21/52: A Preview

I'm getting this one up just in time.  Here's a preview of what's to come in the next few weeks...

Carter // 5 - taste-testing our new ice cream from the Coolhaus cookbook.

Peter // 4 - oh the generosity of friends...Peter has a new bunny.

John Paul // 3 - picking out a knife for his pocket-knife collection.

 Sophie // 1 - looking for sprouts in our garden that's now complete.

 Genevieve // 6 months - just waiting for summer and some teeth, I think.

20/52

This week we've been doing a lot more rabbit hunting, garden prepping, playing with chickens and eating popsicles in the cold, hoping it will bring on the summer.  

Carter // 5

Peter // 4

John Paul // 3 - They put poor Big Momma (sometimes they call it Big Daddy just incase they're wrong) on a tiny strip of wood, and she/he stayed...too long.  Too scared to jump.

Sophie // 1 - Can you tell she had a few popsicles?

 Genevieve// 6 months - While the siblings were playing, she was helping me say my rosary.

19/52: A Little B&W

Carter // 5 - Riding his bike, with his new pen that stays on his shirt constantly.

Peter // 4 - Back from putting the chicks in the coop for the night.

John Paul // 3 - Just up from a nap, with licorice on the teeth and fruit snacks in the hand.

Sophie // 2 - Going back inside to check on Sister.

Genevieve // 5 months - Just being sweet.

18/52

Here is a random assortment of our week...

Carter // 5 - "Pouting"

Peter // 4 - "Scaring"

John Paul // 3 - "Goofing"

Sophie // 1 -"Eating"

Genevieve // 5 months - "Breathing"

17/52: Security

I wanted to get a photo much like I did last year with their little blankets/animals that they sleep with.

Carter // 5 - He has three blankets.  A big black one, a big blue one, and a little cream one he's had since he was born.

Peter // 4 - He has a blue blanket and two neigh-neighs.

John Paul // 3 - He has every stuffed animal he's ever received :)  And, his giraffe blanket.

Sophie // 1 - It's really just her pink blanket (nonie), but these animals are in her bed.

Genevieve // 5 months - She's not really attached to anything just yet, but these are hers.

16/52: Learning

Carter // 5 - Learning to dance.

Peter // 4 - Learning to wash the dishes.

John Paul // 3 - Learning how to not leave things outside (as he wears his fleece because his coat was chewed up by Amos).

Sophie // 1 - Learning how to wear pigtails.

Genevieve // 5 months - Learning to sleep through it all.

15/52

Carter // 5 - Excuse the banana in the mouth.

Peter // 4

John Paul // 3

Sophie // 1 - She devised a way to swing on her own with a little help from the wheelbarrow.

Genevieve // 4 months - We have a thumb sucker.

14/52: The Week

So, obviously not a lot of blogging has been happening.  No big deal.  On Friday, we took Genevieve to the doctor.  She had a cold when she was two months old.  Then, a few weeks ago she developed an infection much like RSV, got over it, got a stomach bug, got over that and then got the bronchial junk again.  Long story short, her little lungs have had it.  So, she's on an 8-week breathing treatment regimen, and for now, it's 4 treatments/day.  So...with that, and the little sleep she's been getting because of said treatments, there's been little time for much else.  I know it could be so so so much worse...it's just hard to see your baby not well for any reason.  But, we have a plan, and it's going well - and she will heal.

Beyond that, our Archbishop visited our community for Confirmation.  We moved some cattle, spent some time with Sophie's godfather, and took her to the doctor for a double ear infection.  My sweet aunt spent a day with us, and the kids got to hang out at the playground with Elley.  We also baked a few goodies, and typically we try to send some to a friend or give part to a friend who might need some cheering up.  Well, as I was baking the biscotti, Peter or John Paul (I can't remember), said, "Member how we be nice and give some away?  Can we not be nice this time?"

So, lots (besides blogging) has been happening.  Here's a look at the week...

Carter // 5 - He's been spending a lot of time at the water tank, tossing a few rocks in and proudly wearing his Bush 41 hat.

Peter // 4 - He caught a lizard!  Quickly after he showed everyone, he wanted to let him go so he would live.

John Paul // 3 - I think he wanted to keep the lizard forever.  

Sophie // 1 - Not quite feeling herself this week.  She's been following me a lot and laying down in whatever room I'm in.

Genevieve // 4 months - While her cough sounds horrible, it hasn't affected her demeanor yet - she's still as sweet as can be...and I am guessing this might be one of her last toothless smiles.

Have a blessed weekend!

13/52: The Rosary

I've never been the best at making time for prayer other than those pleas to God for help throughout my days.  We say a rosary at night from time to time, but over the last few weeks, we haven't even done that.  So, a friend told me how she started her mornings with a rosary - just made it a priority - and how it's been a blessing even when it's difficult to do.  So, we have a little rosary CD, and the last three mornings, we've made a little hot cocoa, sat down at the island and prayed our rosary.  Well, I pray it :)  But, it's gone better than expected, and it really has helped me feel better equipped to handle whatever the day brings our way.  So, I'm hoping and trying to keep it up!

Carter // 5 - He's most excited about the Salve Regina at the end.

Peter // 4 - He was sharing his hot cocoa with Sophie after she (and her hair) had finished hers.

John Paul // 3 - Spurs and all, he was ready to pray!

Sophie // 1 - look at those chubby little hands!

Genevieve // 4 - Listening on the blanket beside us in maybe the third bow she's ever worn.

Have a blessed weekend!

12/52: No TV

For Holy Week, the kids have given up TV.  Let me rephrase that...I forced them to give up TV minus watching a cartoon version of The Passion at some point.  I did it more for me than them.  I use it too much, honestly.  And, I wanted to see what it was like without it.  We're two days in, and here's how they are suffering (don't ask how I'm doing, haha)...

Carter // 5 - He took his tunnel outside to make some new kind of hot rod.

Peter // 4 - Meanwhile, Peter is on his perch pretending to shoot at his tires as Carter drives by.

John Paul // 3 - "Fweezin" even in the 75 degree weather - anything for a hot chocolate for this boy!

Sophie // 1 - While JP was inside, she decided to steal his slippers and have a little fun on the trampoline.  She's notorious for stealing their cups...now she's on to their shoes.

Genevieve // 4 months (why didn't I change to months earlier?) - I don't think she's been too affected by the lack of cartoons.