The big sister.

 McKenzie has always been a good big sister.  She loves her little brothers and they love her too!

Sometimes it makes her sad that more than likely Macheus will have no memory of her living at home.  She said that she hopes one day he will know how much she loves him.  I think he will. :o)

There are times that they test her patience.  They test mine sometimes too!  It is a lot of fun though having so many different ages.

I am so thankful for all of my children.  As I sit here at the house on a Friday night there is much activity and bustling around.  We finished up dinner that the girls fixed, Myles is playing with his beloved trains (and loudly singing his own version of Silent Night),  Macheus finally fell asleep, Matthew was showing me the Christmas present that he bought for his little brother today. They are all home with us, and they are all content to be here. I am very blessed!!!

Macheus

Decking the halls

Every year we decorate the Christmas tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  When the older children were small I always planned it out and wanted it to be a wonderful, fun evening.  It usually was chaotic and something always went wrong with the lights, the tree stand, broken ornaments, crying children or grumpy parents.

 

I have learned to just go with the flow and let life happen.  The kids have more fun and it makes me stress less. :o)  This year was loud, crazy, chaotic and we had multiple broken ornaments.  I think the kids had fun though and we made memories.

Marc and I affectionately call Matthew "Father Christmas".  He has always loved Christmas.  His first Christmas (he was turning one that month) he would point to the Christmas lights and say,  "Ight, ight" over and over.  He would have our entire house covered in lights if we let him.  I think he looks forward to the day that he can decorate his own home at Christmas time. :o)

I am not sure why there aren't any pictures of the girls decorating.  They were there!

 I love meaningful ornaments that make you remember something.  Each child has at least one first Christmas ornament.  We also have ornaments with our names on them.  We have one with just mine and Marc's names from our first Christmas together, and then one as we added each child.  I need to get one made this year and add Macheus!  We have ornaments from the different towns we lived in and last year we added one in memory of my mom.

 

 Macheus hasn't paid a bit of attention to the tree.  Myles loves the lights and every morning he gives me a hug and says,  "Merry Christmas lights mommy!"

Thanksgiving

Cousins

 

                                                Macheus and Aunt Monica

 

With our dad.

                                                    Grandpa with the girls.

 

The grand kids. Myles doesn't stand still for long! :o)

                            McKenzie and Daniel - The courting couple. :)

                                          Grandpa and Myles

 

Macheus was cute seeing his grandpa.  He spent a lot of time with him over the summer, but hadn't seen him in a while since he left to stay at my sister's.  When he saw him he recognized him but acted nervous at first.

 

My sister wanted to shoot guns out in the woods while she was here.  Candy  hates guns and was freaking out.

                                                               Myles

 His first Thanksgiving.

 

The boys building a fire.

 

Malachi thinks Daniel is wonderful! :o)

 

My sister left her daughter with us after Thanksgiving.  My girls were thrilled to get to spend time with her.

 We didn't beat the doors down on Black Friday but we did head out around lunch time.  We had a fun day and didn't get home until almost midnight!  Crazy, I know.  Between that and Amazon, I am almost finished with my shopping though!

Macheus is....

ten months old!!!

 

He is fat, happy, smiley, lovable, precious, loved, adorable... and probably a little bit spoiled.

 

He now has six teeth and seems to stay in a perpetual state of teething.  He slept through the night as a tiny baby but doesn't now.  He likes to get in the bed with me around 3:00 in the morning to nurse.  Yes, I let him.  No, I am not one of those moms that thinks he will be ruined forever by doing so. :o)

 

He still doesn't eat food.  I have tried all of the things that I did with my others-  avocado, banana, sweet potato, egg yolk, baby food carrots, and plain yogurt.  The only thing he has eaten and kept down was about two teaspoons of plain yogurt.  He is reminding me a lot of his big sister, Mariah.  She is still my pickiest eater.

 

He is cruising around furniture and getting into things now.  Still hasn't attempted to take a step independently.  He has been my earliest to roll over, sit up and crawl.  It is fine with me if he decides to break that first place streak and walk later.  It just means life gets crazier when they start walking!

He loves to be outside and especially to take walks/runs in the jogger.  He says, "mama, daddy, and hi".  I was changing his diaper the other day and started singing a made up song about how fat he is.  He started clapping to it. :o)  The kids like to play music and get him to "dance" to it.

 

He loves all of his siblings but he really lights up when Mariah has him.  He is like a toy to her.

 

He gets overwhelmed when he sees the horse but seems to like the cats and dog.  He hasn't paid much attention to the Christmas tree.  That is a good thing!

 These past ten months have flown by!  Macheus has been pure joy!

Mercy

"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

 

 

 

This is probably my favorite verse.  Thankful for new days, fresh starts and His mercy!

Birthday and other ramblings.

Marc and I were able to get away for a couple of days last week for his birthday.  Of course, Macheus joined us. :o)  We got some Christmas shopping done, ate out, went swimming at the hotel's indoor pool and just relaxed.  Life has been so fast paced lately, so it was a welcome break from the busyness!

We got home to a clean house, food made and a birthday cake baked.  My kids are the best!

The little boys were glad to see their daddy! (Myles had a swollen, black eye from getting stung by yellow jackets while we were gone.)

Waiting on birthday cake.

All of the kids (Macheus was already in the bed.) with Marc.  Daniel (on left) was home from college for the week.  McKenzie was a very happy girl!

The week was good.  Marc was off all week and it always seems to fly by.  We have gotten some household projects done.  McKenzie and I painted the living room. She also encouraged me to redo our front bathroom. What started off as "Daddy, take the towel ring down, it looks awful."  Turned into...... "Take the toilet paper holder down.  I hate that mirror.  We really need a new counter top and sink.,"   That bathroom is now completely re-done.  I had said I wasn't dong any remodeling until I got the kitchen done.  Oh well....

Thanksgiving was good.  I will post about it and some pictures next time. It is late Sunday evening.  I spent the afternoon wrapping Christmas presents, (My goal is to be done with everything in the next week!)  I have a terrible cold and I am dreading starting school back tomorrow.  I guess I better get to bed!

Until next time!