Looking back at Christmas 2015

I am finally getting around to sharing a slideshow of this past Christmas.

Here's what the slide show is NOT -- a complete picture of our Christmas. It does not show our attempts at advent readings and activities to still our pace and center our hearts, or how the kids picked out and sent gifts to impoverished families around the world through World Vision. It doesn't reflect our desire to make Christmas about Christ, though that was the focus.

It does show lots of presents which could appear to be all about consumerism. These were not ordinary presents, however; they were thoughtful gifts from so many family members near and far, biological and adoptive. Gifts from people who, in some cases, suffered a lot this past year, and they still made time to think of our kids. To send something from Ohio or New York or Florida to bless the kids.

This year there was much loss in our families -- our extended families, our kids' biological families -- deaths, financial struggles, cancer, dissolving marriages. The opening of these presents represents the giving hearts that continued despite all the grief.

I chose this somewhat odd song to accompany the slide show because there is always room for forgiveness, new starts, and ultimately the redemptive and transforming power found in Jesus -- God become man to connect with us, heal us, and change the trajectory of this fallen world and our broken lives.

The past two years (since Oli and Bella joined the family) have been so hard for us, but we are finally on the other side of the transition. This Christmas finally felt like that. Finally felt as if I had breath in my lungs again. (I am working on a couple of posts to let y'all into that part of the journey. Coming soon...) When the lyrics say, "So it's been a long year, every new day brings one more tear..." my heart sighs with the knowledge of that feeling. And yet the good news is what Christmas represents. God with us. Emmanuel.

Christmas Quack-Along

This week I visited my grandma, and she tried to convince my sister and I to haul off and use all her old Christmas decorations. I am not much into red velvet bows, baskets of fake poinsettias, and bears wearing red plaid scarves, but the singing goose? Now that was a find.

When I unloaded all the stuff (most of which we will pass on to someone else), I set the goose on the stairs and turned it on. Then I stood behind a doorway to spy on the reactions. Of all the kids it was Sadie who arrived on the scene, eyes gleaming like she came upon a treasure. She looked around the room hesitantly, then picked it up and examined it - its moving beak, its floppy "wings." None of the other kids were into it (in fact Benjamin spent the afternoon attempting to avoid it).

So here we share a poorly lighted playtime from this evening when the goose brought some Christmas cheer. And, yes, I need to do something about that burned out strand of lights on the tree. I have already attempted to replace the fuse AND many of the individual lights. Poop.

Trip to the Mountains

Every year we look forward to the times we get to head up to the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. I've been going up there now for more than 30 years, and it's a tradition I love to be able to have with our kids.

This week's visit was the most lovely and restful time we've had since doubling the size of our brood, and we soaked up every minute of it. The Papa was able to take the two older kids fishing (seperately, as they are a whirlwind together), and we built a fire pit out front for evening fun and s'more making.

The kids played in the dirt, worked on chalk drawings, watched more movies and shows than they are ever allowed to at home, explored the woods, watched the deer walk past them on the deck every morning and evening, and spent a fair amount of time being worried about bears. Benji accomplished a 5-mile hike to the lake and back with The Papa, and everybody managed a short hike together one day followed by a picnic lunch...nothing to sniff at as we were at least 8,500 feet above sea level.

Without further ado, here are some of the photos from our vacation.

Sadie, Squeak Monsters, and Breakfast

In this first video, Sadie is nearly three. We had stopped at the grocery store on the way home from somewhere, and while Papa ran inside for a few items, I was having trouble keeping Sadie occupied. Can you imagine why? Little Miss Bright Eyes does not sit still...pretty much EVER.



And here, at three and a half, she is helping Papa make breakfast - part of the morning routine - in a princess dress, of course.

Down by the Bay

After cheering for my sister at her 10K down at Paradise Point just before Christmas (where she placed 2nd in her age group - Go, Rosie!), we took the kids to the bay so we could feel the sand between our toes.

The water lapping at our feet, the breeze, the sunshine on our faces - it was all so peaceful.

Peaceful doesn't just happen in a family with four young kids (wink, wink). Such a refreshing few moments.

I tried to photograph each of the kids individually. The girls don't really sit still right now.

I'll wrap up with a little video:

Hanging Out with Bella Roux

If you've seen Miss Bella Roux in person, she's probably been a serious little thing. She's definitely not one to make you feel welcome. But around the house where she is comfortable, she lets loose - chattering, stumbling-walking, crawling as if she's on a track, throwing things, shrieking, and often laughing with her head thrown back. She does have a personality - she just has to warm up to people.

Anyway, here's a little video of her playing around with us and her current walking ability. She was officially walking at 15 months...December 2014.

Video Flashbacks from 2013!

Playing around at the park - Sadie, age 2, and Benji, age 5.



Wanna know how to stop a tantrum? (Sometimes...) Repeat what they said so they feel heard. (Until they figure out what you are doing and it doesn't work anymore.)



When Sadie was two, what happened when Papa left for work? Oh, just a little hanging from the front door knob...this video doesn't even capture how long she could pull herself up - she could hang for 30 seconds at a time, and she would climb all the way up to the knob.



And...it's a powerful dance until you land on a tiny toy...



The following sequence is classic Sadie and Benjamin. Though the years pass, their interactions have not changed much. In the first, Benji's dance is upstaged by Sadie's happy feet. (She still walks that fast and bouncy.) In the second, she's all belly and britches and boots.





Near the top of the cuteness scale is a big brother who is learning to read teaching his little sister to read. Throw in eating some chicken-veggie stirfry and all is right with the world.

Flashback to March 2014

Let's kick off the new year with a few videos from the past as I attempt to retrieve everything that's been sitting on my cell phone for a while.

Here are a few minutes from back in March - Oliver had just turned two years old, and had in fact only joined our family about six weeks earlier. Sadie was newly three, and Benjamin only a couple months into being six.

Isabella turns 1!

Back in September, our petite little miss celebrated her first birthday. Close family joined us and we made the tiniest cupcake for her itty bitty hands. A few notables from the day include...

-- Both of her birth parents joined us.
-- My 90-year-old grandmother joined us.
-- My grandmother was the first person Bella has ever waved goodbye to - and it happened as grandma was leaving the party.
-- We ate white chili, a fancy chicken and grape salad, and Italian cream cupcakes - the best cupcakes in the world.
-- Bella showed off her crawling and eating skills.

And now for the slide show. Many thanks to my mother who manned the camera and is therefore not in any pictures.

Starting Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

Benjamin recently started learning Jiu-jitsu. It's not a kicking-punching martial art, but rather a wrestling sort of one. This has been so good for him.

This is a work in progress, but he has been learning to get beaten without losing his cool, to take a fall without freaking out, and to keep going to the very end. His class is mostly girls, but there are two other boys who weren't there the day I took pictures. He goes to church with two of the girls and to school with another two.

In the video you can see some of the drills and then the matches he was in one day. In one photo, he gets bested by a girl named after the Tarkheena warrior girl in The Horse and His Boy. She is tough. All us moms sit around and admire her. At the end of that day he received his first stripe. And since then he has decided he doesn't want to do it any more. (Ha!  We've got to help him grow through this tendency to sabotage himself.)

If you get the chance, ask him how to do a leg sweep or if he's up for the turtle drill. He just might show you.



P.S. Yes, the soundtrack is full of bagpipes. Let's just say that's a little shout out to his Grandma Karen. It adds a twist that you wouldn't have if the music was all gongs and flutes.

Spring Sprinklers

Back in May, wildfires rushed the canyons and neighborhoods in our part of the county. It was a long week. Long because of the uncertainty, the friends and businesses forced to evacuate; long because of the unyielding heat. Long because much of life - schools, extracurricular and social activities, and in some cases, jobs, were on hold until the burning could be controlled.

We were home in a stuffy, sweltering house with not much to do for long periods of time. Where could we go? Parts of freeways were blocked off, air quality was terrible, and places with air conditioning, like the mall, were packed.

And while it seemed so contrary to the worry and the waiting, we needed to bring some joy to the moment. We needed to get wet. We needed to break through it all and laugh. This is what happened.

The Kindergarten Play

Oh the fun of watching little kids put on a show!  At Benjamin's school, every grade level performs a play at the end of the year. The three classes of kindergarteners prepared The Little Red Hen for our entertainment, and here is a bit of video just for you.

Gargling Girl

In other news, Sadie has taught herself how to gargle.

Catching Up - Sadie's 3rd Birthday

So back in February, a week after Oliver and Isabella moved in, we had a birthday party for our dear Sadie Lou who was turning a very loud and spunky three years old. Here's a little slideshow to recap the afternoon. Of course, with me behind the camera and lots of stuff to attend to, the photos miss out on about half the folks who joined us and do not include her opening presents or anything.

But here is what you WILL see:

• lots of pics of Sadie eating cake - she probably had at least four pieces (that I know of)
• the two little girls who look like her biological cousins...are.
• the young man who looks like her birth daddy...is.
• the grandma who looks like her biological grandma...is.
• Brent's mom, sister, and niece came to town and were able to join us - so special to have dem Clevelanders around!
• the kids decided that playing in the woodpile on the slope in the dirt under the orange trees was the most fun thing of all - yay for free range kiddos!
• when blowing out the candles on her cake, Sadie noticed that her cousin Annalise was also blowing them, and promptly shoved her out of the way. Look for that little segment.

All in all it was a beautiful day and a special time to celebrate this girl who brightens our lives and has us shaking our head in laughter and disbelief every day.

BenTV 027: Sadie at 18 Months

Because we can't get enough of this girl. Five minutes of what life is like around here.

Little Miss Busybody

Our little girl is all over the place these days. Today it seemed like every part of her that could move was moving...constantly. Arms, legs, fingers, neck, eyes darting about, mouth jabbering away. The slideshow doesn't do her justice, but it's a start:

April Visit to the Cabin

In the beginning of April, we made a spontaneous visit to the mountains. Four days of early spring - not so warm or pretty, but still good for uplifting the spirit. Here's a little snapshot:

BenTV 026: On Fighter Jets, Magic, and His Name

In case you were wondering:

BenTV 025: Sunshine After the Rain

This little episode took place in September. A downpour passed through our yard, chased first by the sun, and then by my son. Whenever it rains he strips off his clothes and runs out in the backyard. Not one to be left out of such diversion, Sadie insisted on joining him. I want to remember moments like these forever.

BenTV 024: Benjamin and the Snow

video courtesy of Uncle Mike and Auntie Bek