Happy Birthday Amelie Rose!

My sweet big girl is *7* today! I can't believe it! She's starting to get old enough that it feels less like we're counting up and more like we're counting down to her growing into an adult! She has changed so much over the year and has become so confident! She is a vastly proficient reader, loves math so much she does problems in her head when she is bored (must get that from her father!!=), is taking piano lessons, is the best big sister/helper ever and is super funny and fun. I love her and watching her grow up is like a present for me everyday! It's kind of amazing how awesome she is. =)

She had a big week this week--with Christmas, and on Monday a trip to see The Nutcracker in Philly with Granny and Pop (so special, so amazing! too bad she was coming down with a cold =( . On Wednesday she had a fun birthday party at Bounce U with her little friends! And tonight our family came over for some birthday celebrating! When it was all over she said, "Now there is nothing fun leftover and life is going to be plain." =) I think the trick to growing up is learning to appreciate all of the plain times, but that's a lesson that can be learned another day. I'm still failing at taking lots of pictures lately--but here's a couple I got today =)

Happy Happy Birthday Darling Girl!!

Merrrrrryyyy Christmas!

From our family to yours, God bless you on Christmas and everyday in the year to come!

Today was our last full day before Christmas break! YAY!!!! Can't wait to have Amelie and my husband home for the next week! They just have a half day tomorrow! Maevey had a little friend over today and we had a very fun morning.We played play doh:

Had a tea party (note Ezra's bad manners!)

Ate a snack:

Made and Frosted Christmas Cookies:

And played toys:

It was a lot of fun! 

Other than that, we had a peaceful afternoon and now my husband is up in the toy room with the kiddos and I am downstairs where it is quiet. =)

A Very Wonderful Christmas

On Sunday (after the girls' super cute Christmas Program--Ezra refused to stand on stage and missed his moment of shining glory =) we had our Weber Family Christmas Gathering! We always look forward to spending time with our NJ family!! There was tons of food, tons of kids and presents from Santa! I didn't get pictures of everyone since it's always a little crazy keeping track of everyone! =) Here's a few that I did get--Santa-Pop!

Misc. children looking at presents. And my husband. =)

The cutest 10-pack of cousins ever!

The four brothers that strated it all--and yes, this is the *best* picture I could get of them! And yes, this photo says a lot about their personalities and yes-my husband is very well behaved. =)

Cousin-Recovery-Time watching Wonder Pets In Granny and Pop's bed. =)

Yay for family time!

Sunday School Christmas Program!

BusyBusyDay

Today is my precious husband's birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM!

It wasn't a very celebrate-y day....he had christmas cantata practice at church this morning followed by a night out in Philly playing piano for his most recent opera company production.

boo. that.

(although yay for extra work!)

I've missed him so much this week--he's been gone A LOT lately.

One more concert tomorrow and done for a few weeks. WOOT!

In other news, the kiddos and I spent the morning at Granny's, with the cousins, making Christmas cookies!

Here's the crew!

Maeve and Amelie's "candy cane cookies"

Cookie making is exhausting =)

So the little cousins spent some time relaxing in Granny and Pop's bed (watching a movie).

Thanks for a fun morning Granny!

Not only was Ezra's 2yr well check scheduled late--so was Maeve's 4yo check! =) She's getting to be such a big girl I can hardly stand it--and with her going to pre-k next year I can't pretend she's a baby any more! Boo. That. Anyways she was 31 pounds (5th%) and 36 inches (5th%)--this is SMALLER than Amelie was at 3. Ahem. Comparing them is like apples and oranges even though they came from the same tree! HA! But still, I do compare them at times--I can't help it! I was concerned about Maeve's development beause

a) she is a toe walker

b) she holds a pencil very strangely

c)colors about as well as Ezra

I was worried that there was something wrong with her motor skills possibly so I brought it up with the doctor who said I was crazy and she was fine. That not being good enough, I also talked with my friends who told me their kiddos who are a little older than Maeve struggled with the pencil hold too so I felt MUCH better. I can't remember where Amelie was at this age-but I KNOW she held a pencil and colored better. 

So..I started working with Maeve--tracing lines, and on her pencil hold and she has made a lot of progress in just a couple of weeks. She is much more confident with her writing and is even attempting her name which is wonderful! I don't expect her to be writing paragraphs--I just want her to be able to hold a pencil with confidence and be able to trace lines. We are getting there. Woot. Otherwise she is doing really well! The temper tantrums she was throwing last month have subsided and she is back to her normal fun loving silly self. 

I love my little Maevey-girl! She's such a joy and the perfect little playmate for Amelie and Ezra.

Number Boy!

So I'm *finally* taking a few pictures here and there--hooray! It's harder to get the camera out when it's chilly outside--luckily my kitchen has pretty good light so we've solved the cold problem! =)

My sweet baby E had his 2 yo well check (28 pounds 31 inches 30% height, 50% weight oy) last week (Mama was a little late scheduling his appointment =). He was TERRIFIED of the doctor's office (must remember his flu shot) until we got into the little room and he saw the letters painted all over the walls--then he felt right at home.

Because Ezra has an obsession.

Well, an obsession besides this one, he is OBSESSED with letters and numbers.

One day after he turned two Ezra picked out a book from the book box and brought it over to me. He opened it to the numbers page and started identifying all the numbers (in and out of order). He *knew* and correctly identified all the numbers 1-10 even though we had never quizzed him or shown him that page in that book before. It was weird and surprising and pretty cool! And then....

...the next night we were at Applebees (surprising! NOT!!) and he was coloring the children's menu when he started correctly identifying the letters on the front of the book! I couldn't believe it! I'm not a flash card/sit down and quiz the children type of mom so it REALLY took me by surprise. So now, whenever Maeve sits down to work on her writing skills (different story, different day) instead of coloring he yells at me until I write all of the alphabet/numbers on a sheet of paper so he can say them all to me!

I think he's pretty amazing. 

Also handsome.

Also a baby genius. 

Obviously. =) HA!

Weekend Concert Update

'Tis the busy season at the Wonderful household! My husband always has 9,000,000 commitments and concerts and now Amelie and Maeve have concerts too! Friday night Amelie had her school concert and it was lovely! The kids did a great job singing and the songs were a lot of fun. Amelie is always right on top of the motions and kept her eyes on the director at all times. She loves singing!

I didn't take too many pictures (since we're going to buy the dvd =) but here's a shot of half of the elementary choir:

 Saturday was a day full of errands and playing catch up. Sunday I kept the kids home from church because I am presently TERRIFIED OF ALL GERMS. Gah. I just need a week to not have sick kids or sick me. Hopefully. =)

Sunday night was Amelie and Maeve's Church Christmas program. Maeve was so excited for her concert and was pretty sure she was going to be able to sing her own original composition entitled: Cookies (I'm a little cookie, cooking in the dark, take a bite I'm yumm....etc). =) She was disappointed when she learned she could only sing the songs the choirs were singing. HA!

Gospel Bells (tune of jingle bells)

J*E*S*U*S* (tune of bingo)

Amelie was part of the big kids production and had lines to say and sung in two trios and had a big solo at the end. She did a great job and was very confident on stage.

Part of the kids choir:

It was so much fun to see how much fun Amelie had! I used to love performing in the kids choir at church--she came home and said--"I want to sing a solo every day!" HA! Out. Of. Control. At least I know we don't have to worry about stage fright with Amelie! HA! It was a great weekend with our little family! Thank goodness--because we have a longggggggg week ahead--my husband has two dress rehearsals in Philly for the show he is playing for and two concerts for school. I'm totally bummed because I'm pretty sure I won't be able to go to his high school concert, which is pretty much my favorite thing to do. Boo. Oh well--we will survive! =)

Happy Monday!

I fully intended to write an Ezra-bloggy-2-year-old-guy update on Monday but the day came and went...and then Monday night brought with it another round (!!!!) of the sickies. So, Amelie was off to the doctor and we had her home yesterday and today. Gah. She is doing well and goes back to school tomorrow but my brain literally exploded when I realized she was sick. I can't take any more! Makes me want to pack up my kiddies and hibernate until SPRING! 

Oh well! Hopefully we are really on the upswing this time as we have a lot of special fun stuff coming up! Amelie's Christmas Concert! Amelie's Church Christmas Concert! Etc! And so on!

I enjoyed having Amelie home--we had fun together even though she was upset about missing school!

So anyways, hopefully I'll get a chance to have an Ezra photo shoot so I can post a proper update! =)
Happy Wednesday!

Well--it's been another eventful couple of days in the Wonderful household! Just as Mama is on the mend from 4 weeks of bronchitis Maeve came down with a fever thursday night--I thought it was due to the shots she rec. at her well-check this week (the doctor said to expect a little fever) but then...

the UNTHINKABLE happend.

Stomach. Virus.

WAHHHHHHH

Ezra and I soon followed suit and it was not good. Luckily the kids fared much better than me. Also, I know now for a fact that the stomach virus is preferable to not breathing. You know, just in case you were wondering. 

Still horrible but not as scary. =)

The kids bounced back in just a few hours and then the UNTHINKABLE happened again.

Ezra woke up in the middle of the night BURNING up with fever. I hate that! There is nothing worse than a BBQ baby! So we put him in lighter layers and cooled his forehead with a wet cloth and gave him some tylenol. He's still fevery this morning but luckily that is his only symptom and he is happy and playing. Of course, he's sick right in time for his WELL-check tomorrow! =)

Anyways, that's us right now! I think a plague is upon us! =)

We are NEVER sick and have NEVER had this much sickness in such a short span of time. Usually one cold a year for each of my kiddos. I guess we're going for a record this year! HA! 

In other news.... My Ezra guy has decided he is a grown up and doesn't want to sit booster seat anymore! So voila! Big Boy in a big boy high chair. He even prefers big boy cups without lids. Oh my. *tear*

I have to write a post about Ezra--he's kind of a baby-super-genius. Well, not super-genius but an extra-smart-guy. He's learned lots of new tricks in the months since turning 2!! 

But fever-baby needs a hug so I'll write about him genius-ness later. =)

Happy Sunday!

My lovely little Maeve always keeps me laughing and the other day she said something that *REALLY* had me rolling! She must be learning about size comparisons in school....

She help up 3 items of different sizes and said, 

"Mommy--which one is Big, which one is Very Medium and which is Too Short To Ride The Rollercoaster?"

bwhahahhaha I think everyone should refer to small/smallest as too short to ride the rollercoaster! HA!

Wednesday Snippets

Maeve had preschool today for the first time in WEEKS so I was excited for the chance to get a few errands done with just one kiddo around! =)

After we dropped her we headed to Picture People to pick up our family pictures (that we took on Friday) only to be told that their printers have been broken for over a week and our prints still weren't done (even though they were promised on Saturday). Gah. I ended up getting some free prints out of the deal but I would have liked to get my pictures! =)

Ezra was a little monster-y while we were out--he has started the full toddler melt down (scream, limp like a noodle) when he doesn't get his way. Maeve never really went through this phase so I'm a bit out of practice at scrapping children off the ground! Ha! Oh well.

They ended up being super tired and taking long/early/awesome naps (again, woot) so I rewarded myself by making this delicious-ness:

And just cause I like you so much--here's the recipe for super easy Chocolate Mousse:

1/4 c chocolate chips

1 tblsp milk

1/2 c heavy cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 tblsp sugar

1 egg yolk (lightly beaten)

**mix chocolate chips/milk in heavy saucepan and melt on low

**once melted add a little to egg yolk and mix and then transfer back to the pot, cook for 2-ish minutes until a little thicker and combined

**when finished cool

**mix cream with sugar and vanilla into whipped cream and stir into cooled chocolate mixture

This was seriously amazing and delicious for 5 minutes worth of effort--and yes, it took that long with the cooling b/c I just stuck it in the freezer for a minute.

Anyways =) It's another Mr.Wonderful-is-working night so the kiddos and I are going to watch a movie. =)

Happy Wednesday!

Baby Gap Window(s) Shopping

I was looking at Gap today---LOVE these and seriously, if they made these shoes/clothes in my sizes and not just kid size I would totally wear them! The shoes--seriously? TDF!

I have been a big picture-taking-fail lately. I need to get my camera out and start snapping again--but honestly, I've been pretty content with the whole "being able to live like a normal person" again thing that pictures have fallen by the wayside. =)

Maeve had her 4yo check up today (better late than never!) and she is:

31 pounds

37.5 inches tall

=5th %

When Amelie was *3* she was 36 inches tall and 36 pounds--that makes me laugh! God makes each of us so different--even two sisters from the same family! 

Maeve did well at the office but had a bit of a breakdown when she found out there was going to be shots. Poor lamb!

I took the littles to chick fil a for an impromptu reward lunch for suffering through the Drs and they had fun climbing and playing and wore themselves out and took great naps!! Woot!

I had enough time to 

a) make cookies

b)nap

c)watch a tv show

WHAT?!?! 

It. Was. Awesome. 

I feel pretty good today too which is super exciting! Only a little lung weirdness and an almost normal energy level! Thank you Lord!!

The kids were super funny and sweet today--my heart feels warm and fuzzy---even warmer and fuzzier now that I've just tucked them into bed! =)

Hope your Tuesday was as happy as mine! =)

Well--we're back to our normal routine and it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be! =)

We were lucky enough to have a playdate/lunch date with our buddies today--and I was surprised at how exhausted I felt/feel still! We had a wonderful time (even though Ezra has definitely hit some sort of terrible-twos-wall =) OH MY!!!) and are so thankful for the delightful company of our pals!!!

I tried to rest this afternoon (Maeve AND Ezra napped--that was epic, it never happens anymore). But I couldn't rest--stinkin' asthma meds hype me up and wipe me out at the same time. 

I am breathing much easier but still having problems--if you think of it say a prayer for me! I'm back to the asthma specialist on Friday and hoping for improvement/answers/both. 

In other news the weather was absolutely phenomonal today!! I had the windows open (Hello November 28?!?) and took the kids outside for a while after nap--heavenly! I wish winter stayed like this alllllll the time! =)

Not much else is new--Mr. Wonderful is back to his late-night-opera grind and the kiddos and I are hanging out. I moved the slide into the living room and that was a big hit! Thank goodness for fun toys! Happy Monday!

Like A Broken Record...

...I keep talking about how sick I am/was/were but I can't help it!! =)

I couldn't do anything normal--like

laundry

or dishes

or pick up Ezra and Maeve

I didn't have strength to check email

or facebook 

(then you KNOW it's serious =)

I couldn't carry the kids, or tuck them into bed b/c when I reached the top of the stairs I would be so exhausted that I had to immediately go to bed myself and lie down and catch my breath.

(even though I was RUNNING 10 miles a week just before a I got sick!)

So I sat on the couch and just watched my family-life go by and tried to focus on each new breath.

So...I wrote this because--

If you have the strength to do dishes--

PRAISE THE LORD!

If you have the energy to clean your bathroom and fold your laundry--

PRAISE THE LORD!

If you can pick up your sweet children and whisper into their ears and carry them up to bed and tuck them in--

PRAISE THE LORD! 

also shout--

Hallelujah!!

Those things are gifts--the little kinds you don't think about--until you can't do them and you watch your Mama and your beloved husband and your precious MIL do them for you because you can't take care of your own family. 

I am so thankful to be feeling mostly normal again, and that even when I wasn't, I had wonderful people to support me!

The end-
-and I'll try not to talk about it anymore. =)

*Thankful*

So thankful today, and every day for the many blessings the Lord has placed in our lives! A list, for you, to name a few!

1. So thankful for our Jersey family and that we got to have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with them--what a blessing to have family near and far!

2. Thankful to be feeling better and breathing and walking and living again. Thank you Jesus!!!!

3. Thankful for kind doctors and good medicine!

4. For my husband who has done MORE than his share of house/family/child duties this week as I've been unable to do the most basic things. =( He has shown me Christ-like love in such a real way during our marriage. Love him.

5. For my Mom and MIL who have taken extraordinarily good care of me and my family this week. They are amazing!

6. For my dear friends who wrote me and texted me and encouraged me with their thoughts and prayers--I really needed you this week--thank you for being there for me!

7. For the beautiful, mild weather we've been having.

8. For my beautiful children--

9. And that Amelie got to enjoy the NY thanksgiving I had hoped to--she is such a wonderful girl, I miss her!!!

10. For my Maeve who is sunshine and silliness!

11. For my Ezra who is Mommy's little guy and the kindest little gentleman you ever met!

12. For my Dad and FIL who always support us.

13. And thankful for my NY family who I miss dearly--especially my little nephew who I wish I got to spend more time with!

14. For our home--which is safe and warm-ish, and comfortable and peaceful and lovely.

15. For the great big trees in our yard and the giant piles of yellow leaves for my children to jump into.

16. For our town & country--for freedom and peace!

17. For warm fuzzy socks, cardigans, knee-high socks, fur-lined boots, cozy blankets, chunky sweaters and fleece sweat pants. =)

18. For mocha-creamer and peanut butter straight out of the jar, and pixy sticks and pepsi. =)

19. For Salvation by Grace--that I don't have to do anything, or be good, or earn my eternity in Heaven--Jesus did ALL the work for me and has given me the gift of salvation freely even though I do not deserve it. Amazing. Even more amazing? He offers it to everyone and anyone and all you have to do is believe. Best. Gift. Ever. 

20. For the promise of eternity in Heaven and a chance to see my precious babes who are there waiting for me, along with my brother and my Grandma who I miss all the time. 

Thank you Lord for these blessing!!! 

And happy thanksgiving to you all!

 

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Courtesy of lyricshall.com
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

I have had many quiet moments of waiting, and worrying and wondering over the past 2 weeks.

And I think these are the lessons the Lord is working on teaching me:

1. Rejoice Always. Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

2. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5

3. Nothing reaches me or my life that hasn't been placed there by the Lord for a reason--For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11

***

I find it "ironic" that I am struggling so desperately with health and being thankful the week of Thanksgiving--a friend posted a great article on having an attitude of Thanksgiving--my favorite paragraph came towards the end--in regards to what you ought to tell someone who is struggling--

"The world, Satan, and my own sinful heart are oriented away from thanksgiving. 

The best way to help someone like me is to point me to Jesus. 

Remind me who Jesus is and what he has done. 

Remind me that he has taken care of my greatest problem, 

which is my own sin, and that he is sovereign over everything else I could ever face."

 ***

So I am going to work on having a heart full of thanksgiving--even though this Thanksgiving week is FAR from what I had looked forward to/envisioned. And even though my sweet Amelie isn't home (well, she's home in NY just not with me) I still have A LOT to be thankful for and I choose to focus on that in the midst of this current storm. 

***

 My most important number 1 thanks that outshines all the other things I am thankful for?

Salvation. My hope, my future and my life are secure in Christ--He completed all the work necessary to save my soul and I can rest in Him and His promises.

***

Speaking of storms--

Ezra and Maeve outside playing in the rain this morning---poor Ezra wearing girl boots/coat. I guess what he doesn't know won't hurt him! =)

And also in the "storm" category--if you think of it, please pray for my Maeve--she is going through some"thing" and has been extraordinarily um....terrible? These two weeks. I'm sure she's reacting to the stress of my sickness and the turbulence of me being in and out of the house and at the doctors--her little heart is so full of disobedience it makes me sad. She usually is so lovely--poor lamb. 

Anyways, that's it.

I am going to work on a heart full of Thanksgiving!