Dominic.

Aunt Kellan teaching you to mow for the first time.

Beautiful smile.


You really are the perfect son. I won't even begin to apologize for making such a statement. I marvel at your goodness, maturity, depth, awareness, prudence, diligence, kindness, and gentleness. You are everything I dreamed about when I thought of my future children as a young, unmarried woman.

God has blessed us with you. I know that you are a gift. I know it is nothing that we have done to cultivate in you the fine traits you exhibit. I can honestly say that with a pure heart. You have always been wise beyond your years. Even as a wee youngster, you were as such.





You spend your days drawing Star Wars maps, building Lego ships, reading, doing your school work, writing in your journal, asking about "Joe,Emma, Lucy, Paul" or "Thomas or Joe Vacek." You love your Aunt Kellan. You two are one. I love watching you two together. She was only 5 when you were born so you have always been close. You love to laugh together, walk the dogs together, or go to the store and get a special treat. She reads you and you read her.

When Clairvaux was born, I felt a huge sense of awareness of how BIG you have gotten and how little time you really have left in our home. I treasure our days together. I enjoy every ounce of time spent with you because I am so aware of the passing of these days. You love to eat out, getting together with other families, baking, you can make a mean scrambled egg with bacon grease, going to the library, Barnes and Noble, and have picked up on my love of antique shops ever since we visited one and you spotted an old pistol. You were hooked.

Your sisters couldn't love you more and rightly so. You are so good to them. Your patience and constant "giving in" amazes us. I tell them that they have the best big Brother. You have a way with Clairvaux that tickles me everyday. Your names never make sense, but are funny every time. Chunky Monkey Chicken Turtle was the choice name for today. You always say, "We have the best baby in the world."


This picture was precious to me because it still "retains small childhood." You asked me to watch how high you could jump out of the swing. It was so high (smile).
Dominic Boever, you have been blessed with many wonderful men before you. In this picture is your Great-Grandfather Marv and Great-Grandmother Nina, your grandpa, and your own father. Four generations of powerful, holy men. Your great-grandfather is setting the bar so high for us all. He so beautifully cares for his wife everyday, by himself. She has Alzheimer's and is like a child. He is amazing. He is always cheerful and positive and clearly knows where he is going and loves his wife with his whole heart. His daily life is unbelievable with her and has it down to perfection. Your great-grandfather Pete Hart died a month ago and you had the opportunity to go and visit him one last time. He had a special love for you. He called you Archimedes. Your Grandpa is like a father to me. I love him and his gentleness. Wally is one of the finest men I know. He, along with your other grandparents have left an amazing legacy.



This year, you were able to participate in Heritage School. You had a great day in the old school house. You met some boys who spent the day catching a snake. You brought lunch wrapped in a rag and wore clothes that depicted the era. You participated in the Spelling Bee and recited a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.

You are a "note leaver." I am constantly finding notes around the house from you about anything and everything. I keep all of them.
This was your Schwan's order although we don't order from them. You wanted to give it a try.


You were able to serve mass for Fr. Konrade. Such a privilege.

Your first piano recital. You played "Fur Elise."


The world is opening up to you. It is beautiful and over-whelming as a mother. I want to see everything with you, do everything with you, and see it all through your eyes and wonder. We dream many wonderful things for you. I dream for you first to always be a good boy. Always do the right thing no matter what the crowd is doing. Be a leader. Lead strongly and others will follow. You have been given many gifts and strong natural inclinations towards goodness. Guard that and stay close to the sacraments. Be like your father in all ways. He is the perfect example. Study hard for the glory of God. Use your brain to lead others to Him.
Thank you for being my son. I am privileged to know you. I love our days together and am so glad you are home. I love you, my son.

Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

I have to blog this because I want to remember how hard I laughed with John while watching this video. Serious tears were flowing not only because of the dorkiness of the video, but the comments people left below the video on YouTube were hysterical.
*note-if you happen to read the comments posted below the actual video on YouTube, some of them are very inappropriate*


Here is a sampling of our favorites:

'4 of them are wearing leather jackets, and the other guy is wearing ... a cardigan?"


"I have a girlfriend and this is our fav song"


"They were really pumped to jam this song out. They are walking so fast. I can imagine the conversation that went down. "Hey guys, put on your tightest jeans and head for the cliche 80's music video warehouse to rock out!"

Our favorite:
"This is what me and friends look like when we go to Subway for brunch..."

I really do love funny people.

Measure-sizing

Rose asked me to get down the tape measure so she could "Measure-size" something.

After giving her the tape measure and her measuring everything in the house she says,

"Mom, I am measure-sizing the whole house."

Caseys -v- "Chesis"

Our four oldest children go to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd once a week. We were driving to mass this morning and passed a Casey's convenience store.

Rose (in the back pondering): "Are we going to "Chesis" at that building?"

*at this point, I have no idea what she is talking about*

Lillie: "That's not Catechesis that's Casey's!!"

John and I were crying with laughter at each of them thinking, pondering, and then saying. Lillie had about a ten second delay while she processed what Rose had just said.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

I have always loved Our Lady of Guadalupe. Probably because of her love of the unborn. This feast day has been dear to my heart since I was a small child. We decided to have a little get together in her honor and invite our friends over to eat Mexican food and celebrate the wonderful gift of HUMAN LIFE.
It was grand!! We have been blessed with such good friends. We are all alike in many ways and all different in many ways, BUT we have one major thing in common-LIFE and the respect of it. Our little gathering turned quickly into about 65 people over for dinner.

The cake was huge and striped green, white, and red for the Mexican Flag.

What was incredible that out of 64 people attending 44 were small children. They all played until they couldn't play anymore. Nobody got hurt and they all played so well together. We watched a brief movie after a couple hours so the adults could grab a bite to eat and visit for a little bit.

I love that our friends love life. Through all the blood, sweat, and tears THEY LOVE LIFE. I wrote to some friends earlier this week that this "sisterhood" of motherhood is what men in the military must feel like. We are fighting a war. A great spiritual war is being waged for our soul and the souls' of our children. We are fighting it together. We are covering each others backs.

Children are such a gift. They are our future. They keep the world new and hopeful. I was listening to Mother Angelica for a brief moment today and she was speaking about each of us and our very being. She said, "God had to purposefully look at you and say 'YOU will be'." Our lives are such a gift.

Dear Johnny,
You are my right hand man! You make these wonderful events possible. Thank you for all your help, cheerfulness, and fun!

The Story of Jonah as Told by The Cutest Little Girl

I'm on a roll. This is precious and amazing.

3 year old Jonathan conducting to the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th Sy...

Darling. Classical music. You have to watch the whole thing.


Meet Emily.

Fr. Benedict Groeschel - On Contentment...so true...so true.

Happy Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be grateful for!

Just being with Lillie

It is always so good to spend time with each child alone. You really get a chance to talk with, look at, and just be together. You and I went on a date to Panera to get hot chocolate and to walk around the mall together.

Overwhelming to a six year old. "My own Hot Chocolate?"

Oh, the things we talked about. We had heavy discussions about the American Girl dolls and their lives. They are real to you, you see. I asked you which doll was your favorite. You said, "Samantha...because her dress is much prettier than Molly's Miss. Victory clothes." When you are playing with your sisters, I hear a lot of "If you let me have that pencil, I'll let you be Miss Victory." I learned that Zellie likes Felicity and wants to take swimming lessons at the YMCA. I laughed out loud at that one. Rose likes Molly best.




I then let you take over the camera. Quite a privilege. I let you snap photos of whatever you wanted. I think you took 300 photos at Toys R Us. Precious.
You said, "Let's be best friends forever."
We decided at this point to write down our favorite princess per your request. I said, "Let's ask each other question." You said, "Okay, who is your favorite princess?" You wrote Cinderella and Belle. They are mine too!

I wish I had the perspective of a child again. Was this tree a million feet tall to you??? Please remember?



This was your pick for favorite dress.

At one point, you turned to me and said, "I will see you in heaven. I will miss you in heaven." Gulp. I always getting a little lump in my throat when you say comments like that.

These are a few pictures showcasing your photo talents. Many things were captured to "show Rose" and "Ohhh, Dominic would love this." I watched you the whole time and gave you all the time in the world.

That's right. You and me.

Lovely. You are a queen to us.

Lillie, you are now 6 1/2 years old. You are getting so tall. You are doing so well in school. You LOVE math and reading. Your Papa and I think you will be a speed reader. You read so fast and fly through every book. You read a 367 page book in two days. It was non-stop and serious. You were very motivated. You have a great brain for math and piano. You are playing beautifully and I don't sit to practice with you anymore because you understand your pieces most of the time.

You are Dominic's Lego/ship building buddy. You can talk Star Wars with the best of them. You were telling us the other day about General Grevious' ship. Very funny. You and Dominic create ships at the table most days. You know the names of all the characters.

Lillie, I know at times it must seem I am on you a lot. I don't want to be. I want to be your gentle mother guiding you through the storms of life. I dream for you many, many wonderful things. I want you to be a lady and be like Our Lady. I want you to learn many wonderful things, experience all the beauty in the world, meet a wonderful man if it is your vocation or be a holy nun if that is your vocation. I want to help you when you are a mother. If God asked what we dreamed for you, it would be nothing but loveliness. If the cross comes your way, we want you to know that we are here to help you carry it. We want you to know how loved you, wanted you are, and treasured. I apologize for my shortcomings with you and hope that I always ask your forgiveness and that you too will learn the fine trait of asking forgiveness. My mother taught me that those words can heal many wounds. "Please forgive me." and in return "Of course, I forgive you. I love you. Can we start over?"

People always tell me how complimentary you are. It is true. You love life. You get so excited to do the smallest things. You enjoy friendship and are a good friend to people. You love babies, not only ours, but other peoples babies. You are always so quick to tell someone how nice they look, or that you love their purple sweater, or their shoes. You love movies especially the American Girl movies and believe in your head that you really are imitating the Miss Victory dance. Darling. Serious faces, please. Although, you are always up for the Lone Ranger, Leave it to Beaver, and are looking forward to the day we let you watch Star Wars.

Before Clairvaux was born, you and I went on a date to get your hair done, your nails painted, and to get a little treat. It was great to be with you. You picked bright green nail polish.





We picked up a drink at the Sonic and headed home. It was good to be with you. We are so proud of you.

Goodbye Mama

I never want to take the ordinary for granted.



This is my going away party when I leave. I hear a lot of the following:

"Good-bye Mama! Where are you going? Can I come with you? When will you be back?" Love. Love you. "

Everytime I pull out of the drive way and they are waving and yelling "Good-bye", I am always a little sad that someday this darling scene of them standing on the porch will never be again. I love it. I love looking through the passenger window to see them.

Clairvaux-Four Months Old

The months are flying by. You are as sweet as could be. You are such a happy baby now. You find much contentment swinging in your swing, gazing at the warning labels on your car seat and swing, playing on the floor on your play mat, and watching the big kids run by. You usually suck on your fist all day and have recently found your voice which scares you sometimes.

You can roll from your stomach to your back like it is your job and can almost roll from your back to your stomach. I've noticed you are riding on my hip more and more.


We stop by the mirror several times a day for you to chat with Gladys, your mirror friend. It amazes you everyday that she is there and she looks and smiles just like you.

You have become quite the social drinker. If anybody makes any sound, you pop off from nursing and watch (upside down of course) and then you start nursing again only to pop off to see what the new sound is.


Dominic comes up with the best names and sayings for you. Today, you were chatting very loudly and he said, "You are such a walkie-talkie. You walkie when you talkie." Yesterday, he said, "I love our little Laffy Taffy." I love the names he comes up with for you.




You are sleeping pretty good. You are usually ready for bed around between 7:00-8:00 and will get up one or two times during the night. You sleep in the co-sleeper right next to me so most nights I don't even realized I've grabbed you to nurse and have put you back in bed. I love waking up with you curled next to me especially all warm and cozy.

I haven't had to supplement you yet which is a first. You are doing well. I take you in next week for your four month check. I notice you now push off from me to turn and watch the kids more and more. You are getting better in the car, but still don't care for it much. Your naps are still pretty sporadic, but I am sure we will be finding consistency soon.

I just love you. I tell you often in your ear that you are a perfect person. I love your smile and how you kick your one leg wildly when I come to get you out of the swing. You will even be playing nicely and I will walk over to get you, and your little leg gets going with excitement. I like that. It looks like we gave you a buzz hair cut so we call you Buzz Lightyear. I love this age because you are overcome with love when you see me. I am completely arrogant when it comes to your love for me. I am proud!

Let's see how you are growing:

Clairvaux-Three Months Old