…..our Mae this May…….

…..spring is in full force…...we still pull the hoodies and sweaters out as the sun starts to set, but there have been a few days that have cranked the heat to a place where we can pretend that summer is here…..this past week we had one of those days and we shared pops and bare feet with new friends…...

….the blooms are all in full force, although a bit later this year since winter lasted so long…….they are a constant reminder of rebirth, newness and a fresh season for me…. ..I have not taken any of the blooms for granted after the amount of snow we endured this past winter……the children love to help add color around the yard, too……being outside as we prep our house for spring has become one of my favorite family activities…...

…..and I found two pics of this same spring preparation from last year….these two pics have been flagged for a year, hoping to find their way on this blog and now their time has finally come……another reminder that with each passing year, my babes are growing up too fast…..too soon…...

…..this spring has been glorious…..our cherry blossom peaked on Easter and we found that fitting…..it is one of the most beautiful trees I have ever laid eyes on and each season brings me to tears when I take the time to stop and savor….. 

…...we are carving out time to thoroughly enjoy older friends, too…..when we get together with this family, it is no joke…..the eight children among us are the exact same ages in pairs…..Elsa and Elle, Callie and Jack, Brody and Brady and Mae and Grace……in fact, Michele and I stayed at Stamford Hospital together when the baby girls were born, just 23 hours apart…….we didn't think there was anyone else in Darien as crazy as our household, but we have met our match……..all of the kids have become fast friends and I know we have many years in store sharing good times together…...

…..my Mother's Day gift has had our family talking about summer bike rides……Daddy needs a bike and Mae needs a tow, but once those two are taken care of, we'll be good to go…...

…..Stefan pulled off the training wheels this past Sunday and within minutes of each other, both girls were riding down our street…….Callie, more daring and reckless; Elsie more careful and obedient to the rules of the road……both very proud of their accomplishments……. 

…..the highlight of our spring this year, however; was our sweet Mae being baptized on May 18, 2014……

…..she was in one of her usual pleasant moods the morning of the service and smiled all morning, as if she knew this was her special day…...

…….the service was beautiful and Pastor Sam prayed three virtues over her during the ceremony…..…..He prayed for salvation, faithfulness and biblical self esteem……we picked these three virtues out of a list that made it almost impossible to narrow it down, but in the end; these are the ones we want most for her…..

….and during the service, as she happily went to our pastor to have water sprinkled on her head, Pastor Sam even commented to the congregation that he might just keep Mae because she is such a peaceful baby……and she is…..she is full of joy and peace with gleaming blue eyes that melt you, lashes that flutter when she laughs and a smile where you know this child is truly one of contentment…...

…..I constantly reflect at how this little soul has taught us faithfulness, compassion, trust and love since the time of her conception…….she has filled the empty chair at our table and now the party is complete…..

…….every single one of us is smitten…...

….happy day, happy Mae……

xx

....Brody's baptism....

....if there was a pill out there I could take that would enable me to forgo sleep so I could tackle all of the creative, fun, wild and precious things I want to do, I would pay a million dollars for it.....I think I speak for every Momma out there.....time is precious and I wish I had more of it.....

....I sit and stare at boxes of Christmas decorations that have yet to be hung, a brown UPS box of Christmas cards that arrived a week ago that still hasn't been opened, a box of crafts that I have pulled aside that I want to do with my girls for some festive decorating around the house; which now has a pile of papers set on top of it, a carpet that needs a good vacuum, a pile of mail that needs attention and a slew of photos from the crazed birthday/Thanksgiving/baptism/prepare for Christmas kind of month we've had.....

....and so to put priorities in their proper place, I have decided to let it all sit a while longer and linger at each picture of my little man's special day that occurred two Sundays ago......

....it deserves attention because it was a significant day for our family.....

                                       .....Stealing a kiss from Daddy on his baptism day, 11/20/11......

.....it's important that I capture it while it's all still fresh in my mind....the discussions with the girls about baptism, our minister's hospitable family who celebrated with us over a good meal, the prayers Brody received from others, the fun in picking out his white suit, the cross necklaces the girls each received from Mimi and JJ that they wore as symbol of being the big sisters of the notable boy and the scene of over hearing Elsie inform her sister that, today we are making a promise to teach Brody all about Jesus, Cal.....

....she learns quickly and remembers everything we say.....and for the record, I love it when Elsa calls her little sister Cal.....

....as we settled in to begin service, all was calm.....we were all serene and anxious to witness the moment of his sacrament......friends were taking photos from the pew behind, the girls were on their best behavior and Brody was all smiles as if he knew that it would be his revered moment.....

.....and as soon as service started, it all fell apart....

....not only did Brody want nothing to do with the service, but he certainly did not want to get passed over and have water sprinkled on his head.....I have never experienced him clinging to us as hard as he did that morning....although I didn't quite realize it at the time because I was trying to multitask soothing a screaming baby, as well as corralling a 2.5 year old from hiding inside the pulpit.....

.....notice who is missing from this photo......

....and once we summoned Callie back to the group, it would only take a moment until she was back behind the pulpit again....

....and for the visual of this scenario, the entire pulpit is clear plexiglass; so our congregation watched her press her entire face against the base.....repetitively.....all while Brody screamed his lungs out.....

.....it was comical; yet still holy, nonetheless.....

.....and those who know Brody know that he rarely screams.....he is a happy, laid back, bright, blue eyed baby boy who smiles at everyone.....so his outburst was a surprise to all of us......

.....Callie being the funny, adventurous one of the group is a bit more predictable......she keeps us on our toes in more ways than one......and she has also helped to enforce a new rule on Sundays.....

.....no more than two muffins during coffee hour.....

....we haven't gotten to the part about gluttony in the Bible yet.....

...she is priceless....

.....our morning certainly had its hiccups, but it didn't distract from the commitment we have made to raise our children to know and love Him.....and our prayer is that we might do so according to His will and testament....

....For I will pour water on the thirsty land, 

and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,    

and my blessing on your descendants....

Isaiah 44:3

    ....Brody's first Bible.....thank you, Mimi and JJ....

.....Congratulations, Brody.....you are our God given gift and are uplifted everyday.....I pray that we raise you to honor the One who makes all things possible....

...Amen....