Christmas 2015

We had a lovely, quiet Christmas. We did just a few presents, preferring this year instead to "gift" the kids with a mini-vacation, which we'll take over New Years. We had our good friends, the Semeraus over for dinner, and ate tamales and empanadas until we were full to bursting. Then we ate cheesecake. Gluttons, I tell you. But oh my, it was so good. Derek and I cooked all day, and it was worth it. However, there is a reason we only do it once a year. 

Merry Christmas everyone. Hope your day was wonderful! 

Storyland

Until last Friday, we as a clan, had never done any kind of "amusement park" for LOTS of reasons.
1. Expense
2. Lines
3. Propensity towards motion sickness
4. Tiny kids

But our dear friends (who up and moved away) gifted us a wad of tickets to New Hampshire's one and only Storyland, we decided, what the heck! Let's throw caution to the wind, pack some puke sacks and motion sick meds and go!

And go we did.

And we're off!

It was nearly three hours from the house, so that of course meant that we had to stop three time for various reasons.

Once we got there, it was of course raining. This meant that there were less people hanging around. SCORE.

Off we went.

Okay, so total honestly time: I was a little creeped out upon entering Ye Olde Storyland. The front of the park is like... well, you know in scary movies when bad things happen at creepy amusement parks?

That.

Riding inside a creepy pumpkin carriage. 

But onward we pushed, and quickly discovered that there were LESS creepy parts of the park, with LOTS of fun things to do.

Phew. Relief.

So many rides were ridden. Because I was the designated baby-holder, I rode very few rides, and the ones I did ride made my bones ache. I'm OLD, okay? I get it.

Derek was amazing though, and rode and rode and rode. His motion sick meds worked, as did everyone else's and NO ONE THREW UP.

Derek is the best dad.

Hang on. What???

I'll say it again.

NO ONE THREW UP.

ALL FOOD THAT WAS CONSUMED STAYED INSIDE VARIOUS BODIES.

Amazing.

We played the day away. Lines were blessedly minimal. Rain fell, and fun was had by all.
Then we went and found dinner at a fabulous and inexplicably empty southern BBQ restauarant then wended our way home. Frederick was D-O-N-E by about an hour from our house. Too bad so sad little dude, we kept on keeping on.

Saturday was spent in the post-fun-grumpy-hangover, but really, it was worth it. We really did have a great time.

I'm not signing up for a yearly pass or anything, but we did have fun.

The Last Week. Much Pictures.

My inlaws were here this week, and we were able to bless our sweet Frederick here at home on Friday night. My sister, Erin and little guy Levi made the trek down from upstate New York to join in the festivities. It was a great, wonderful, busy time.

Easter included an egg hunt yesterday with the grandparents and cousin, and then again today, along with an basket hunt, WAYYYYYY too much candy, and no one wanting to eat anything real.

Basically, a perfect holiday.

Three generations 

All my boys wear the same blessing outfit because, well, they just do. But, Sir Fred was far too tired to wake up, and being my sixth, I've learned you simply do all you can not to wake the baby. So, instead of changing him, and making him angry, he took a four hour nap. I picked him up asleep, and handed him to Derek. The blessing was offered for him in, in PJs swaddled up nice and cozy. 

Cute girl. 

I can not figure out how to get them ALL to look happy at the camera. It's not possible. Also, my mother-in-law was MIA for picture taking. 

Tons of people were able to come celebrate out sweet boy. I'm so grateful. 

More friends!

Spencer... I don't know. 

We spent a lot of time together in the kitchen with the grandparents. 

Cookies with Grammy!

My sleepy boy. 

Grammy snuggles. 

Goobers. All of them. 

Dying eggs, on Easter. Because I'm slow and behind, but at least they got done. 

Easter isn't terribly impressive when you're new. 

So much Easter! 

Frederick Has Arrived

He is here. We are so grateful, he is healthy, beautiful, squishy, sweet--deliciously so, just a joy. We waited for him, prayed for him, hoped for him, feared for him, and worked for him.

And it was worth it.

God is good. He is so good. And he knows the wishes of our hearts.

Frederick George, 8lbs 4 oz, 20 in long, born on Tuesday, March 17 at 10:06 am.

The squish won't last long enough. 

Everyone loves him. 

Our lil' leprachaun. (I die.) 

He is sleepy. It won't last either. 

More squish. 

Telling people the good news. 

Unimpressed with being weighed. 

Me at 39 weeks exactly. 24 hours later, he was in our arms. He surprised us with an early entrance. 

Life is good.