Tabitha

Last year, Cameron chose to "opt out" of Christmas dinner, he sat in
the back room with a laptop and cocooned.  For whatever reason, it's
what he needed.  We were disappointed, and maybe a little worried it
would happen again this year.  Nah.  He shopped, he wrapped, he
unwrapped (a big deal for a boy afraid to disappoint those who gift to
him), he ate, and he was able to find his Christmas spirit again.

Shannon

After days of crazy travel, these boys were happy to get in to PJ's and begin the relaxing that always a goal for our holidays. It's what fueled each of us through the long hours on the road.

Tabitha 

Late night chats with a boy and his cat.  One of the things that works so well for us is the ability to be flexible about when we sleep.  I love late night chats with this older child who has so much to figure out.  He can talk and ask and listen and, maybe more importantly, not be interrupted.  And on the flip side I love mornings with just my younger one to play and snuggle.

Kelly 

"Let's do this f@#%ing thing!" 

Seriously, that's what he said while posing for this photo. 

Helen

(Photo by Lisa)

This afternoon began our holiday hoopla, 

so much laughter, hilarity, sharing, excitement and a little pride.

How rooted we are here,
how happy we are to be here,

and still we miss the kin and kith from afar.

December 16, 2012

Helen

 

Pfefferkuchen in the house!  Joy!

Those are the Mommy and daughter stars by Ella.

And how poignant, given the stories we shared about the much loved woman who used to make them for me, 

and the kind sister who passed on the recipe.

Shannon

Touch is important for all human beings, all ages and stages need physical touch.  It took me a while to understand for some brothers that it looks like the sort of wrestling that's hard to declare as play or hurt.  This, these faces are brothers connecting through touch.  And that is a gift of unpriced value.

Tabitha

This morning, while having our morning snuggles, we noticed it was time for an advent calendar chocolate.  He got his calendar and after some talk about which number we were on, and a little blowing of the chocolate horn which was under number 16, he enjoyed his chocolate treat.  I realized this is the first year he's been able to eat just one beautiful chocolate a day.  Each year previous to this, he ate all 24 days worth in one or maybe two sittings.  This year, entirely of his own accord, "you're supposed to eat only one a day until Christmas".  Not that he remembers every day.  In a house where treats are enjoyed and not restricted, he often forgets for a few days that there is even a chocolate waiting for him...

 

Kelly

 

"Look, I can pose for a picture without taking my eyes off my screen! "
Yup, 8 hours straight of Minecraft  today, so far. This Minecraft girl has been playing for two years now.
We have  attended Minecon, made new friends, baked a creeper cake, hosted a Minecraft party, memorized song parodies, played parkour, capture the flag, Hunger Games, mob arenas and adventure maps galore.
We have installed mods, troubleshooted, youtubed, skyped and googled. We have built, measured, added, texted and spelled. We have survived, died, respawned and teleported. We have gained stuff and lost stuff. We have collaborated and researched and recreated. And we will keep on going as long as this Minecraft girl keeps on playing.

Helen

I've said it often this week:

It's hard not to feel loved when I have family and friends that celebrate the day of my birth.

I am so blessed!  Thank you.

(i think almost everything happens around that table)

Shannon

The boy in this photo is stretching his edges bigger then ever right now. He is pushing, trying and exploding in to a whole new world. It's hard as his parents to keep up sometimes. But it's these moments, the arm around the shoulder moments, when we are all reminded just how much we are right here for each other. Especially when the road is bumpy and not quite how we thought it was gonna be. It's the knowing we have each other that makes it possible to go back out there again.

Tabitha  

This cousin is very loved.  I had to choose this week between a picture of my older son helping his cousin play with the computer, or this picture of more love being passed along (for the record, the other one turned out to be out of focus, so this one it is!).  Baelin is taking such joy in learning about this little guy.  Tonight while they played at a family gathering Baelin had his 18 month old cousin giggling at a joke that he did just for him (and again and again, but of course it just got funnier each time).  It was so sweet to see this youngest child learning something he has been struggling with: that these littler-than-us people play just a little different.  Maybe we can't colour together this year, but we sure can pretend that this heating vent is super hot and makes us go "Wowsa!" and jump around (again and again...)

December 02, 2012

Tabitha






One of the true "hardships" of this lifestyle, of sharing with our children (beds, space, time) is these moments. Early morning moments when you wonder: how could we live any other way?





Kelly

 

I have been cleaning out closets and came across a silky Snow White nightgown in Cooper's room. I smiled, remembering and missing that time he wore it on a daily basis. I held it to my nose to breathe it in, trying to recapture the moment. Then I folded it neatly and put it back in his closet, preserving the memory for another day.

Helen

It's been a crazy week with one little thread of commonality -

The board games are back out, collecting us around the table

to pour over today's selection.

This evening we are rocking out to 80's music (thanks Craig:))

After hanging out with some really special people.

(We are clearly so blessed )

We're chatting, nibbling, gaming; each of us with our own unique flair:)

Shannon

“Tell me again how to make orange? Is it red and yellow? I don’t always remember.” And it’s true he doesn’t but that never ever stops him from asking.
I love that he trusts us to answers with kindness and understanding. Earlier in the week, things in his life got confusing and when we stepped in to help
he said “I am so glad I have you guys to help me figure this out.” These are the moments when I know with total certainty this is the path that best supports us all.