Merry Christmas

So here we are. After an Advent that feels like it didn't really prepare me. Not that I'm blaming Advent. It was circumstances and my state in life right now. God knows. While praying before Mass last night - interrupted prayer: "sit down; please get off the baby; oh, baby are you alright?; etc"- Baby Jesus gave me such a consoling gift. It truly and really doesn't matter what I got done, or didn't get done. It's not about me. Why can I not remember that? It's about Him and his generosity in coming every year, no matter what. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for this crazy hectic life, that leaves me gasping for air at moments and laughing hysterically the next. Thank you for this man you've given me in sacramental marriage. None of it perfect, all of it good. Help me to remember that it's ALL good.

We went to the Vigil Mass. Not our first choice. We'd prefer to go to Christmas morning Mass, but family obligations don't permit that at this point. It is a very crowded Mass, which is good, but distracting for little ones. There was a family we didn't recognize (they may just be regulars who sit on the other side of the church. I swear we'd see a whole new parish if we but only sat on the other side occasionally.) sitting kitty-corner from us. They were laughing their heads off at us and the antics of our little ones. Mark especially provided some fine entertainment. His favorite word right now is no, which has many different meanings and inflections. At one point he wanted his coat, so Justin tried to help him, but help he did not want. "No, no, no" he said sweetly, but determinedly, while backing away and ended up falling backwards on his bottom.

We had passed Katie off right away so that we could focus on Matthew and Mark and at mid-point of the Mass, Mark seemed to realise that she was missing. He picked up the car seat and looked under it, around it and in it. He looked around the immediate vicinity. So he looked a bit further. He spotted one of our friends who has a baby who is a month older than Katie. He decided that was Katie, but he was too shy to go get her back, so he just stared suspiciously.

Anyway, here's a couple of little Turnerisms:

Rebecca: "I think the best thing about cooking the turkey is the stuffing... after the meat, of course".

Mark (16 months): loud scream followed by "shhh".

Alexander when asked if Santa Claus was coming: "Actually, I don't believe in Santa Claus. I believe in St. Nicholas".

Proof!

I'd forgotten about this. When Alexander was 3 or 4 I took him to the speech pathologist(a lovely and helpful lady) for assessment, where she showed him pictures and he told her what he saw. One of the cards was of a person ironing. I absolutely detest ironing and only do it for say, baptisms, weddings or sewing. All rare occasions. So, there I am shaking my head at the speech pathologist and she's insisting he answer with something, while he clearly has not a clue as to what's happening in this picture. His guess? "He's mowing his clothes". And there you have it folks, proof positive that I am not a housekeeper.

Memories

My poor blog might fall apart. 2 whole days in a row, yikes. Mostly, because standing up and doing anything else just seems like soooo much work. And I have 24 more days to go, sigh...
Justin and I and then later the children and I have been remembering things that everyone did. The kidlets think them hilarious and some of them I quite agree are just that. So here we go tripping down memory lane.
How Rebecca used to eat mustard only sandwiches.
When Rebecca age 5 came out of her room to inform her dad and me that her head was itchy, in the place where there'd be horns if she was a cow.
How Xander used to whale over the waterfalls into bed.
How PJ used to fall asleep against their bedroom door and we then would not be able to open it.
Now, how everyone is Matthew's best friend, including the picture of the model at the optometrist.
Matthew again, "A bug! A bug!"
I'm sure that there'll be more. Justin remembers these things so much better than I.

North and South

Alexander: Which cupboard?
Mama: The one on the left.
Alexander: Which hand is my left?
Mama: Remember, you write with your right.
Alexander: No. I write with my North hand.

Happy Birthday Alexander

Today you are six.  You are ready to read, ready to entertain.  I love the way you get so excited by something so that you're laughing so hard that no one can understand you.  I appreciate the way you are so content to entertain yourself.  You spend hours with your Lego, Thomas, a puzzle or a craft project.  And you have a sensitive side.  When you're sad, Mama can comfort you.  I pray that continues.  As you start out in this new year of discovery and learning, I wish it to be full of joy and challenges overcome.  And in all your triumphs I pray that you see the glory of God in them and through them.

This Weekend

This weekend is full of bustle.  After a week of snow covering the ground (it's May for pity's sake!!), the lawn and trees are becoming lush and green.  My wee little plants lived through it, in fact seemed to have thrived.  We will plant 75 strawberries.  We will bake a cake with Mom's artistic rendition of a Star Wars character.  Mom will get her hair cut.  We will have a weiner roast.  And grandparents will visit and spoil all children but in a special way, the Giraffe.  Happy pre-birthday weekend.