but she did start taking nice long naps again.

Mary Cate is growing into her 6-month clothes, which means packing up the newborn gear. Also, we got her first Christmas ornament in the mail and every time I look at it I feel a little weepy. Today, grasping toys, tomorrow, the world.

We don't let our four-year-old drink, honestly!

DJ tried jello for the first time this week, now that there's a dye-free option. His response: "Dad, you've got to try this! It's better than beer and french fries!"

Still more things they say

There are a few things the kids say that are funny mainly because 1) all four of them say it, and 2) I've never heard anyone else say it. Which probably means that Nellie started it because she's Nellie and the others don't know any different.

One is "voting" for a sports team. Every time there's a game on the TV or radio, no matter the sport--so, several times a week--someone will ask who we're voting for. I love it.

Another is their own word for a uvula. Dribbler. Just say that out loud a few times. Now imagine our kids saying it seriously in sentences. Like, "I think my dribbler is swollen." Hilarious.

Christmastime + Winter Storm

What a pleasant weekend! We didn't get to go to the American Girl store in Novi today (after much deliberation) because of the snow, but we packed in movie nights--The Santa Clause and Christmas on Sesame Street, decorating the tree, finally working on finishing the renovated rooms, my work Christmas party, church, making cookies, and lots of playing in the snow. Playing in the snow BY THEMSELVES. Which is amazing because playing in the snow is just about my least favorite thing. I would rather take the kids swimming in the early morning hours at the lake, any day.

There were lots of little moments, too, like "happy Eddie" staying up late jumping into the bean bag chairs and Mary Cate being three months old and cooing merrily all day long. Anyway, it was all pretty idyllic, and with a snow day tomorrow we have a bonus weekend day. I'll take it!

This kind of looks posed for a photo shoot, but it was unstaged, promise. You can tell because no one is hamming.

Eddie wanted to go outside in the worst way, but wasn't wearing any pants. We were trying to catch snowflakes but it was snowing so hard it was like getting water splashed in your face and he couldn't stop laughing.

Mary Cate, two months

Okay, she actually turned two months old three weeks ago. Also, this picture was taken a several days before that, but...ballpark.

Here she is, enjoying the incredible fall weather we had this year in late October. (Sidenote - Grandma Robynne knitted this blanket for a cousin years ago, and then John gave it to us when Eddie was born. Precious!)

Mary Cate is getting downright chubby, weighing in at 11.5 lbs. at her 2-month check-up. She's smiley and alert in the morning, but gets grumpier as the day goes on. It's kind of her thing. She's happiest when she's being held upright so she can check out what's going on. She loves when we sing to her, and at her best times she sings along or talks to us. She's showing interest in her toys and books, but still mostly likes staring at lights in classes 2-month-old style.

Mary Cate's only flaws are waking up every two hours all night and only turning her head to the right. She's clearly following in her big siblings' footsteps, though, so we have every hope that she'll be sleeping through the night in no time (after her second birthday) and will have full neck rotation functioning soon.

Thankful!

Among the many things I'm feeling grateful for this year, one is this!

I'm so blessed that MY grandparents can drive down and visit our school for Grandparents Day. We all enjoyed hosting Grandma Cathy, Papa Roger, and my dad! The greatest benefits of three generations of youthful marriage are the relationships, good times, and memories my kids get to have with their great-grandparents.

Halloween 2016

Let it be known, I actually had fun! It's no secret that I don't really like Halloween. Sorry. It's a holiday I just try to tolerate for the sake of the kids. I joke that any affinity for Halloween was transferred to Valentine's Day. I love Valentine's Day. What else is there to look forward to in Michigan in the middle of February? President's Day? Maybe.

Anyway, we ended up with a last-minute crowd, hosting 10 family members for a quick after-work dinner of frozen pizza and hot spiced cider before getting nine kids in costume. The weather was perfect, the candy was flowing, and the kids were in good spirits. It was an all-around pleasant evening!

Ah! The cuteness.

Team mom-and-baby

It was 50 degrees, not windy, not raining. A Halloween miracle!

Nine excited trick-or-treaters. Eight adults was barely enough.

The beginning of the end

I had a mixed-up emotions kind of day. With Kevin out of town and Mary Cate turning 6 weeks old, I started the morning in that postpartum feeling of being "stuck." Having a newborn is (yes, snuggly and wonderful and amazing but also) just hard and makes things complicated. There are lots of things I need or want to do. Like get a gallon of milk, get my haircut, go to the eye doctor, and go shopping for some back-to-school-after-having-a-baby clothes. And I just don't see how any of that is going to happen. Leaving the house takes half a day. Also, FIVE KIDS. I know it doesn't last, that all of this will get much easier in a few months, but it seems like an awfully long time from now. Then again, this is the last time we'll be in this stage, which makes it more manageable.

It's also why, however, a short time after bemoaning the difficulty of life with a newborn, I found myself packing up maternity clothes with more than a few pangs of sadness. You wear the same favorite things so much when you're pregnant that certain items feel like old friends. It was a little surprising, actually. They're not even baby clothes or anything, and I didn't think I was the type to get too nostalgic about things like that. I love getting stuff out of the house! I guess that's what having your last baby is like, though--so glad it's the last of the hard stuff, so sad it's the last of the good stuff.

Mary Cate, one month

Mary Cate is now weighing in at 9 lbs., 8 oz. and is 22.5 inches long, though Dr. Luginbill says the nurse measures long. :) She smiles regularly and "talks" to us when she's in a happy mood. She loves to be held and likes to be outside looking up into the trees. All the other kids are great at calming her down and entertaining her.

There's a sweet story behind the little pink teddy bear ("Betty Bear") in the picture above. This summer, I was a presenter at a weeklong curriculum training/conference. It was my first time presenting, and I was working with very experienced and amazing teachers. In the days leading up to it, I worked endlessly to prepare. But by Sunday I was in a near-panic, wanting so much to do right by the participants and my co-presenter. I just prayed that I could play to my strengths and share the things I'd learned over the past few years.

The week was intense but amazing--I learned a lot and we had a great group of teachers. On the last day, one of the participants presented me with this bear (I was 7 months pregnant). She told me that while she was on the plane Sunday heading to East Lansing, she decided to do some crocheting but couldn't decide what to make. She felt the Lord was telling her to make a pink teddy bear. So she did, though she didn't know anyone who needed a pink teddy bear. When she met me and found out I was going to have a girl, she said she knew it was for me and that God wanted to bless me in a special way. And it was such a blessing! I will treasure this bear and remember how God remembered me and Mary Cate that week.

Tired

Today I read DJ The Napping House, then he wanted to act it out, as he does with most things we read or watch these days. I was the "snoring granny," Mary Cate was the "dreaming child," and DJ was the "dozing dog." During our second time through, laying on the couch with my eyes closed and Mary Cate sleeping on my chest proved to be too much for me. Midway through reciting the rhythmic text, I sort of dozed off directly into a dream about something that involved giving someone directions (teaching? war? Harry Potter?). I jerked awake when I realized I was talking out loud. I opened my eyes and DJ was looking at me, confused. He just said, "Mom, I think you need to read it out of the book," and handed it to me.

"Hey, Mom. You can call me Cap."

Did my son just give me a pick-up line?

First days of school

It was a long-awaited day. Annie was in tears at the end of 1st grade because she didn't want to leave school. DJ was terribly disappointed to learn that he didn't start 4-year-old preschool the day after his last day at 3-year-old preschool. And when Nellie learned it was August 1st, her response was, "it's only the first? I want it to be the 30th!" I'm glad these kids like school so much! As an educator/mom, I enjoy the easy pace of summer so much that I'd probably stay there forever.

First day of 2nd grade

Classic

First day of 4th grade...Eddie really wanted to go, too

First day of 4-year-old preschool with Mrs. Tilden

Eddie, age 2

Oh, this is woefully overdue! Eddie turned two on the last day of the school year--cue "summer mode" and I never did an interview or anything. And it appears we have zero pictures from his small, impromptu party at Fitzgerald Park. I'll just describe it--trains. Lots of trains. Here are his responses to his much-belated two-year-old interview:

What is your favorite thing to play?
Choo-choos?

Do you have a favorite choo-choo?
My big choo-choos and big tunnels.

What is your favorite color?
Yellow and pink and blue.

What is your favorite food to eat?
Chicken. Elephants go "phwwwwwt." (I would have said juice and goldfish crackers and applesauce pouches.)

What is your favorite thing to watch on TV?
Choo-choos. Thomas.

Eddie had a delightful two-year-old summer. He asked every day, multiple times, to go to the park. Any park. It's his favorite place to be, other than around the train table. Seriously, I have never met a person with more single-mindedness around a particular activity. Except maybe Kevin and hunting, now that I think about it. This summer, Eddie learned that nothing terrible will happen to him if he puts his bare feet in the grass or sand. He started to like swimming. He started (mostly) sleeping through the night in a big-boy bed. With Thomas sheets and blankets, of course. He loved playing outside, mostly pushing around his Cozy Coupe, and swinging in the "car swing" that he got for his birthday from Grandma Linda.

Beginning-of-summer Eddie

In many ways, he's our same adorable Eddie. He still disappears for long bouts of time (to play with his trains) and we're often asking, "where's Eddie?" But being two has brought a whole new attitude--Eddie knows what he wants, and he'll let you know about it! And the summer brought at least one major change for Eddie--being a big brother!

End-of-summer Eddie

All about Mary Cate (as of 11 days old)

• Two perfectly cute dimples
• Faint "storkbite" birthmark on the tip of her nose
• When she's awake (which still isn't much) she's generally pretty happy and remarkably alert. When she was born, she spent her first two hours of life wide-eyed, looking around, taking it all in. 
• Because of that, we are a little worried she'll be a fire-cracker, but so far she's very easy-going.
• So smiley already! We've caught some genuine smiles starting at just a few days old, usually when we're singing to her. Eddie was the same! 
• Likes being held, and eating.
• Doesn't like getting her diaper changed, being naked, not eating when she wants to be eating. Very reasonable, really.

Welcome, Mary Catherine Wernet!

She's here! One week late, but who's counting? She is Mary Catherine Wernet - Catherine for my grandma, Mary for...lots of wonderful women on the Wernet side of the family. John worked out that she's a 6th-generation Mary! Mary Cate arrived Thursday, September 1st, at 8:12 p.m. She was 8 lbs. exactly, 21 inches long.

She's already had an exciting life. In one week, she's met most of her extended family and visited Gull Lake. She took her first bath tonight! And she's had her picture taken about 1,000,000 times...I'll try to limit this post to a few favorites.

All dressed and warm after the first bath!

Mary Cate is such a lovely, snuggly little bundle. I am treasuring every moment of holding her in these early days. There's a special, weighty sweetness knowing this is our last baby, I guess until we're grandparents! We're so thankful for this gift, particularly that God didn't agree with our decisions about being "done."

DJ nails it

Me: DJ, I'm glad you're watching Team Umizoomi! I like it because it's fun and it's about math, and I really love math.

DJ: And fun, mom?

Me: Yeah buddy, I like fun, too.

Sibling love

Overheard Nellie saying to a new friend at the pool: "I have four siblings. Three can be fairly annoying. One I'm not sure about yet. That's Mary Cate. The one in my mom's stomach."

I had this conversation with Annie yesterday:

     Annie: Mom, when the baby is born will you still say I'm the middle child?

     Me: Sure, because you are still a middle child...you, DJ, and Eddie are all in the middle, though.

     Annie: I mean, will you still say, "I know what that's like because I was also the second
     daughter...?"

     Me: Of course! You and I are in the exact same place in our families. Second child, middle sister,
     we both have a younger brother and sister. We just didn't have an Eddie in my family.

     Annie: Then no offense but I think our family is cuter than your family, because Eddie is SO cute.

Sorry siblings, but I think she's right. Eddie seriously ups the cuteness factor around here.

Jamie takes a stand

So, I'm not exactly a committed feminist. And I don't often take a stand--I like to think it's just my middle-child-peacekeeper nature. But can we just talk about prodromal contractions for a minute? (I didn't know that phrase before now. I had to look it up.) You know, those slightly uncomfortable contractions that start at some point during pregnancy but aren't real labor?

Women have been experiencing them, assumably, since the beginning of time. They've been describing them to each other and their midwives or doctors for thousands of years. Older or experienced mothers have coached and mentored new mothers on the symptoms and meanings.

Then in 1872, Dr. John Braxton Hicks what, like, discovered them and now they're named after him? C'mon now, that's just annoying, right? Around these parts, we've taken to calling them "girl power contractions," dang it! I'm hoping it catches on.

Annie, age 7

How do you feel about being seven?  

I don't know, I feel bigger and I just feel more powerful for some reason! 

What kinds of new things do seven-year-olds do?   
Say more words, like...[whispers in my ear] butt, as long as the little kids aren't around. 

What are you most excited about for the next year?
I'm excited to go into second grade and learn a little bit of cursive at the end. I'm excited that my mom is having a baby next month!

Who is your best friend?

I don't know. Colin's Avery's brother and Colin is DJ's best friend and Avery is Nellie's best friend, so I don't really have many friends. My cousins are my friends, and girls at school. Adrienne, Charlotte (she's new) and she's allergic to gluten, I think. Also fireflies are my friends! Sometimes I catch them and they don't want to leave me! Makenna, Leila even though she moved to Tennessee. 

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Nellie and DJ because sometimes when I'm just with Eddie there's nothing to do!

What kinds of things are you good at?

I'm good at jumping into the lake and pools now! I can swim pretty good now, and it just feels like I'm growing 10,000 feet every day! I'm good at gymnastics and monkey bars. I'm a good cook. I pick out pretty good outfits.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a doctor, like when I grow up and blood doesn't look so bad to me and cuts don't scare me, I want to be the doctor who helps when babies are born. I want to be a pediatrician. I also want to drive a car and have my own keys and stuff.

Why do you want to be a doctor?
Because I like helping people and helping people makes me feel good.

What’s your favorite song?   
I still really like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Shoulders by For King and Country, Start a Fire, You Stormed the Walls.

What's your favorite food?
I like dark chocolate and cheese. I really like dairy--yogurt. I really like pickles.

Favorite movie?   
I really like The Sandlot, Parent Trap, the Minions Movie. Back to the Future one through three. I really want them to make a fourth movie!

Favorite book?   

Princess in Black--all three.

Favorite color?   
Purple, light purple and dark purple. Sometimes dark purple looks weird and light purple looks pink, and I don't like pink, even though I'm a girl.

Favorite place to be?

At the hospital, except when I get shots. [What do you like about the hospital?] I'm thinking about the time I had to get my blood drawn.  I like visiting people at the hospital like Papa Roger. I liked riding in the wheelchair and the kid area!

What are your favorite things to do?   
I like swimming and jumping off ladders and stairs in the water. I like to go to gymnastics. [Does a handstand.]

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
I'm a really good reader! Um, I need more nighties!

Nellie Nine

How do you feel about being nine?  

I'm happy because I'm getting bored of being eight. After a few months I'm like, "I'm bored, let's do something different." So I'm happy to be nine.

What kinds of things do you anticipate doing now that you're nine?   
Maybe I can start to get more money for doing things like babysitting and stuff like that.

Did you have a favorite birthday present?
I like my UNICEF band from Grandma Linda. I also love my new walking stick and my new duffle bag...but I really like all my presents. Like Aunt Sarah bought me a bag with lots of little presents in it. That was fun! 

What are you most excited about in the next year?
I don't really know, I mean, there's probably a few things different than this year, but I'm still the same Nellie. I'm still the same me.

Who is your best friend?    
Still Avery Hartzler.

Who are your favorite people to hang out with?
My cousins and my siblings. Well, at school I hang out with my friends from school a lot. Like Leah, Kaitlynn, Avery, Emma, Ashley, Molly, and a lot of other people!

What kinds of things are you good at?

Reading, doing math, swimming, and a lot of other things that I don't want to go into because it will make it really long. I'm good at a lot of things.

What might you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a scientist. Some kind of scientist. I like to study stars so I might work for NASA. Or I might be an archeologist and dig up dinosaur bones to find out how they got extinct.

What’s your favorite song?   
I like Multiplied by Need to Breathe and Flawless by Mercy Me.

Favorite movie?   
Probably a tie between The Sandlot and Parent Trap. I have a LOT of favorite movies. National Treasure was pretty good, too. (Give a special thanks to Avery for that one.) Also Back to the Future one through three.  

Favorite book?   

Probably Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I really liked that one.

Favorite color?   
Turquoisey-blue.

Favorite place to be?

I like to be home, but school's fun, too. Ooh, I like Soaring Eagle Water Park.

What are your favorite things to do?   
I like to read, and...well yeah, read. I do a lot of that. I like to play outside and go swimming and do a lot of other summery things. Kayaking or paddle boarding, boating, going to camp, riding my bike and scooter, pretending. 

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
One of my new favorite sayings is, "help me, save me, pardon me!" I still don't like soda pop, I have way too many baby blankets, and I like to go star- and moon-gazing. Hey look, a firefly! Look, see? Right there on the door...

Summer kick-off 2016

Could summer start any better? There's no way to list the highlights, because every moment was a highlight! We spent the first half at the lake, where we got to do all of our favorites--taking the boat to the ice cream store, swimming, paddle boarding, grilling, sitting on the dock, talking with family, walking and riding scooters, throwing rocks in the water, fishing--something for everyone. Then we came home to host the Lounsbury family! We've spent a few great Memorial Day weekends with Josh and Rose, but we hadn't seen each other in FOUR YEARS. That's too long. It was so great to watch the kids play like old friends and catch up on all the things we've missed.

On to the pictures!

Flowers and a flag for the gravesite

Bump on board

Sporting the latest patriotic fashion

Eddie's first paddle board ride--he calls it "mommy's boat"

Cousin buddies

Sorry about the pink life jacket, buddy

Somebody's got to hold down the dock

One way to use the paddle board

Juicy

Double the fish

Success!

Solo scratch-off cups--perfect for large crowds and telling apart the Lounsbury triplets

Lounsbury-Wernet clan!

Fun with the hose

Mowing just like dad