Christmas break

 The week between Christmas and New Years is when we try to shut down and just enjoy relaxing. I try to ensure some forced family time, which feels somewhat harder with the kids at this age.  We managed a few nice adventures mixed amongst a lot of sleeping in and junk food. 

One evening we tried our first family escape room. It was a carnival and we made it out with just 2 minutes left, and quite a few nudges from the facilitators. 

We enjoyed some family games and several Christmas movies - Elf, Christmas Chronicles, and a couple others. 

We even took a trip down to Tyson's Corner on request from Ellie. She enjoyed spending money she had accumulated over the past month or so from her babysitting jobs. 

I enjoyed a lot of naps with Sunshine and cuddles with Clair. It was a relaxing week. 

New year's eve was celebrated at home with the Latimer's. The Neale's could not make it this year. It was a relaxing evening with a few games, lots of food, and chilling out. No laster tag this year which was a little sad for some. 

As we move into 2025 my prayers will continue for each of the kids to grow in knowing God and being who He has built them to be. I pray that I am doing my job as their mother. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to raise them and be in their lives. 

The return to school happens so fast. Clair is dreading it the most this year. Max and Ellie are nearly ready for the return, but Clair is bored in school and would prefer to stay at home enjoying the life she has built here - writing novels, reading books, designing Pokemon and new worlds, and all things fun. 

Christmas 2024

The years truly do flyby. Another Christmas has come and gone. I’m laying here in Claire’s bed, listening to her hum as she finishes up her shower. I am waiting for her so I can tuck her in and reflect on this lovely day.

We had a lovely morning at home like always mixed with presence and grandma’s cinnamon raisin bread. I think the kids got more than they expected, which is nice. They got lots of things from their gift list as well as trips in January.

Max Ellie and David are going to Hazel‘s in Scotland. Claire mommy and Gramma are going to Orlando for a trip to visit Disney.

Ellie got lots of clothes and makeup products and face care. She also got some books.

Max got five Lego sets and two new PS5 games which seem to be his favorite. He also got lots of clothes. He’s growing so fast right now. This year he grew 4.5 inches! 

Clair got almost everything she could have imagined including her first iPhone with a new cell number, a fancy new composite bat, games, books, a drone and so much more. 

We had some time to relax in the afternoon And David and I were able to get in a little walk. I also was able to grab a nap.

This evening we had the Latimer‘s mom, dad and G over for dinner. I had made lasagna yesterday so it was pretty low-key. We even managed to get a game of elf charades in. I didn't capture any pictures from the evening unfortunately, but I guess that's a sign of a nice evening. 

I’m thankful for these crazy busy holidays. I can’t imagine them without the kids. As they grow, I envision what the future could look like when they’re not here. I hope we always find a way to celebrate Christmas together.

Ellie is 17

Ellie celebrated her 17th birthday at home with her family and her friend Shams. 

As it’s been tradition for the past few years, she insisted on making her own cake, chocolate with peanut butter icing. She asked for grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner and of course I had to add bacon for the boys.

She seemed like she enjoyed the day. She got lots of fun gifts. It was a school day, so there was limited celebration. But I think her friends made her feel special in school and that’s very important at this age.

Ellie is still doing great in school. She has a 4.0. She loves art and is getting into oil painting as of this birthday. Granny gave her oil paints and oil brushes and canvases for this new journey.

Ellie plays the piano very well. I love that. She still practices learning new songs. When she finds a song, she like she tends to play it every day. It’s great hearing her work at it.

She also got into tennis this fall a little bit. We’ll see if that goes anywhere.

She is learning how to drive and she is really quite diligent. She doesn’t seem in a hurry to drive but she’s working through it.

She has soft spoken and kind most of the time. She loves Young Life. She says it’s what turned her into a real Christian. I’m happy she has that group of people and that outlet.

On ellie‘s 17th birthday if I could give her one thing, it would be confidence in the ability to use that confidence with her voice. I can’t wait for her to stop worrying about what other people think and just live in them being who she is, and who God made her to be. 

Happy birthday, sweet baby girl.  I love you and I always will. 

Sadly, I didn’t get a picture with her on her birthday this year. But I got her and her brother and her cousins. We have somebody in the family in each grade at Linganore this year. I love that.

Ellie is turning 17

Tomorrow is 17 years since I became a Mom. I can’t remember much before I became a mom. Well, some days I can, but it was all peanuts before. Nothing quite matters in life like building your family and raising your children. 

On the night before her 17th birthday I’ve set up the birthday tree, wrapped the presents, and put up a sign. There’s still more to do while she is in school. 

These days she likes to make her own birthday cake. This started about three years ago.

My parental reflections are probably slim because I am so tired and it is bedtime. I just cannot believe it’s been 17 years. I say the days are slow and the years go by fast and I really feel that these days.

I hope ellie has a wonderful birthday and an amazing year ahead. My biggest wish for her is for her to see herself in the way that we see her.

Love you girlie! 

School pictures

Each year I begrudgingly buy these school photos and I’m so glad I do. They are great ways to actually slow down time and see the physical changes that occur in a year of the kids life. 

Ellie is a junior already! She talks about business and psychology as job options. 

Max is a freshman and increasingly talking about going into the military. 

Clair is in middle school and loves it. She still wants to be a pediatrician and she shows great interest in coding. 

First day of school

The first day of school seem to be unsuccess for all three kids. Ellie started her junior year. Max started his freshman year. And Clair started sixth grade. 

Clair absolutely loved her day. She has been telling me over and over how amazing it was. She said her favorite point in the day was when her math teacher told her to get out their notebooks and he actually proceeded to have them do math. She is so excited to be in an algebra class as a sixth grader. Some of the kids caught her a genius which embarrassed her and also made her feel somewhat proud. Clair told me that middle school is much better than elementary school and she thinks it’s going to be a great year.

Max told me he had a good day. He was worried at breakfast that it would be hard to find somebody at lunch. But he did find a couple friends to sit with at lunch despite them not being his best buddies. He says that he likes his teachers. He should have a Good first half of the year because two of the four classes he has he has repeating from eighth grade. He got bees in them and quite frankly didn’t really mastered the material so we wanted to try to start high school properly.

Ellie said she had a good day. She’s enrolled in a community college class so enjoyed the freedom of not having any class during that period of the day. I think she’s finally feeling comfortable at the school and Knows her way around and what she can get away with and what she has to take care of. I didn’t get to talk with her too much about her day because she went home with her friends to celebrate their birthdays. I hope to hear more about at least day tomorrow. 

I did take the obligatory first day of school photos this morning, although they were quick and basic.

Clair met Olivia so they could walk in together. We got a couple cute pictures of them, leaving behind the elementary school and moving on to middle school together. It was great having each other as they started their next journey.

Finally, this one doesn’t mind getting pictures with me and even even Still holding my hand. I know this won’t last for long and I am trying to soak up every minute left.

T’Was the night before school started?

Another summer has flown by with the kids. Tomorrow Ellie starts her junior year of high school. Max starts his freshman year of high school. And Clair starts her first year of middle school.

It’s weird, not having anybody in the elementary school after 11 years 12 years something like that. They went to great elementary school.

Each of them have things they’re looking forward to when they return to school. For Ellie and Max it’s more social. For Clair, she’s excited about some of her classes and some of the social side of things.

The summer flew by and each of the kids got to do things they enjoyed. There was also a lot of hanging out at the house as we were not spending a lot of money because I’m still not working full-time.

The highlight for the family beach week. The highlight for ellie was probably Young Life camp week. The highlight for Claire was probably math camp week. The highlight for Max was probably spending time with his friends at the lake.

As we embark on another school year, I pray for God protection over the kids in the schools and that he shapes them as he wishes them.

This afternoon we had a little fun at adventure Park with Gramma to celebrate the day before school starts. The four of us had a really nice time.