Christmas 2017

First things first, the sickness report: No throwing up or fevers, mild congestion and sore throats for all. I'll take it.

As usual, life took on a near-frenetic atmosphere from Thanksgiving through roughly yesterday, the 30th. We started with home improvement, puppies, Christmas shopping, and Christmas concerts early and ended buried in wrapping paper and cookie crumbs.

Post-Christmas production kids. Nellie had a lead role and the other kids danced and sang!

Me + Puppy

Annie in the Christmas concert

DJ in the Christmas concert. 

We started vacation with a house party for Annie's classmate to watch the Polar Express. Big hit with Eddie, especially. Then I took the kids for our annual Christmas mall trip to visit Santa and do all the fun mall things, and we went to my mom's for cookie-making.

My favorite part of the mall activities--the kids put on an improv act at the Barnes and Noble stage. It started with a monologue from Nellie: "This is our play, we make it up as we go. What's it about? We don't really know!"

Cookie-baking!
DJ was showing off his first missing tooth.
 Eddie's watching carefully for the moment the cookies are ready.

Most of the rest of vacation up to Christmas involved Kevin and I working on The Biggest Christmas Present Ever. We pretty much put the kids to bed every night and threatened to cancel Christmas if they got out of bed, then worked like crazy in the basement until midnight.

Door signs

FINALLY, the big day arrived. Pam came two days early because of an impending two inches of snow, which turned into more like six inches before it was over. So it was a very beautiful white Christmas!

Church Christmas Eve

Calm before the fun-storm

Waiting in our bed for the littles to wake up and for us to make the coffee

Mary Cate really had no interest in anything but the little Ritz crackers

The big surprise was as happy as we could have hoped. We turned our basement into a gym with a mat, bar, balance beam, Thomas roller coaster, and more.

Over two days, we hosted 21 of our favorite people for food (waffles, Chinese food), fun (lots of basement play, crazy outfits), and presents (so many presents!). And then, the party continued as we celebrated two of our favorite guys!

Six!

The Christmas season can feel a bit like survival mode at our house, but we always find peace in the fact that the kids love it. They don't know any different and to them, Christmas means family party after party and noise and activity and music and all the rest. The togetherness is my favorite part, both "just" the seven of us and being with our extended families. Another holiday is in the books, with all the memories to show for it! Cheers to another year.

I like to do things!

Nellie, after watching me slide down a hill on the snow scooter: "Mom, I wish I knew you when you were a kid. I'll bet you were fun then."

"What do you mean, I was fun then? Am I not fun?"

"Well you probably liked to do a lot more stuff then. You don't want to do things now."

"Yes I do! I want to feed you lunch and dinner and keep the little kids alive."

Silence.

Donald, age 6

(He wants to go by Donald now. That's his "school name.")

How do you feel about being six?  

Good!

What kinds of new things do six-year-olds do?   
Lose more teeth.

What are you most excited about for the next year?
It's going to be Christmas again, and my birthday again, and I'll get lots of presents.

Who are your best friends?

Carson, Caleb, Ira, Brendan, Wesley. That's all.

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Carson, Eddie and Mary, Otto.

What kinds of things are you good at?

Games like Wii boxing, Sorry, and Candy Land. And that's all.

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

Why do you want to be a policeman and scientist?
Because they're cool jobs.

What’s your favorite song?   
Silent Night.

What's your favorite food?
Mac and cheese.

Favorite movie? 
Back to the Future 2!

Favorite book?   

Aliens Love Underpants.

Favorite color?   
Green! And red.

Favorite place to be?

McDonald's! That's really my favorite place to be. The one that we live the closest to.

What are your favorite things to do?   
Play at school, play in our basement, that's all.

What is your favorite present that you received?
My lava lamp. [What about for your birthday?] My Mario towel.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
No!

Thanksgiving 2017

DJ: God, my family, the world, our doggies, Terry [his fish] and Gigi [Nellie's fish] and Pinky [Eddie's fish], and Midnight [Annie's fish who died a few days ago. We had to tell him that.] Okay I'm not thankful for Midnight. And our pigeons.

Eddie: Trains. Look, I have train numbers on my jammies. DJ, you're Douglas and I'm Donald [his trains].

Nellie: I'm thankful for books, wood to build fires, letters from cousins, computers and paper to write stories, birds, that God sent his son to earth to forgive us from our sins, and candles. And TV, so let's turn it back on! Just kidding. And leaves that change colors, and snow.

Annie: I'm thankful for my family, and my house and shelter, for the food that we have, that Jesus came to save us from our sins.

Me: I'm thankful for so much. But I think it's good to talk specifics. I'm thankful, always, every day, for Kevin's friendship, love, companionship, and support. He's the real deal. I'm thankful for our big, noisy and wild litter of children. I'm thankful it didn't work out when Kevin and I decided Eddie would be the last Wernet baby. I'm thankful I never have to worry about Mary Cate being baby-napped because she shrieks whenever anyone but me, Kevin, or Lesley look in her general direction. I'm thankful for the opportunity (that too often feels like a burden, but it really is an opportunity) to balance family and work--meaningful work that I love with colleagues whom I love. I'm thankful the kids are at LCS. I'm thankful for our families. I'm thankful that it's now and not 2014. That sounds weird, but it's true. I'm thankful that our little house sold this year and thankful to live here in Grand Ledge. I'm thankful that our cars are still kickin' (and not the bucket). Just thankful all around.

Classic Wernet nativity

Everyone gathered tight in the stable, animals in front. No matter how many times I artfully arrange everything across the shelf, it's like this every time I return. It's our own version of the elf on the shelf or something. I've officially given up, but I suppose it's more realistic this way!

More kindergartener laughs

At the model train show, one of the tracks was set up in a figure-eight. DJ pointed it out to me--"Hey mom, look! Infinity!"

The two boys have been playing well together lately. Last night I overheard Eddie getting upset about some aspect of their train scenario. DJ responded, "Eddie, I'm just imaginating the story. It's when you pretend anything you want. Imaginating is fun!"

Praying last night, DJ was thankful for many things: Earth, all the lakes and rivers, Potter Park Zoo, Binder Park Zoo, his dogs, his fish. He ended with, "And please let Pluto be a planet again!"

[Warning to the faint-hearted...this is gross.] Eddie came down with the stomach flu last week. Unfortunately, it struck in the middle of the night while the boys were sleeping in the same bed. I took Eddie duty, Kevin took DJ. DJ stood there, eyes half-mast with vomit literally dripping head to foot, and asked, "Next time, couldn't Eddie just use a bowl or something?"

Halloween 2017

Another fun night is in the books! We hosted both grandmas and the "other" Wernets for pizza and trick-or-treating. Probably my favorite part was how Eddie would get too excited about the candy or too shy to say his things, so he'd either hide behind me and say, "I just want to snuggle," or I'd remind him as we walked away and he'd shout, "Trick-or-treat and thank you!"

The whole gang. Eddie did not want to participate.

Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, and sleepy baby zebra

Fall trip (redundant?)

We had a chance to visit John in Sault Ste. Marie for a long weekend and packed in as much fun as humanly possible. The kids played down by the river, rode horses, climbed in the hay, and swam for hours in the hotel pool. We got ice cream--twice, ate at Antlers, and went to Tahquamenon Falls. We watched the MSU/U of M game together (sweet victory), ate a picnic lunch, and shopped for souvenirs. We're already hoping to get back there soon! I tried to pick only my favorite photos, but it was hard to narrow it down.

One of my most hilariously painful memories, though, is from the ride home. It was just me and the kids because we'd driven three cars between the two families and it was our turn to drive separate. For about a half hour before the dinner stop and an hour after, Mary Cate went into hysterical-crying mode and we all pretty much wanted to die. We tried everything we could think of--trying to make her laugh, giving her snacks, ignoring her in the hopes she'd go to sleep. Nothing worked, and her screaming was working its way into my soul. Finally, as we neared desperation, we started a sing-a-long. And Mary Cate stopped crying. As long as we were singing, that is, so we had to quickly transition between songs and sing as loud as we could. I honestly thought I was going to faint at one point from all the singing. Her favorite (meaning she paused the longest for it) was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The best part of the whole trip was that whenever we got to the point of the song that says, "We would not see which way to go..." the boys pointed in random directions and yelled, "THAT WAY!" and dissolved into laughter. Which made the rest of us laugh, which made everything better. Still, I sure was glad to pull into the driveway,

This girl. You can't keep her away from the water--even the St. Mary's River in October.

Kids' table!

Mary at the barn

We'll cherish this one! John, Mary, and the St. Mary's.

Eddie wasn't feelin' it

Always, always with a train

All the kids got to try a few new tricks. Thanks, Sue!

Their favorite place

Passing like ships in the...day

On the road

Mary Cate is one!

I just realized I never posted for Mary's birthday! So here it is, two months late. She's as adorable and dimply as ever, though she's a lot more mobile now!

She loves: Reading books, eating eating eating, being heard by everyone near and far, saying "hi," her siblings and parents and Mrs. Hartzler, playing with anything with wheels, walking, baby dolls.

She doesn't seem to like: Almost everyone else, not being able to talk, being held when she wants to get down, being on the floor when she wants to get held, going to bed when she wants to stay up, etc.

One's not the easiest age, but we sure love her a lot. Also, those dimples.

Doing the mom thing

Nellie's first band concert

We went to Nellie's first-ever band concert last week--just saying that makes her seem so grown up! It was a success in that we made it almost on time and the flute section sounded wonderful. But Mary Cate only made it through the first three songs and even then, she screamed the whole time. Not like crying; she only has one volume and it's "scream." Eddie much more quietly told me, "I want to play with my trains at home" repeatedly until I let him go out into the commons with Kevin and Mary Cate. Halfway through, Annie leaned over and said, "I'm a little bored," in a somewhat surprised tone. I wasn't sure how to respond...I suppose she'd better get used to it. It's sort of the point.

BUT, yay Nellie! We're proud of you. Go band or go home!

The best of today

You've got to keep track of the good stuff, you know?

1. I'm still glowing with excitement about being asked to speak to 100+ educators in February! 
2. I went to look for a winter coat for DJ at the resale shop tonight and ran into my law-school-student-sister Emily who (whom?) I never see way in the back racks of pajamas!! We let Otto and Mary Cate be cute and run around together and looked at a million clothing items and found all the train and Power Rangers and Paw Patrol things. 
3. Nellie forgot her flute at church and was freaking out because she has her first concert tomorrow night. I messaged the pastor to find out what time the building would be open in the morning and he offered to drive it over tonight. Such a relief and pleasure to be part of our church community.
4. This hand-written note.

I've been hearing this song coming from the backseat: "I like you, you like me, I spell like L-I-K-E..."

Life with a boy in kindergarten

No one makes me laugh, cry, and bang on the steering wheel in frustration like DJ. Mostly laugh, though. Here are a couple of good recent DJ antics.

1) I found out he loves the smell of the sewage treatment plant that we pass on our way to school. He'll literally hang his head out of the car window, breathing deeply. All the while, Annie sits next to him gagging and threatening to throw up if he doesn't stop.

2) We started a nice little "true-to-life" novel about a baby rabbit--his choice. When we stopped for the night, he ran to get his new bookmark that he picked out in the school library. He showed it to Kevin, all proud. He said it was perfect for him even though it had cats on it [he's hated cats ever since he was bitten by a dog, go figure], the cats were trying to kill each other with their laser eyes. That is why he picked it.

This kid! We gave him the Discman because he can't handle all the noise in the car at the end of the school day. He listens to old school Psalty albums and it knocks him out every time.

Bye, house

We're closing on the sale of our Holly Way house tomorrow, and I'm feeling every feeling.

Ready. Elated. Celebratory. Relieved.

Of course we are, after months of getting the house ready to sell followed by months of all the ups-and-downs of having a house on the market. We hoped and worked and prayed then prayed some more that it would sell. We don't want to be landlords anymore. It's time to move on.

Melancholy. Nervous. Sad. Homeless.

These are a little more surprising. Even way back when we were cleaning and painting and fixing, I would get inexplicably emotional. I couldn't quite figure it out. But I wrote years ago how that little house felt like part of the family, it does feel a little like saying goodbye to an old friend. It's our first house, where we brought baby Nellie and baby Annie home, where we learned how to be grown-ups. Since moving out my parents sold their house, and although living in Kevin's family home has been one of the biggest blessings of our lives, we've always felt a little like (unruly) house guests. So we do feel somewhat adrift.

There were times we seriously thought about moving back in, at least temporarily. On one level, it seemed practical. Caring for and paying bills for two houses is stretching us thin. We own a house--if it wasn't going to sell, we could always live there. It's closer to school and work. On another, it seemed like a bit of an adventure. People said we couldn't do it, which just made me want to do it more. We could sell most of our possessions! Embrace minimalism! I mean, living in tiny houses is a thing, so we could survive in 912 square feet.

Kevin suspected some romanticism mixed in, though. He frequently reminded me that we could live in that house, but it wouldn't be the same. We couldn't go back to our old life. We wouldn't have baby Nellie and baby Annie. I wouldn't be an at-home mom, we wouldn't be cruising around in our Suburu. Our old friends wouldn't still be in the neighborhood, and my family wouldn't be what it was.

I know that, of course I do. Yet here I am, waiting for my heart to catch up.

They say home is where the height marks are. They sure have grown, though!

Dinner picnic while we clear out our things

My summer, all summer, every summer

Day 0, evening: I think to myself, "Boy, the kids seem pretty tired from the weekend travels and running around. We'll just stay home tomorrow."

Day 1: morning: I try to get up early so I have some quiet time and can get a little school work or writing done before too many kids are up. When they get up like 12 minutes later, we begin a cycle of nursing, changing diapers, pouring milk and juice, making five different breakfasts, cleaning up and picking up (forever, always), helping with crafts that require an ungodly amount of glue and yarn, untangling yarn, playing outside, googling "how to make a tin can phone," helping make a tin can phone, trying an experiment with milk and soap and food coloring, helping find a library book, getting morning snacks, putting Mary Cate down for a nap. I look at the clock, and it's 9:30.

And it continues that way for most of the day. We're trying, with some actual success, to cut back on screen time. But even the maximum recommended two hours leaves roughly 14 hours hanging out together. That's a pretty long time. So by 4:00 the kids are picking on each other and they're bored and there's conflict to manage and they're talking to me all at the same time which makes my head feel like it's full of bees, and I haven't had one full thought in 6 weeks.

So I think to myself, "That's it. We need to get out of the house. Tomorrow we'll run errands/go to the park/visit the library/do some grocery shopping/go swimming/visit Kevin/work at the Holly Way house/go to the home improvement store/do something."

Day 2, morning - nope, noon: "Why did I think this was a good idea? We do not need to get out of the house. WE HAVE NO BUSINESS GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE."

Because it is ridiculously difficult getting out of the house. I honestly do not understand how we can be ready and out the door for school by 7:15 but when there's no hard deadline, we are always--no exaggeration--running two hours later than expected. It comes down to the fact that an outing requires all five kids to be dressed, awake, and wearing shoes. That seems pretty simple, except that: Mary Cate takes two naps (and we discovered the naps are important to keep her from waking up every half hour all night), Annie sleeps until 10:00 if we let her, shoes are never in a normal location, while I'm finding one kid's shoes another goes potty for which they remove their pants and shoes, so then I have to locate them (again), while walking to the car one kid plays in the water table and needs a new shirt...and so on. And then there's the stuff--wallet, phone, diapers, drinks, snacks, maybe sunscreen and bug spray. I don't think we made it out of the driveway once without running back and forth to the house four times and lots of frustration on my part (sorry, kids.)

The outings are generally fun, though. Always rather tiring in an adventurous kind of way. (As I've said before, the grocery store is a genuine adventure with a posse of kids.)

Day 2, evening: "Definitely need to stay home tomorrow."

And repeat.

Nellie is two hands old!

Ten is a great age so far. I never imagined how much I would enjoy this "in-between" stage as a mom. Part teenager, part adult, part child. Nellie wanted a doll for her birthday, but pretty much just gave it to Mary Cate to play with--her real-life baby doll. She stays home alone for short periods of time. She wants a cell phone (NO) and likes pop music. Her friend came over this week and they played "80's girls." She and Annie make STEM-themed videos and Nellie leads the kids in elaborate make-believe games. They have plans to start a pet-care business. As much as I love the little-kid phase, I'm learning that a kid can change a lot in the best kinds of ways.

What was your favorite memory from the last year?
 Leading chapel at school and being chosen to pray at the end.

What is one way God's been working in your life this year?
Probably in that we had a difficult class this year with some people who aren't very nice and it was good to show that I was strong and God was working in me because I wasn't mean to them no matter how they treated me.

How do you feel about being ten?  
Excited, because it's double-digits and I'm kind of happy because I've been waiting for a long time. I feel like it's good to be ten because now I can do more things.

What kinds of new things do ten-year-olds do?   
I feel like I'm stronger. I'm not a little kid anymore, I can take care of myself and watch over myself. I'm stronger not only in muscle but in God and friendships. 

What are you most excited about for the next year?
I'm excited about the school year, because 5th grade is going to be really fun and the teachers are fun and funny. I can't wait for school to start!

Who is your best friend?

Do you even need to ask that? Avery, and Emma, and Leah and Kaitlyn and Ruthie. I can't really say anyone is my best friend because I like them all equally.

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Usually DJ and Annie because they're most like my age and they're old enough. I like to play with Annie because she's a girl, but DJ likes wrestling. It's fun to have both of them around.

What kinds of things are you good at?

Reading, helping people when they don't know what to do (especially in math and science) - I'm confident I'm good at those things. I'm good at swimming or just generally playing outside. Making sure everyone is having fun and doing things safely. I like walking in the woods and planting things. I like learning about things that I didn't know about before.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Work at NASA because I like space, or be an Olympic swimmer. Who knows, maybe I'll be both!

Why are you interested in those things?
I think it would be fun to learn more about outer space. I want to discover another galaxy and see if some of us could live there or something like that. I want to be an Olympic swimmer because I love love love swimming and I want to be able to show that. I want to do something I enjoy.

What’s your favorite song?   
That's a hard question... [Okay, what are your top three?] ... [Okay, how about a couple of songs you like?] You Found Me by Big Daddy Weave, Even If by Mercy Me, and a lot of favorites like anything by Taylor Swift or Dove Cameron or from Descendants.

What's your favorite food?
Pesto pasta

Favorite movie?   
Beauty and the Beast or Descendants 2.

Favorite book?   

Harry Potter 7 probably, and The Missing series.

Favorite color?   
Right now it's a tie between blue and pink.

Favorite place to be?

Either school or Buzz's Lakeside Inn! I love this place.

What are your favorite things to do?   
Try on clothes and make outfits, organizing things, make crafts, things like that.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
I want to make the world a better place for us to live in. Right now I feel like we're not taking care of it like we should. I want to do different things to make people happy, because when they're happy, I'm happy. When they're happy I know they're having more fun than they would be without me. I like knowing that if I make people happy, they're happier than they would have been. 

I love to do ANYTHING! I'll make up things to do, and I want to inspire people to do things like me, and that makes me happy. I want people to be inspired to do what they want to do and meet their dreams.

No sunscreen for this beach vacation

It's rainy, windy, and barely broke 60 degrees today! But we had some forced adventure this morning when we went to check out Lake Michigan. As Nellie said, "When we see the undertow, we say...LET'S GO!" Just kidding, we didn't even go near the water today. I've never seen waves like this during the summer.

Climbing the dunes

The lake north of Muskegon

Of course, we still can't keep the kids out of the pool. It was raining on and off and the grown-ups were in jeans and sweatshirts, but they swam for at least an hour and a half.