Kapaun-10 Months Old

Kapaun is at such a fun and easy age. He just crawls around the house exploring. I know this is the calm before the storm. I know the pattern.  My babies are always very cranky.  About 8-9 months, they become the loveliest and easiest babies.  Around 11-13 months, the fits begin which last a good year or so.  After that, we have pretty laid back 2-year-olds and it revs up again when they hit 3 years of age.  Once they hit the ripe age of 4, our toddlers are generally predictable and manageable. 

For now, I know Kapaun's explorative and peaceful ways are sure enjoyable.  He thinks the big kids are hysterical.  He is the center of all of their universes, as it should be.  He is just a precious baby. My sister said that he like having a baby polar bear in the house.  He is fun to carry around.  He has a great belly laugh for a baby which is easily evoked with not much effort.

Morning Face

His hair curls when we are outside.

He loves to eat mulch.  I played with this bug net for about an hour.  Their attention span at this age is really fascinating.  He really wasn't doing much with it, but would transfer it back and forth, pick up mulch, transfer, bang on ground.  Over and over again.

Clairvaux's 4th Birthday

William Shakespearse's quote "Though she be but little, she is fierce" runs through my head often when I think of our Clairvaux. I wonder what gives a child their personality and a funny one at that.  She drops so many funny lines throughout the day that I cannot even keep up. 
She was so excited for her birthday.  So excited that it often makes me sad that I won't be able to meet their excitement.  We try and they always seem grateful so I am not quite sure why I let it bother me. 
We started off with our traditional breakfast out.  She chose "O McDonald's", but deliberated between Chipotle, Red Robin, and Village Inn.  I have supported McDonald's these past few months every morning with my order of one sausage biscuit with egg, one hashbrown, and a small mango pineapple smoothie.  Every morning.  It is the only meal I can keep down so I am glad they are open every morning.  She watches me eat it every morning so she ordered exactly what I usually get. 

We enjoyed each other very much and I am always reminded how darling it is to have each child alone.  They say the cutest things and often reveal their heart in ways you haven't heard before. 

She wanted so much to play in the play structure.  It was funny to see her all by herself exploring the tunnels.  I am so use to seeing 45 little bodies chasing after her. 

We were discussing her birthday plans and I asked her what she wanted to do, what kind of cake she wanted, and what she wanted for dinner.  She requested to go swimming and then said the cutest thing, "Can we go visit Jora at work?"  Jora is married to my sister Kristin.  Clairvaux loves him.  I know she loves him because he makes her feel special to him when they come over.  It was too precious.  I texted him and asked if we could stop by.  He eagerly accepted and we headed over with some breakfast for him.  It was so adorable to see her tromping through his work site up the hill with the McDonald's bag to find him.  She was so proud to give him a sandwich and he was equally touched she wanted to see him.  He gave her an orange Gatorade which was the equivalent to a new car.  She had her own Gatorade.  Our family members called all day to wish her Happy Birthday and she told each of them about getting a Gatorade from Jora. 

Aunt Damaris took her swimming.  She usually takes a nap every afternoon so this was a very big deal.  Damaris took her down the big slide and she loved it. 

So precious and innocent.  I wish childhood birthdays would last forever.  She requested red beans and rice for dinner.  I took her to the store with me to get the ingredients.  She professed her love to me many times and told me that she was having such a good birthday. 

To a young child, these moments are magical.  She was embarrassed when we sang to her.  It was just our family, but she was still so excited that it embarrassed her.

John took her to Target after the other kids were in bed and let her pick out a gift.  She already knew she wanted to get a baby doll. 

Happy Birthday, Clairvaux.  You are our pride and joy.  We love every ounce of you and you are an irreplaceable member of our family.  We are so glad God gave you to us!  We love you so much!

Family Photo Night

Family pictures. I had to include a few of our outtakes because most of the 1,000 pictures taken were hilarious.   I know the kids want to run and hide when I announce that we will be taking our family picture. No matter how relaxed I try to be, it is just quite the little adventure deciding what to wear, where to take the picture, styling and restyling hair, finding shoes, and THEN taking the picture is always a carnival ride. I blame it every year on the two year old.  Damaris did not disappoint.  I do feel bad for the kids as I have this image in my mind that I am hoping to capture and they are just being kids smiling their natural smiles. 

Damaris went down hill fast.

I have ZERO photo editing skills so apart from uploading to Photobucket and using their handy tabs, we pretty much have to take 1,000 shots in hopes of getting a good one.

Not to speak about somebody behind their back, but we were discussing the obvious tot's antics in this photo.  Clairvaux was even dismayed.  Zellie wasn't feeling well. 

In hopes that they don't have completely horrible memories of taking family pictures, we took them out for Mexican food afterwards.