It has been more than a little while since I posted on this blog. I have also noticed that many of my friends have also stopped posting on theirs. Facebook seems to be documenting our lives. I feel like I am, once again, at the threshold of change. The kids are all in school - rising 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Middle school looms and with it my fear of the unknown. The kids have had a terrific year. We are looking forward to activities this summer. Some free time, the pool, overnight camp for the first time, the beach. It's all good.

Mid-life

A few months ago I was listening to a news story and it described a 40 year old woman as middle aged - well, of course I gasped. That's my age - I am not middle aged. Well, I guess I am technically. Here I sit in a place I have longed to be - wife, mother, homemaker and yet ... sometimes I feel like I was promised more. I wasn't really, but women my age had the expectation that we could be superwomen and I know this is not news that something suffers either home life or intellectual life depending on your choice as a mother. I am "Happy at Home" but definitely need to keep my mind and efforts not entirely at home or I fear I will atrophy. You don't imagine having a three year old and being middle aged, but maybe I am just wiser now. Perhaps it will be a time of reinvention - we shall see - Cheers!

FELIX

We have a new member of our family - we got him just a couple of days before Christmas. We found this tiny orange tabby cat walking down our road. We checked with neighbors to see if anyone had lost him. We now suspect he was a dropoff. But we are so happy to have him. We had thought about getting a pet for Christmas even, but just never committed. So, little tabby, we are glad you "chose" us. The kids have been nearly loving him to death. Thrilled with a new pet - our 10 year old lab is losing even more of her dwindling affection quota, bless her heart. This morning school was nearly delayed by who had or had not given Felix hugs and kisses - I am not making this sappy stuff up! Then after the older kids left for school I hear Walter going around the living room saying - Felix, it's me, Walter. Fe-Lix, it's me Wal-ter! I am a boy and you are a boy too. (adorable) Here is our new little man - growing every day.

Happy New Year!

Another year behind us, another year ahead of us. All is merry and bright! The kids had a wonderful holiday visiting family and friends. We rang in the new year - in Madrid - at 6pm and enjoyed a family meal out. We are hitting a crossroads of sorts with no kids in diapers - Danny and I are sort of longing for those baby days and really loving how the kids are growing too! This is a shot from our celebration last night. Here's to a great new year!

Chemistry

Wish I had a picture to post, but this adventure happened at the hair dresser where all three kids were getting haircuts. Usually Henry is not the one I quote with the funny quips, but this time it is. Sheila, our hairdresser who has been cutting my hair since I was three, was talking to Henry about colleges and asking where his parents went to college. She then said she figured he would probably study science when he went to college since he likes bugs and things so much. "Well," said Henry, "maybe science. I really like chemistry. Not chemistry like beer, but like acid." (me-bug-eyed - what?!?)

Blue Christmas

Gosh - I have gotten several requests/suggestions to write regularly about the kids - I shall give it a go. Me: Christmas is in four weeks. Are you excited? Walter: Yes, I am going to be Superman. Kids and I put the tree together and did some Advent activities at church. There will surely be more Xmas pics to post later. Love. Me. Blue Lights.

Another year gone by

Well - I wish I had been keeping up with the blog more instead of using all of my kids HI-larious saying up on FB, but alas I have not kept up with it. I have found posting pics on here just takes forever. The kids are just growing into such neat little people. Walter's language is starting to really shine. Tonight, for example, we decided that he could wear his favorite t-shirt to bed with pajama bottoms and he told me that "That is a great idea Mom". Awww. Claudia is hitting something of a fussy stage but luckily it is only sprinkled in and the rest of her endearing personality still shines through. She sings constantly and seems to really have a great voice. Henry is less excited by Claudia's singing as he is annoyed by her in lots of ways. He is doing very well in school and has started playing Words With Friends against his parents on the Kindle and doing a pretty great job at it. We are moving past the baby phases in our home and I even took down the crib for the first time (not including moving) in seven years. A little sad actually. Walter and Henry are now sharing a room and Claudia for the first time in her life has her own room - we are making the former nursery "girlish" for her. All is good. We count our blessings every night at supper.