My very own Farrell's party

John encouraged me shortly after Lourdes was born to start exercising.  It is always hard for me to make time, but it feels so great to sweat everyday.  I really enjoy kickboxing so I entered a 10 week fitness challenge through Farrell's Kickboxing.  The winner receives $1000.00 for the biggest body transformation.  I was really motivated and wanted to have 100% attendance.  John said he would do whatever it took to make it happen.  Every morning for ten weeks, John and Dominic held down the fort while I attended class.  The kids were so excited for me to win the contest.  They constantly wanted updates and my current thoughts as to if I thought I was going to win or not.  It was so great.  I did not win much to their displeasure, but I did have 100% attendance and it really was so great to exercise everyday.
Rose has such a tender heart and wanted to have our own celebration.  John said she so dutifully planned all the party details.  They wanted to go to the Dollar Tree to buy gifts.  She wanted to make a special dessert.  They wanted decorations.  John was to take me out "on a date" so when we came home, they would surprise me.
First, John took them all to the Dollar Tree which was ridiculously fun.  Then, they scurried in the house and up to their room to wrap my prizes.  I acted very busy and unaware of all the fuss.  We put the little ones to bed and John ushered me to Target.  Finally, they got to work.  They were all waiting in the window when we pulled up.  I saw the lights go out and 400 little bodies scrambled past the window to hide.  We walked in and heard "SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  Of course, I acted completely shocked.  My cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing.  

Dominic picked out for me the Coke glass we always point out to each other when shopping Dollar Tree goods.  We always say, "We should get that.  It is so cool." 

Lillie picked out for me a scented Skittle candle.  She was overcome with excitement as she knows I loved the candle Dominic gave me for Christmas.  She saw my reaction then so I am sure that is why she picked out a candle.  So observant.

Rose, the party planner.  She is always so appropriate and thoughtful.  She wanted me to know how proud they were of me even though I didn't win.  She was worried I was disappointed. Heck NO...I would have rather had your party any day.

Everyone was jealous of the beautiful glitter portrait Zellie picked out.  They each commented how they wanted to give it to me after Zellie found it.  Lucky duck I am.  She thinks it is ravishing.

Vianney artfully colored three pictures and hid them all day in her backpack to surprise me. 

Clairvaux's face in the next pictures are so precious.  She colored and drew all day too!  THEN, she gave me her coveted one dollar bill. 

Damaris scribbled furiously her Sofia the First picture.  What will I do with all my treasures?

The table of honor.

Signs everywhere

Hearts taped to the walls.

Rose's masterpiece of a Rice Krispie treat.  Her siblings couldn't believe her talent to be able to shape it into a heart.  They just were in awe of her rare gift.

I will never forget them this day. They wanted me so bad to know I did a good job. I would have much rather attended this party than win $1000.00.

Joe and BVM

Joe and the BVM are tight.  He always shows some form of affection when passing her.

Charlie Brown with his Lady

Reading to Lourdes

Rose to me yesterday: "I just love when I hold her and she is so content. I could hold her all day."

Who will hold Lourdes?

We were preparing to drop Lillie off at her first camp today. She and I were finishing up a few errands this morning. I asked her if she was excited or nervous. She hesitated for a moment, welled up with tears and then said, "Who will hold Lourdes while I am gone? Who will play with Kapaun?" It was so touching that she was most concerned about the two people who get the most attention in our home. What a good big sister!

I saw these to out front coloring a surprise present for me.  I love when they have no idea I am watching.

Playing with Lourdes

Dancing with Kapaun and Vianney

Lining up Frogs

This is probably my very favorite thing little kids do.  The younger the child the better.  I love when they belly up to the floor and play.  He was in the music room, on his belly, lining up frogs for thirty minutes.  He would come and get me because he was so proud of his work.  Dominic lined up animals at this age.  John and I would take pictures of his line ups at night after he went to bed.  What was cute about Dominic's line-ups is that we would find them all over the house.  It was so great.

Lourdes can walk.

I am the second oldest of ten children. I LOVE my brothers and sisters. I always have. My mom tells me when I was 4-years-old that I was as confident taking care of a baby as a grown woman. I loved holding babies and still do. I loved teaching my brothers and sisters things and see that now in our children. I heard commotion in the other room, "Mom, Lourdes almost walked by herself." I saw myself in them. They wanted her to walk so bad. She is only four months old, but they are determined to teach her. What a loved baby to have so many doting on her!

Our Nightly Habit

I don't know when it started, but every night Vianney and I read a story or two together. It is usually just us. Sometimes, I have a someone else looking over my shoulder, but it seems they all instinctively know that it is our time together. No matter what time we go to bed, we read together every night. It must be her love language. I love how she absorbs into my side as the story goes on and on. She is such a wonderfully sweet and sensitive child. She is such an angel. It really is the only thing she verbally requests each day and now I look forward to it at night as much as she does.

Our First Bumbo Baby

We've never used a Bumbo before Lourdes. I tried a few times, but our babies have never taken to them. Lourdes enjoys batting at toys on the tray and the big kids think it is just the greatest baby invention ever.

John and I were cracking up because she folded her hands like she was praying.

7 Sisters