The thing is...

Here is the thing about your kids. They are so much more than you could ever have imagined. If asked to special order them, to check off all the proper boxes resulting in the child you would like the most, it would be impossible to come up with this winsome, amazing combination that is your child. Each one is the same only in that they are so impossibly unique. (I notice that I use the word "impossible" a lot when speaking of my children - the wonder I feel doesn't cancel out the fact that parenting is the most difficult thing I will ever do.)  Everyday when Katy is one of my best friends, when Gabe laughs uproariously at his adorable baby sister, when Zach once again makes my jaw drop with one of his hilarious quips, when Rilla finds one more thing that will have us all in stitches and keeps doing it, when I think of Jacob and his heart for peace - how is this my family? Can time just stop as I watch them pull the baby in the wooden sled, looking for all the world like a Norman Rockwell painting? Is it possible that Jake is almost twenty, practically the age I was when I became a parent? Who will I spend my evenings with once Katy is gone? The thing about your kids is this - they are each the very best, and that in itself is a miracle.

Birthday Week 2012

As I write this, both of my boys are 8 years old. That will change on Monday, of course, when Gabe will reach the ripe old age of 9. This week has been full of birthday activity - cupcakes and small gifts for Zach on Wednesday (his actual birthday), going out for lobster with Daddy on Thursday and Zach receiving his gift (a wooden runner sled from L.L.Bean), having some family and friends over for pizza, cake and ice cream on Friday, then heading to a late (7:20!) movie with Daddy at the "cheap" theater, and finally on Monday Gabe will get what he wished for - birthday money to spend as he chooses, so he and his best friend Gavin can  go shopping.
Phew. Good thing we get all of the family birthdays out of the way in the second half of the year - no more now until July, when it starts all over again!
In other news, Rilla says "I love you" now, so the whole family is always angling to hear those words come out of her mouth, and she also likes to color!
Katy is finishing up her very last midterms of her highschool career - mostly easy, like making a sandwich in Basic Foods class!
Finally getting a little snow.

Anticipated for months, the lobster sadly left a little to be desired  for the boys.

Yep, this kid could spend his life playing video games if I let him.

EIGHT YEAR OLDS

Normally she loves to color, but the camera causes a dilemma of where to look. 

My domestic help

As I was cooking dinner (a Sunday-night, Daddy-is-working-and-Katy-is-out Special, pasta, rolls and apple slices!) Zach wandered by the kitchen, sighed, and said:
"Ahhh. I love the smell of macaroni in the afternoon..."

Before they were allowed to turn on their mutual favorite Sunday night television treat, America's Funniest Home Videos, the boys needed to clean up their room, and tonight I asked Gabe to grab the small dirt devil stick and vacuum too.  A couple minutes later I walked by, and he coolly gave me a thumbs up as he vacuumed, then winked. He's almost nine and suddenly it's like I'm Fonzys' mom.