Elijah's Five Year Update

 

 

I simply cannot believe it has been five years since I first laid eyes on this precious boy with the biggest heart of anyone I have ever known. Elijah coming into this world healed so much in me. And it has been my priority to raise him in a loving, understanding, supportive and secure home. Things often happen, and did happen, that were out of my control to shake that security, especially in the last year. But through it all, Elijah has shown strength and character beyond his years. He expresses himself and his feelings, when prompted, clearly even when he doesn't fully understand his feelings and why he is having them. He has a way to explain what is going on in that little heart of his in such a way that you feel it with him. Empathy is the path to understanding. And Elijah shows empathy. He will tear up when his brothers are hurt or sad. He come over and give his Mama a hug when she's having a rough day. He is just an amazing little boy and I am beyond humbled that God chose me to be his Mama.

 

 

Elijah loves people. He talks to everyone....EVERYONE. He will go up to children at the playground or wherever we are and ask them to play with him. He will hold intelligent conversations with adults asking inquisitive questions without any sense of inferiority. He is confident and friendly. He loves Star Wars (which I love), Transformers (which I am not thrilled about) and his latest favorite is the Ghostbuster Cartoon on Netflix. Not educational but super nostalgic to share that with him. He has a passion for music (loves the guitar and drums) and being outside. One of his favorite things is to help Mama cook in the kitchen. He especially likes controlling the handmixer.

 

 

His favorite color is still blue. His favorite food is pretty much Pizza. (Sigh. I remember when his favorite food was broccoli). He loves for Mama to sing to him before he goes to sleep and lately the request has been My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music and All My Loving by the Beatles. He LOVES going to "Tony's Farms" to do "man work" and see the cows. And, well he's a boy, he loves that he gets to pee outside there.  He is very excited about getting back into soccer and maybe even gymnastics if we can afford to do both. This summer, he will take a cram course in swimming and self rescue because this boy loves the water.

 

Elijah adores his little brothers...most of the time. With three little boys so close in age there is bound to be a bit of adversity. But most of the time, they play together so nicely. They share everything...food, toys (maybe toys not as well as food). The thing they do fight over is Mama time. But we usually manage for each boy to get some every day they are home.

 

Much to my dismay, Elijah started going to day care this year. And while it is not the life in envisioned for my children, he loves his friends and often is excited to go to "school". He will be starting Kindergarten next year and can't wait. He is always eager to try new things. I am very protective of his tender heart. I know how hard this world can be and I want to preserve his caring, sweet soul, especially in these early years when that foundation is still being built.

 

 

Elijah,

It has been a magical five years, beginning from the first moment I saw the two pink lines on the test and Lisa at HFI called me confirming YOU ARE PREGNANT. My world changed from that moment on and it was even better than I dreamed. You are an amazing little boy. Thank you for all the light and color your bring to our home. You are special. I love you.

 

Love,

Mama

It's Not Always Easy

Shine it on. Be the bigger person. If they are being hurtful it is because they are hurting. Blah blah blah. And you know what, in most cases that can fly. But not when it concerns my children. With my children, I will never again be forced to sit quietly, not saying a word, while someone else crosses carefully thought out, laid boundaries. Blogging about it may seem petty. But in this situation, unfortunately, there is little else I can do. Except hope that the next time this happens, and believe me, it will happen again, a united front is presented and what was decided by myself and their father, to be the best thing for OUR children, will be forced to be honored and protected.

It boggles my  mind that anyone, especially people who count themselves as "Christians" can be disrespectful and malicious. And it drives pain and fear into my core that these are influences that will be in my children's lives for the unforeseeable future. In the last ten years and especially the last year, I have seen what evil they are capable of. And I guess I just need to trust in God to protect my babies and help them see the TRUTH.

The truth is that I open my home and heart to all that love my children but I will not allow myself as their mother and protector, to be excluded. It was one thing to do that when there were no children. This is a different story.

So, here is your free pass. Enjoy it. It WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN!

An Easter Celebration

What a wonderful Easter weekend for our family. I thankfully had Good Friday off so I was able to begin Easter preparations and decided to keep Elijah home with me to help and for some good Mama time. However I did not want him to miss his Easter party at school so he and I headed up there together in the afternoon in plenty of time for their egg hunt and festivities!

 I loved getting to see Elijah interact with his little friends and show off their Easter basket creations! 

 My sweet creative boy and his bunny rabbit. 

 My favorite moment of the day was Elijah standing with his friends waiting for the teacher to give them the go ahead to collect the eggs and he spotted this sparkly purple one (which he referred to as purple gold) and he yelled over to me that he was going to get that one for me. As soon as the teacher said they could go, that was the first one he grabbed and came running over and put it in my hand saying, "That one's for you Mama" then went about his hunt. I love that boy and his oversized heart. 

Great job on the egg collecting Elijah! What a great day together!

Tony wanted to start the tradition of planting jelly beans because rumor has it, if you plant jelly beans, lollipops will grow!

 Rory is all set to plant his beans!

 Elijah and his colorful beans!

Patrick is ready to do some planting

 Tony dug the holes....

 and carefully showed the boys how to bury the beans. 

 Rory was very excited about it all. 

Such cute little monkeys

After the beans were planted, the boys were ready for bed so the Easter bunny could come!

Tony and I peaked outside late at night and saw the lollipops (and one slim jim!) already sprouting. 

Easter Morning we had a house FULL of bunnies!

 Wrigley Bunny

 Mia Bunny

 Mama Bunny

 Patrick rebelling against the bunny

 Elijah bunny

Rory Bunny 

The Easter Bunny came!

 Elijah showing Tony his loot

 Rory overjoyed by the marshmallows. There may have been a game of chubby bunny that followed. 

 Patrick loved his new sunglasses

 They ditched the bunny ears, put on the sunglasses and went outside to check to see what grew from their jelly beans. 

 Look at all that candy!

Patrick enjoyed his first sour crybaby experience. Apparently, he is not a crybaby and enjoyed the entire candy. 

Rory found the sour taste hilarious

Our Easter celebration continued as we headed over to the Crochet's for lunch, an egg hunt and some family fun. 

 Mama snuck in some Rory cuddles during the unveiling of the baskets put together by Miss Melba and Mister Randy. 

 Tony showed the twins how the kaleidoscope egg worked. So cool. 

 A mama and her boys. 

 Elijah and Mister Randy enjoying the day. 

 No words. Just...no words. 

 The twins loved their Easter baskets. 

Elijah was fascinated by his kaleidoscope

 Can't even put into words how happy he makes me. 

 This is a pretty accurate depiction of how this impromptu photo shoot went. 

 Tony thought it would be funny to pose prom style. 

 Tony's adorable nephew Brady who just turned one! 

 Rory in his favorite seat. 

 How did I get so lucky?

By far the best shot of the give of us. At least all our faces are visible.

Elijah with Tony's nephew and Elijah's new buddy, Cam!

 Time to hunt some eggs!

 Patrick carefully placing his eggs in his basket. 

 Patrick bunny!

 Tony's niece, Maddie, did a great job keeping up with the boys in the hunt for eggs. 

 Brady just taking it all in...

 Tony bunny!

 Cam spotted one under the playhouse.

 Shawna bunny!

 That's my Elijah. The eggs knocked him off his feet in his new "Tony shoes" that the Easter bunny brought. 

Rory taking care of business. 

The Crochets

This year my kids learned about the fabulous mexican tradition of cascarones which are eggs filled with confetti. Needless to say it was a hit.  

 Tony's brother, Ryan, smashing his head with a cascarone 

Miss Melba got Patrick!

 I have a feeling Tony was excited about doing this all day. 

Maddie and her Mama both got egged!

Elijah ADORES Tony's brother in law, Houston, He managed to get him with an egg...on his back...three times. 

 Brady is one laid back baby

 The clothes came off and the boys were ready to jump in the pool and play on the playhouse! Rory is doing some serious rock climbing. 

 The kids had a blast in the pool!

 Patrick and Maddie have quickly become playmates at Crochet family gatherings. 

 The Walkers including Baby walker, AKA "Juan Hector" in the oven. 

 Rory ready to jump in the pool in his skivvies. Yes we packed their suits. No, we did not remember to grab the bag. So it was and underwear swimming kind of day. 

 Rory learning how to play lawn darts. 

 Playhouses are for big kids too!

This little girl looooooves her grandmother. 

 These too!

 Pure joy. 

 Tony spraying the boys down with sunscreen. 

"Excuse me waiter, can we get a donut for the lady" 

 Elijah was all about the pool!

 Two little monkeys...and one big one. 

 Yup, that's my Tony. 

 Elijah showing off his gymnastics skills. 

What a fabulous celebration of family and faith. Thank you to Melba and Randy for hosting such a wonderful Easter celebration and showing Elijah, Rory and Patrick such love and generosity. What a beautiful and memorable Easter.