Golden Girl

The 3 littlest boys & I just picked up these:

because today is Annie's Golden Birthday.

11 on the 11th.

So the table is set like this:

with her gifts wrapped in gold.

But she's not here.

She's here:

in North Dakota.

Doing this:

with Grandpa Doyle, Aunt Trish, Dad & 2 brothers.

And she's pretty good at it cause here is today's haul:

I won't see her on her birthday, 

so I sent her a birthday video 

& talked to her on the phone.

But it's okay, cause everyday is golden with this girl:

And when they roll into town on the morning train...

we'll be ready.

Annie:

image

The Secret is Out

Bo is like all first graders...losing teeth left & right.

He was missing his front tooth, then got bumped by his good buddy  which knocked out his other front wiggly tooth.

Of course we couldn't find the tooth fairy jar at bed time
so I assured him the tooth fairy would come 
if he just put it in a little baggie.  

He was very skeptical but put his tooth in the 
Ziploc & headed to bed.

At 6:00 the next morning I was awoken by his voice 
"I TOLD you it wouldn't come."   
I opened my eyes & he was about two inches from my face holding up the baggie for me to see, 
with the saddest little face I ever saw.

Oh no....the tooth fairy forgot!

"Oh baby, I think I know what happened."  I explained, "Look outside.  The sun is not even up....it is still night.  I bet you were the last kid on the list tonight and you just woke up too early.  She is probably trying to come right now but we are up too early so she can't come...it's okay!  She'll just come tomorrow night.  I bet she feels really bad, but what can she do?   We are already up she can't come now!"

Bo thought about it and didn't say anything.  He turned to go downstairs to get ready for the day & I promised him I'd be right down. 

When I finally got down there he looked at me with a big smile, "Mom...I think  know who the tooth fairy is."

"Oh yeah Who?"

"You."  He pointed at me with the edges of his lips curling up.  I could tell he was pretty proud of himself for unlocking one of life's mysteries.

I smiled....a HUGE smile & nodded my head yes without saying a word.  He knew...despite that big fat whopper of a lie I told him.  
(I try realllly hard to tell my kids the truth always so that was hard for me). 

His smile grew bigger & bigger & he punched his fist into the air, 
"YES!!!! YES!!!! I knew it!!!! 
I always knew it was you!!!!!" 

It was fun to see how proud he was for figuring it out.  "Now Bo...you can't tell your brothers.  Annie has know this for a loooong time but she didn't tell you because she didn't want to spoil your fun."

"Okay....but mom?  You put me LAST on the list?!?!"  He still had a smile as wide as his face with 2 missing top teeth.  "And...What do you do with all those teeth?!?!"

Oh man...I thought he figured out that I was the tooth fairy...but it seems he "figured out" that I was THEE Tooth Fairy! 

Rocco & Roo were up by now & he had so many questions!  "Bo we will talk about this later."  I tried to quiet him with the other boys still never experiencing tooth fairy magic. 

He smiled at me all morning. 

On the ride to school I was glad he seemed to have forgotten about it & then from the back seat, " Mom?  Who will be the tooth fairy when you get older...cause I don't want to do it...I want to be a cobra tamer!" 

"Bo, I told you we will talk about this later, but no,

 you will not be the tooth fairy."

After school we got so busy we both forgot about it.  Then, right before bed he came over & patted me on the shoulder smiling, "Mom...don't forget to come tonight!"  he spun on his toes & scooted off to bed yelling over his shoulder back to me,

"Put me first on the list tonight!  Oh & mom...don't worry...knowing your secret doesn't ruin the fun...I like it."   
And into bed he hopped.

So the next night I actually WAS the tooth fairy,

We found the special tooth jar & 
turns out he was first on the list.

We never have talked about it again but,

I am totally dreading breaking his little heart when

 I tell him that I am not THEE Tooth Fairy. 

In the meantime I just get to enjoy imagining his vision of this tall, very pregnant, mom of 5, flying house to house every night 
in a tutu.  

And I can't tell you how tickled I am that he thinks I could be.

What's the going rate for teeth at your house?

A Baby Story...

Today Kit turned 2.

More than any of my kids, Kit thinks HE runs the place.

He does everything the other boys do...everything.

He wants to be right there in the middle of it all
& if he's not in a picture I take

...it's probably because I cropped him out.

He is full of life & curiosity,
he wants to know how everything works.

He knows how to get his way...today I actually found him following Rocco around with the toaster because he was hungry...so yes...Rocco made him toast.

Now there is something most of you don't know about Kit's story.  When he was about 6 months old, a routine doctor visit showed something wrong with his blood work.  We were sent to the Children's hospital that very same day.  That night after a battery of test, Kelly and I were told by the doctor that Kit had cancer.  Then she curtly told us we needed to wait in this little room for the Oncologist & the Hematologist to come down to speak with us & figure out his treatment plan.  For the next hour & a half we prayed, we cried, we planned how to make the other kids feel loved, and I held him tighter than I ever have before in my life.  I finally asked Kelly to call my mom & tell her.  He did.  She phoned my sisters for me to tell them the news.

After that hour & a half the same doctor came back into the room and told us it looked like he didn't have cancer & we could go home.  No apology & left the room.  I cried even harder than before...this time sobbing tears of joy.  Hurried phone calls to correct what we told everyone were met with lots of crying and "Praise God!!!!" 

That dark night, darker than any other, turned out to be a gift.  Not a day goes by when I don't thank the Lord that Kit is cancer free.  I just look to heaven & say "Thank you!!!" 

So if my Instagram feed is flooded with pictures of my baby boy,

 it's cause when I look at him my heart ooooozes
with love & joy.

He's just such a big part of us.

So, today I could hardly wait to throw up the party decorations...

To celebrate my baby turning 2.

Cause ooooo baby Kit I do love you!

(It took a few weeks, and a great doctor to realize Kit has neutropenia.  His body kills off the white blood cells that fight bacteria.  We just protect him a little more & take him in if he is starting to get sick.  The doctors are optimistic that he will grow out of it :)

She Asked For It!

Since we don't go to the neighborhood school

sometime Annie just gets a tad lonely for some girlfriends.

 

Last year, at about this time, Annie said to me,

"Mom...I prayed that I would get a new friend."

 

Exactly one week later a "For Sale" sign

went up on the house directly across the street.

 

A day later it sold,

to a family with one child...

...a 9 year old girl.

 

And God provided the perfect little playmate right across the street.

 

 

Her church group is filled with the sweetest little girls this year,

and for the first time in five years her class at school...

got a new girl,

who Annie quite adores.

 

Annie joined hockey and instantly fell in love with her teammates.

 

 

God is real.

 

God heard,

and loves my little girl.

 

He saw her heart and He answered swiftly.

He answered generously.

 

Annie sees it too.

And we are all so thankful.

 

Maybe there is something on your heart?

:)

 

 

One day a year...

 

My little sister & I have nine kids between us.

 

and

 

One day a year,

May 17th,

on this little girl's birthday...

our kids are all different ages...

 

 

 

 until tomorrow,

when this lil' guy turns 2.

We think it's pretty cool

& take a picture every May 17.

 

Little joys, love 'em.

 

Special Day

It has been snowing like crazy! 

18 inces & counting. 

Doesn't keep us Minnesotans down though! 

First, my husband snowblowed 9 driveways & pulled 5 people out of the ditch

(all for free just because he has a HUGE heart).

Then, for a special surprise on a snowy day with no school we took Annie to one of her favorite places...the mall.  She has been wanting so badly to get her ears pierced & today seems like just as good of a day as any!

It was so much fun!

The anticipation.

The fear.

The Victory!

The twinkle in her eyes.

She smiled all the way home.

That makes this snowy day...

...extra special!

And I didn't even cry :)

Speaking of special days...

...this brand new SUPER CUTE blog:

not only has lots of adorable posts but,

also showcases the custom maps they

design for your special day!

Just look at this wedding map!

Seriously! 

You have to go take a peek at ElizaJane!!!

More ElizaJane Maps HERE.

Hope today was special for you too!!!

I want to hear about it!

I am pretty sure Annie is smiling still in her sleep.

My First Grader!

First Grade...here she comes!!!

Backpack loaded with new school supplies.

Matching lunch box is a must :)

New shoes...trying desperately to add a little style to her uniform!

First Grade means ALL DAY!!!

I think trying to pose with 2 little brothers

will be the hardest thing she will have to do all day.

Hopefully, because that was tough with no luck!

I always love to get a car pic to really date the pictures.

I will admit...I did get tears in my eyes when her teacher prayed with her before she entered the classroom.

Annie is just happy to get to spend

all day with her BFF (another Annie).

Yep...even if I am not ready...she is.

Have a great first day Babygirl!!!

Jessica...did I win? 

We had a little race to post the

First Day of School pics :)