I don’t have a sister. I now have three sisters-in-law, but that’s not the same as growing up with a sister.

How do I know?

Well, the other day, Evan had to go to the restroom. As often happens here at home, Ferris went in with her, I suppose, just to keep her company.

Or so I thought.

I heard the toilet flush and then Evan flitted out of the bathroom and Ferris toddled out after her. They were both smiling.

Evan looked up at me and excitedly explained, “Mom, Ferris wiped my bottom for me!!!”

I tried not to laugh. I looked down at two precious smiling faces. Both were obviously pleased at their teamwork.

I’m glad they’re learning a thing or two about service, but that might be going a bit too far. Alas…

If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!

Brady turned SIX on Saturday. Where has the time gone?!

As you may remember, we started a new tradition last year of allowing the kids to choose a special outing for their birthdays instead of a gift. Because there are a few of us and usually a newborn, big family activities are few and far between. Last year, Andy chose bowling and Brady chose ice skating. This year, Connor wanted a campfire (which got rained out,) and Andy chose a “man-date” with Dad to Bass Pro Shops.

So, I knew Brady had been thinking long and hard about what he wanted to do for his big day.

His initial ideas were no-goes: rock climbing (no where around here, plus he’s too small,) laser tag (not enough of us to make a whole party,) go-carts (it was January… no tracks open in our area!)

About a week before his birthday, he got all excited and said, “Mom, I know what I want to do for my birthday.”

I couldn’t wait to hear.

“I want to go to McDonald’s. Could I get a Happy Meal?”

I tried not to smile too big. “Yes, Buddy. If that’s what you want, you could certainly get a Happy Meal.”

“Could you ask Daddy if we could go inside?” When there are 6 kids in 6 carseats, sometimes the drive-thru is a much quicker, easier option.

“Sure. I think we could do that.”

Because his birthday was on a Saturday, I knew Nate would likely have to work. (Saturdays are busy days at the airport.) So I warned, “We’ll have to see what Daddy’s work schedule is like. We may have to go on Sunday… Or maybe just the two of us could go alone.”

His eyes danced a bit. “Just me and you?!”

I refrained from giving him a grammar lecture. “Yes. We’ll see. We could probably all go, though.”

“No! I want to go with just you!” I wasn’t sure if he was being selfish or not, but my heart was melting a bit.

It ended up being just the two of us, though we could have gone as a party of eight. He genuinely wanted the alone time. I did not want to miss it, either. Ten years from now, when he’s 16, he’ll likely be mortified that a McD’s date with Mom was all he wanted for his sixth birthday. I, however, will cherish it.

I let him pick whatever he wanted for his dinner. He chose wisely: a cheeseburger Happy Meal with apple dippers and chocolate milk… and an Oreo McFlurry for dessert. He even gave me a bite. I shared my fries with him.

He was thrilled to get to pick out the table. He chose a high-top with just three seats (something we can’t do when we’re ALL together.) It was a pretty big deal.

I also surprised him with a trip to the library, where he got his very own library card… another big deal.

Happy Birthday, Brady Boy!

I think you’re a big deal, too. Thank you for my date. I had a lovely evening.

Evan adores her baby brother. She dotes on him, tries to hold him, longs to interpret his every coo, admires his eyes, etc.

The other day, she wanted to hold him on her lap. He was holding each of her hands with that death-grip babies use when they feel insecure. (He can’t help it… she doesn’t weigh much more than he does.) Evan noticed how tightly he held on and she said, “Mommy, Gwayson’s stwong!”

“Yes,” I agreed. “He is.”

“Not as much as me, but he’s stwong. I’m VEWY stwong, but he’s a tinny butt stwong.”

I’m sure she meant ‘tiny bit,’ but that’s not how it came out. Cracked me up. Still does.

Ferris recently found a small Gideon’s Bible we had tucked away somewhere. I’m not sure if it’s the size that appeals to her or what, but she LOVES this little Bible.

She carries it around the house and if she sees it somewhere, she repeats “Bible!” until it’s in her posession again.

I’m hoping it’s a good sign of things to come.

After all, snuggling up with God’s Word each night can only lead to obedience, right?

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.  (III John 4)

When Grayson arrived (and was a BOY!), we knew the kids would all be thrilled. Yet, we also knew that Connor would find it extra special to have a baby brother! A first for him!

Today, more than seven whole months later, Connor still likes Grayson an awful lot.

I was washing lunch dishes (OK, they were actually lunch dishes mixed with last night’s dinner dishes, etc.) and Connor came into the kitchen smiling.

“Mom,” he said, “I’m so glad you had a baby boy who is cute and funny.”

And he left. And my heart melted.

There’s no second greater joy than to see your children love each other (book of Christa.)

Connor, holding Grayson the day he was born.

Today’s a special day here: Evan turns THREE!

Since she surprised us three years ago by arriving two months early, she has not stopped amazing us. Her size has never been an obstacle for her. Despite the fact that she weighs less than her little sister (Ferris is 13 months younger than her,) Evan has NO problem keeping up with the big kids… She talks circles around many of them, too.

Nate and I took her on a date all by herself on Saturday. She cracked us up. She was excited all day that she got to go on a date, but by the time we got in the van, it was evident that she wasn’t sure just what a date really was!

“Daddy, is a date somethin’ you ride on?”

“No,” Nate explained. “It’s something you go on. It’s when you do something fun with people you love.”

“Oh…” she said. Then she started SCREAMING, “DATE, WHERE ARE YOU?! DATE, I CAN’T SEE YOU!! COME OUT DATE! WE NEED TO GO ON YOU! WITH MOMMY AND DADDY! WE’RE NICE PERSONS!!”

She’s a trip. Today, she’s at the Tea Room with Nana and she’s wearing a princess dress.

So hard to believe that she once weighed just 2 pounds, 12 ounces. As the nurses joked, I practically sneezed her out.

She’s got more spunk than I sometimes know what to do with. Here’s how I described her in this year’s Christmas letter:

Evan remains the fireball that she was at birth. She is still much smaller than others her age and appears that she may never outgrow that “preemie” title. She has a big personality and flits around with a song in her heart, though much of the time the lyrics are made up. She plans to marry Daddy one day, but for now spends her time making giant messes, like creating a winter wonderland in her room out of baby powder or  perfecting unique hairstyles for Ferris using diaper rash cream as super-strong hair gel. Thankfully, she takes instruction well and is becoming a proficient cleaner. Evan also loves babies and is often seen with two or more dolls at a time. She gets that from Mom!

She recently graduated to a new toddler bed and she’s very proud of it. She’s our girl and we’re thrilled about it.

We love you, Monkey! Happy Birthday.

You know that beautiful shade of silvery-grayish-blue?

Here, I’ll show you. Here’s blue with a little Gray mixed in:

Isn’t that adorable? I know he’s my own kid, and I know I’m biased, but I find this photo irresistible!

PS-That’s one of the rare times around here that you’ll ever see the bottom of the laundry basket.

It’s really cold and snowy here in northwest Indiana. I really need to do some grocery shopping.

Nate’s work schedule is crazy busy this week… But the idea of taking 6 kids grocery shopping and trying to unload the cart and buckle seatbelts with wind swirling the zero-degree temps around us just didn’t appeal to me.

So, my dreamboat husband offered to pick up a few necessities for me after work last night. *happy sigh*

So, I texted him a list: “Milk, eggs, cereal, etc.”

He came home with three gallons of milk, two dozen eggs and TEN boxes of cereal. TEN.

I think he’s got me figured out! I’ve never read that “Love languages” book, but I’m pretty sure mine are acts of service and provision. And buying in bulk when things are on sale!

My kids like to cook. All of them. Even the boys. (Well, I suppose the jury is still out on little Gray, since he’s only 6 months old. If his enthusiasm for eating is any indication, he’ll like to cook, too.)

For Christmas, I found them a neat little kids’ cookbook. It has pictures that help them understand the recipes and lists of the “equipment” you’ll need to make each dish, too. (I was a bit sad that some of the recipes weren’t healthier and more from-scratch, but I can understand why they did that.) We also got each of our kiddos and apron. I even painted their names on the fronts of each one (and sewed some ribbon on the girls, too!)

We made monster cookies on New Year’s Eve, so the kids all donned their cute little aprons. Unfortunately, with so many eager helpers, each child only got to help with one or two steps of the process. They still had fun.

The boys took their aprons off right after we got the cookies mixed, but the girls wanted, as Evan puts it, “to play titchen” a little longer. In the photo above, Ferris was a bit irked that she couldn’t eat the dough right away. Telling her we’re making cookies and then forcing her to wait 11 minutes is cruel punishment. She’s acting two already. She’s mature for her age.

I know the photo is a bit wanky, but just so you know, I DO know how to spell Evan’s name. Her apron really does say “Evan,” but she’s got a smudge of peanut butter above the ‘v.’ Messes are just drawn to her like magnets. Thankfully, she’s still cute. Or at least I think so.

It’s family tradition around here to read Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus before opening gifts at Christmastime. We do it as a family and also with our extended family.

A couple of years ago, our now 9-year-old nephew Joshua read the passage aloud and did great. This year was my Andy’s turn. We had explained to Andy a few weeks ago that it might be his turn and he was NERVOUS, but he knew what an honor it is! There are already 12 grandchildren on that side of the family (Joshua is the oldest,) so repeat performances aren’t too likely.

I didn’t get to hear the beginning of it because I was cleaning up vomit (hey, we KNOW how to party) but I heard he did well… except for calling Mary Joseph’s “exposed” wife.

Special thanks to Aunt Heather for capturing this photo
of Andy reading Luke 2 to the family (with Uncle Seth!)