The Party

We had Carlye's birthday party on Monday, and it was so much fun! She had a slumber party, and there were 10 little girls running around (counting our little Miss Abigail and Victoria). First the girls made little boxes into dressers for their dolls or stuffed animals - they were so adorable when they were finished! Here's a picture of the "dressers" as the animals and dolls enjoyed their tea party. Carlye's is the one in the front with the lady bug on it.

Here's a closer look:









After that the girls made ponchos or blankets for their dolls/stuffed animals, and I was really pleased with the way they turned out. If you look at the picture above you'll see some of the ponchos and blankets on the horses and dolls. Here's Ruthie with her purple poncho Carlye made.


Then we had our tea party. I made cupcakes with fondant flowers for the party, but I have to say that I liked her birthday cake that I made the best.




Then we sat down to eat. Blue is her favorite color, so I used a blue sheet for the tablecloth, then put little blue snow flake mugs that I found on clearance at each place setting (each girl got to bring her's home), right over blue floral plates placed on top of a larger blue decorative plate, and lastly I used hair scrunchies for napkin rings. The girls ate pinwheel sandwiches, little quiche's, cheese cubes with decorative toothpicks in them, and peanut butter and honey sandwiches and cheese sandwiches cut into flower shapes.


Blow out those candles!


After they were finished eating the girls played freeze dance (you dance and when the music stops you freeze, if you move you're out) then they put on their pajamas and watched Kit Kittridge: An American Girl and then Samantha: An American Girl (which is so good! I even liked it! I hope to find it on DVD). Cassie, Victoria and Abigail went home early, but by midnight 7 very tired little girls were fast asleep. It was a wonderful party, I know that Carlye had fun, and hopefully the other girls did as well. The only ones missing were Anneke, Bella and Evie.

Carlye Anna Sunshine

( I wanted to put a baby picture of Carlye here, but we haven't had a scanner since Noah stuck quarters in it and ruined it about a year ago!)

Carlye Anne Pfiester
7 lbs. 7.7.oz
21 inches long
December 29, 2000

Eight years ago at 5:30 in the morning I went into labor - exactly on my due date. 12 1/2 hours later, after a very long, painful (and natural) labor, Carl and I welcomed our beautiful baby girl (and only daughter) into the world. She had beautiful dk brown hair with blond tips, and gorgeous blue eyes. After I delivered her her proud Papa took off with her to show her to all of our family that was gathered. When he finally brought her back I started nursing her, and after a few minutes he asked me if I was done so he could hold her again. We couldn't have been happier. As hard as the labor was, we were surrounded by friends and family (including my baby sister Pammy) and Carl, his mom, David and Jodi were in the delivery room when our perfect little miracle arrived. (For both of our boys we had an LDR room, so EVERYONE was there that could get there). She was the happiest baby! She slept through the night as soon as my milk came in, and rarely ever cried, even though she was so sick for the first few months of her life. She started walking before she was 9 months old (she had to keep up with Sam and Gracie who were 2 and 4 months older) and talked at the same time. She loved everybody (and still does) and brought joy into the lives of everyone she was with. Starting at about 8 months old I would stack books next to her bed on the counter (she slept in a playpen in the bathroom because her room hadn't been finished yet)and when she would wake up in the morning she would sit for an HOUR and read until I came to get her. In fact, she was so wonderful that we hurried to have our second child and got pregnant when Carlye was 9 mos old - after all, being parents was really easy! (We have since learned our lesson). As she has grown she has developed some of those characteristics of little girls that can be a little annoying, but over all she is an amazing person. She is thoughtful and kind, nearly always putting others first. She shares everything, and would give you the shirt off her back if you asked her to (and I'm not exaggerating!). She went through a selfish stage for a short time, but has overcome it with even more love and generosity then she had before. She very rarely plays with toys, she prefers to read or make up plays with her brothers. She loves the Lord dearly, reads her Bible faithfully and tries with all her heart to serve and please Him. Her daddy and I are so proud of her! We are so thankful and blessed that she is in our family, and my love for her grows daily. I thank my Heavenly Father daily for my beautiful family, and the amasing people that they are. Happy Birthday, my beautiful girl! May you always live up to who you are.

Here are some pictures from her family party yesterday, and the American Girl Doll Kit that my mom and dad and sisters got Carlye for her birthday. She'd been asking for it for MONTHS!

Christmas at Nani's

Christmas Morning

First present was for all three of them!


Emmy loved what Santa brought her!


Nathanael's pellet gun!


Noah's bow and arrow


Carlye's American Girl Doll (right before she started to cry because she was sooooo happy!)


The aftermath

Christmas Eve

All the way, baby!

When Noah does something, he does it right. He isn't going to go halfway, get bored, not finish it, or simply move on to something else. He is always completely dedicated to everything that he does. Now, let me preface this by saying that Noah is one of those children that you have to think VERY carefully about when choosing Christmas presents. Seemingly harmless gifts can become weapons of complete and total destruction. So, after much thought and consideration Santa filled Noah's stocking with band-aids, a jump rope, toothpaste and a toothbrush, a wind-up toy, a snow globe, a pair of socks, sculpting soap, a small box of Clue candy and a green candy cane. Now, the only dangerous item in there is the jump rope - and that isn't even what caused the problem. It was the sculpting soap. This morning Carlye wanted to take a bath and use the various farrago of bathing elements she had received for Christmas. Afterwards, the boys decided to take a bath, too. They played with their sculpting soap (which ended up being really cool) and Nathanael got out smelling clean and fresh. Then I walked in to get Noah. At first I thought that maybe a blue, foamy cloud had descended on the bathroom. Then I realized that my youngest son had actually managed to cover almost the entire bathroom with sculpting soap. Apparently, once he became bored with making sculptures and clothing he realized that the bottle of sculpting soap could shoot amazing distances, spreading his blueberry joy all over the bathroom. It was on his head, in his ears, all over the floor and bath mat, on the shower heads, all three of the shower walls and on the CEILING!!! Then, while attempting to clean it up, he dropped the towel into the water which was now a very unnatural shade of blue. Note to self (and to Santa): soap is NOT an acceptable gift for Noah.

PS - We already knew that bar soap was out of the question because of all of the art work that Noah drew on the mirrors with the last bar of soap that was in their bathroom.

PPS - While I was cleaning it up I had to perch very carefully and precariously on the side of the bath tub. Carl was watching me, and informed me that if I fell into the bath tub he was going to have to close the door and laugh at me. Nice.

Thoughtful Thursday

What an amazing day Christmas is! For 24 hours, a multitude of people are able to put aside their differences to honor and celebrate (knowingly and unknowingly) the birth of the Christ child. For a time our selfish desires are put on hold and we are able to focus on putting others, their pleasure and their feelings, first. What joy! Is their a more appropriate way to celebrate His birth? I say not, for putting others first is the ultimate similitude of Christ.

Christmas Pics and "traditions"

One of my favorite Christmas "traditions" is Advent. I have been so blessed to marry a german, so this wasn't a difficult thing to bring into my family after I married. Each week we read a Christmas story about Jesus, sing some songs and light a candle. On Christmas Eve we will light all four candles, do "What Jesus Want's for Christmas" (more about that tomorrow) and read the Christmas story from the Bible.





This is the kids painting Christmas cookies. We do this every year - often more than once! - and give the cookies away to people we love, and Santa, of course! Aren't Carlye's spritz cookies beautiful? She made them all by herself, and she is so proud of them! These were the flower shaped cookies, the Christmas trees were just as beautiful!



Our gingerbread tree - I think more icing was eaten then actually ended up on the tree! Carlye's Christmas tree cookies are in the background.



Noah and Emmy taking a nap after an exhausting day!


Daddy helping decorate the tree at Nani's house. All the cousins get together and decorate the tree the day after Thanksgiving.


Not a Christmas picture at all, but I just found it and I love it - so here it is. It's the kids and I at the zoo on Abigail's birthday.

Some other traditions that I didn't mention that we do:
1) Grandma started this one - a lego Advent calender! We also have a felt one just like the one that I had growing up, and the kids LOVE taking turns pulling the ornaments out of the pockets to decorate the tree. However, there has been quite a bit of arguing as each of them comes in and repositions all of the ornaments into the pattern they find the most desirable.
2) On Christmas Eve all of the cousins are given matching pajamas to wear on Christmas morning at Nani's
3) On Christmas Eve we make a birthday cake for baby Jesus, and then on Christmas Day we sing Happy Birthday Jesus and eat it.
4) On Christmas morning we eat Aebelskivers for breakfast, of course! (puffy German pancakes that you eat with whip cream and cinnamon)
5) Our kids get 3 presents each for Christmas (two from Santa and one from mommy and daddy) which symbolizes the Wise Men bringing Jesus three presents (in our family the stocking doesn't count).
6) On Christmas Eve we can only watch Christmas movies (we had to do this when I was little, too, and I loved it!)

Merry Christmas!

This and that

It feels very Christmassy in Kerrville right now - not getting any warmer then 42 degrees for the last couple of days. The kids made sugar cookies, ornaments and a ginger bread tree, and Carlye made spritz cookies with the cookie press. They're beautiful, and Carlye was so proud of them!
School is out, and I'm loving having my kids at home. I have always enjoyed being with my kids, and I love it when they're out of school. They are all so excited about Christmas, and in all actuality, I am, too. My little girl made a plate of her spritz cookies to bring to our neighbors, Nathanael is making Christmas cards and pictures left and right, and Noah is still trying to shoot a deer. Wrapping is in full swing, and all in all we are having a wonderful Christmas. But I've been given reason to pause, and think, and be thankful. A close friend of mine has a little boy with a brain aneurysm. Earlier this year he was only given a year to live (but we are all praying and believing that his recent surgery will be successful and he will live a long and blessed life). He and Carlye are exactly the same age. His family recently bought a house, and our community came together and did our very own "Extreme Makeover." All walks of life, all races and genders and religions and occupations, came together to give this family their very own Christmas miracle. At 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon the Reyna's and their 3 boys saw their newly remodeled home - complete with brand new furniture, bedding, etc. EVERYTHING in the house was new, and beautiful. Both of the parents cried, and even one of the boys cried, along with many of us who were involved (I had minimal involvement, I made a couple of pillows and some decorative sleeves). I wasn't even there for the unveiling, and it still touched me very deeply. And as we were all discussing this, and I was saying how neat it was that the family was touched in such a way Carl said something that I felt was very profound in it's own way. He told me that if it were his child, he would cry every day, too. And I realized how blessed we are. We have each other, and three beautiful, healthy and amazing children. Even if we didn't get anything else for Christmas that is more than enough. And while I know that they are all so thankful for their beautiful new home, I know that they would trade it all for the perfect health of all of their children. As would any and every one of us. And yet, we get distracted and forget what is truly important. Not out of arrogance or mean-ness or self-serving nature, we simply forget because we become complacent, lazy even. We allow all of the things that the world tells us is important to distract us and pollute our minds, and then we forget that all that really matters, the most important things in this world, are our families, our relationship with the Lord, and the people we love. The perfect Christmas gift, is the gift of us. Our time, our love, our faith, our will, our smiles, our feelings. So I say to you all I love you. And thank you. Thank you for touching my life in some way. Thank you for sharing your love, and your time. Thank you for being a part of who I am now. And thank you for loving me no matter what. Merry Christmas!

I can

I can grocery shop with two grumpy boys who don't want to be in Wal-Mart.
I can go to the Post Office with two mischievous boys who want to look at, in or on top of everything.
I can let my four year old carry large boxes that he may drop and break everything in.
I can take three children (two who are not my own, and are two) to Christmas parties at an elementary school.
I can help with two different Christmas parties at said school - in two different hallways- while watching three children (two who are not my own).
I can carry in cookies, drinks and cups while holding a sleeping 2 yr old and keeping two other children from being run over by cars.
I can successfully exit an elementary school with 6 children (3 who are not my own) and keep them from being run over by cars while juggling cookies, drinks, cups, and backpacks.
I can drive them home in peace.
I can then lose my mind when, at the end of the day (as we are driving into the garage) the four year old (that is mine) bites the almost eight year old (who is also mine) on the leg and everyone (even the children who were not bitten) starts to cry.
I can leave 4 children (one who is not mine) in the car as I go into the house to get the daddy because I'm at the end of my rope.
I can be very surprised when I angrily walk into my house and find a brand new piano sitting in my living room.
I can cry really hard when I'm very surprised.
I can very easily love a man who loves me so much that he saves his money for a very long time and then spends his day shopping for, buying and putting together a piano just for me.
I can (for the first time in 12 years) play the piano at MY HOUSE!

Thoughtful Thursday

I am unsure as to wether or not the pain of life's lessons is more painful to those learning the lesson, or the mommy's and daddy's who must allow the lesson to be learned.

My hat

Today it was FREEZING in Kerrville - 28 degrees to be exact. So, we all bundled up before leaving the house, and I even put on my Alaska ski hat. When Carl and I were walking Noah into his class he said, "Mom, all my friends are going to laugh at you because you're wearing that." Great, now I'm being mocked by 4 year olds.

Hmm

My children and I are reading the Best Christmas Pageant Ever (thanks mom!), and it has really helped me to get in the Christmas spirit this holiday season. I love watching and celebrating through the eyes of my children. As we read this book together it is like reading it again for the first time. Children are truly the spirit of Christmas. Nathanael came in the other day with his allowance and said that he wanted to use it to buy a Christmas present for a little boy who wouldn't get a Christmas other wise. He has such a loving and tender spirit. He also told me the other day that when he grows up he's going to travel all over the world and tell people about Jesus. I believe him. Sometimes I wonder how such an old soul ended up in such a little body. We were watching Home Alone the other night, and Nathanael came in to be with me because he was so worried about the little boy (Macauley Caulkin). I asked him if he would feel better if I told him that it was all going to be okay and the little boy would win. He said yes, and then went in and finished watching the movie. He has an incredibly tender heart, and is blessed to be able to empathize and sympathize with ease, often feeling the same emotions with you. Nearly every day he comes home and wants to pray for someone in his class, either because they've gotten in trouble or they are mean to him or they don't have a mommy who loves them or they fell down on the playground or they don't know how to count yet or can't remember their letters. He knows that prayer is the answer to all things, and his child like faith is an inspiration to me and his father. If only we could remember to turn to our Heavenly Father in all things. "Suffer the little children to come unto me...."

7

Many of you who know me know that I have always wanted seven children. As a matter of fact, if I'd been able to carry to term we would have three more children now (all three since Noah). My husband has always wanted three. Yesterday we had seven children. An 8 yr old boy, 7 yr old girl, 6 yr old boy, 5 yr old girl, 4 yr old boy, 2 yr old girl and 13 month old girl. It was awesome. We had a great day, we danced (atleast the girls did), played "volleyball", wrapped presents, played Lego, watched Home Alone, made caramel popcorn (mom, email me the recipe, I messed it up again) and then everyone went to bed, except Victoria - she went home. It couldn't have been a better day. Then, night time happened. With 6 children the odds of someone waking up at night rise expedentially, as do the odds of children waking up waaaay to early. And, of course, both happened. AND IT WASN'T EVEN THE BABY!!! She slept from 8:00 pm until 8:15 this morning when I woke her up! (We'll take her if there's an offer). It was my children! Yes, my biological, come from my blood, taught not to wake others up at night or in the morning children. So, we've decided to sell ours and keep the ones on loan to us. We think that it should work out well. Oh, and for the record, getting six children ready for church is easier then getting 3 children ready for church. Carlye helped Lili get ready, Nathanael and Sam got themselves ready, and Noah basically got himself dressed, with a few reminders to take off his pajamas BEFORE putting on his clothes, and a yes, you do have to wear underwear to church. So, the only one that I had to dress was Abigail. I still think 7 kids would rock, but apparently Carl is closer to the Lord then I am and his prayers are the ones being answered. Ah, well, thankfully my family is pretty awesome as it is. And I've been told that we can borrow other peoples children when ever we like. Thanks - I really appreciate the offer.

And on a side note, Abigail is one of the easiest babies that I have ever taken care of. Other then the fact that she is a total mommas girl (you know it's true!) she is an absolute dream when her mommy's not there. Oh, and then I'm the favorite, which is pretty cool, too.

Guess what!

Okay, so I've been feeling pretty badly because Nathanael is such an amazing kid, but I rarely blog about him. And that's why - he's just so good, and amazing that there isn't a whole lot to tell. What you see is what you get with him. He's reading like a champ, working hard in school, kind to little ones - aggravates the bigger kids - a cuddly loveable, perfect mama's boy. So, that being said, this blog is about Noah. Again. He has started referring to himself in the third person. It drives Carlye CRAZY. I really think this is my fault, though. You see, Noah is the third born child. He had two siblings who have been on this earth longer and so therefore I have known their names longer. This puts Noah at a distinct disadvantage, which is aggravated by the fact that Noah's name starts with an N like his older brothers. Soooo, he is frequently (I am ashamed to say) called, "Carlyenathanaeluhnoah." The direct result of this malfunction of the tongue is that now my son refers to himself in the third person. Sadly, the word I has left his vocabulary. I guess that's what I get for not saying the right name all the time. "Noah is going with you! Don't forget Noah! (By the way, I have never forgotten my children so where does this come from?), Noah got stepped on, Noah's bleeding", etc. Actually, it's really cute. So even though it annoys the garbage out of his siblings I think that it's hilarious. Which is probably a good thing, because he doesn't show any signs of stopping.

Scissors

Noah cut his hair today all by himself. Apparently two haircuts in one week gave him enough knowledge on the subject that he felt he no longer needed others to do this task for him. So, today at Children's Day Out, while they were supposed to be doing their cut and color pages Noah took the scissors to his own fair locks. You really don't notice it that much, and he has NOT learned his lesson. As a matter of fact, he is the king of changing the subject. Every time we would ask him about or bring it up he would start to tell us about something else. And he was being sooo STUBBORN!! We would call him straight on the carpet and he was still refusing to discuss it!!! His own words were, "I don't really remember much about that." Ah, well, Uncle Chris, the hippie has now had 3 haircuts since you last saw him. I'll post pictures as soon as we get the camera back on picture mode and off of video mode. Don't look for them any time soon, I'm just being realistic. Also, on a much weirder note, his toe nail was torn off of his foot today and he wants to put it under his pillow for the tooth fairy because if he threw it out the truck window it was littering. Daddy told him it wasn't littering because it would decompose and that he didn't think the tooth fairy would come, but Noah said, "Yea, I think it will." Seriously, who thinks of this kinda stuff?

Mommy cried

The Christmas Pageant was tonight. It was amazing. I was so proud of my children. We didn't get any pictures, though, because the memory card on the camera was full and Carl didn't know how to delete them and I was in the sound booth so I couldn't help him. It was videotaped professionally, though, and the mics were connected directly to the videographer, which would have been great, except for what happened next. Unfortunately, Carlye had a microphone mishap as soon as she arrived on the stage, so you couldn't really hear her. When that happened this is what my 7 year old did. SHE KEPT GOING!!! She talked as loud as she could, acted as though nothing was wrong, and carried her part off with dignity and grace. AND SHE IS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD!!!!! In years past we've had older children who banged on their mics, or tried to get someone's attention to tell them what was going on. Not my girl. The director told her to keep going, and so she did. Way to go, Carlye! All of the kids did awesome - Nathanael, Sam, Lili, Grace, and Brooke. Even Noah was a great raccoon. They perform the play again next Wed at a nursing home here in town, so I'll have to get pictures (and maybe video) for everyone then. Even Daddy was so impressed. Looks like there may be some Bailey in her after all.

Let it Snow

It snowed last night. Beautiful snow flurries - thick enough to make you believe you lived somewhere else. We woke up the kids to see it (Carl was as excited as they were). Well, we tried to wake up the kids. Carlye woke up, and thought that it was beautiful. Nathanael and Noah asked if they could please sleep but said they were glad that it was snowing. They had so much fun looking at the snow that was still on the roof tops as we drove to school (of course it didn't stick any where else - this is Texas!).

I took Noah with me grocery shopping today at Wal-Mart. I had to get Carlye tights for the play tonight, and while I was looking at the tights I hear Noah say - in a very loud voice - , "Look, Mom! High School Musical boobs!" I glance up, and he's looking at the training bras that are hanging right next to the tights. He picked up the one that had caught his attention and said, "Look, mom, see, it says right here, High School Musical boobs!" Good thing it's not close to Christmas time, otherwise the store might have been crowded and that could have been really embarassing. Later, as I was picking up Clorox wipes Noah picked up a Glade candle. I asked him to put it back and he said - loudly - , "But, Mom, we need these because Dad makes the whole house stinks when he poops." Have I ever mentioned that I don't like grocery shopping? When I grow up and I'm rich I'm going to hire someone to go to the store for me and then go back again the next day for all of the things that I forgot to put on the grocery list the first time that I made it. I'm convinced that it would save me a LOT of time, and I know that I would live longer. I truly believe that all of these trips to the grocery store (and then the trips the next day for all of the things that I didn't put on my list the first time) are shortening my life. If I continue at this rate there's no way I'm going to make it into my 40's! After all, to each person is allotted a certain amount of trips to the grocery store per life time, and I am very rapidly fulfilling my allotment. Therefore, I have no choice but to never return except under the most dire of circumstances. Of course, my family starving to death is pretty dire, and I know that Carl won't go grocery shopping, should I choose to pass the duty on to him - he probably wouldn't make it out alive. There are some vicious (sp) people in those places. Especially this time of year. They're all about spreading Christmas spirit, atleast, if you consider Scrooge a Christmas spirit! I just smile, say Merry Christmas, and then walk away - wondering again why grocery stores were ever invented and how on earth so MANY people have forgotten how to smile!

Best Actress

Today was the dress rehearsal and cast party for "It's a Wonder-Full Life." Carlye is Mrs. Tune - the drama teacher in the play. Nathanael is in the choir and has a solo, and Noah is a raccoon. When they handed out the certificates today at the "awards ceremony" during the cast party Carlye was awarded the Best Actress award, and she is sooooo proud. Of course, so is mommy. The performance is Wednesday night, and I'm going to try to get some video of all of them. Carlye is a natural thespian, if I do say so myself, and does a phenomenal job playing her part. I am so proud of her. I cannot believe the natural ability she has - of course, she's mine, so I may be a little biased. Just had to brag for a moment about our Best Actress. I'm so blessed to have her as my little girl. She's kind, thoughtful, giving, loving and obedient, and if she weren't such a stinker to her brothers I'd think she was an angel here on earth. Of course, I guess she is my little angel.

I pledge allegiance

Here is video of my Noah saying the pledge of allegiance:

Soap Box

I am a mom. It is my job to protect my children. Period. There are bad people in this world - and they are everywhere. They live in front of our children's schools, and work in the grocery store. They go to church with us, work in practically every establishment there is, and they want to hurt our children. I don't care if you say they are "sick," troubled, possessed or misled. Describe it however you like. Here are the FACTS. Crimes against children are on the rise. I am my childrens' first line of defense. It is up to ME to make good choices for my children, it is up to ME to know where they are at all times, it is up to ME to go with them to the bathroom in a public place, it is up to ME to keep them safe. Can I control everything? No, that would be crazy, but if I CAN prevent it then you better believe I will. I don't care whose feelings I hurt. My children are just more important. I hope that yours are, too. Take care of your kids. You're all they have standing between them and the horrible things of this world. I hope that you take this very seriously. Because there is nothing more important. Nothing.

Thoughtful Thursday

There is nothing more distressing then to be forced to sit silently by as someone's hurts, pains, failures and losses are being paraded in front of your eyes. And there you sit. Unable to do anything at all. You cannot offer comfort, you cannot pass a tissue. You must sit. You must watch. You must listen. And then, when it is all over, you must pretend that you have no emotions, no feelings, and you must pass judgement on a fellow human being based on cold, hard facts. Easy, no. Necessary, unfortunately. Justice - hopefully, prayerfully, yes.

Heidi

Many years ago on this day the world welcomed a beautiful woman into the world with an equally beautiful name, Heidi Noel. I have been blessed to have her as my little sister, and equally blessed to count her among one of my closest friends.



While our history has been tainted with many less than beautiful things our relationship has endured, and she has always been the epitome of love, forgiveness, and grace. Her easy and unaffected manner have been about her since she was little, and even though I am the oldest it was always her bed that we crawled into at night (especially on Christmas Eve).



Because of distance we have been unable to share many of the amazing and remarkable life experiences that have come our way, but our hearts and prayers have always been united during such times. I am blessed with many amazing sisters (of my own and of Carl's) and I am thankful beyond words that she is one of them. I am incredibly sad to be unable to share this day, along with many others, with my sister, but I pray that she will have a day as amazing as she is, full of as much love as she so freely gives, with unending joy and happiness. Happy Birthday, little sister. I love you!