SIXTEEN months

Thought we would take a stroll down memory lane....  Can you tell who is who?

the CORONA

Mateo has not-so-lovingly named the covid-19 pandemic - "the corona."  The corona has forced us to shelter in place and complete the school lessons at home - for the rest of the school year.  Our club soccer actives are now done at home and "take out" replaces visits to our favorite restaurants.  We appreciate that our efforts are flattening the virus curve and protecting our health workers - even though being confined within these four walls is a little too close for comfort! 

Daddy's goalie training for Abby

Abby doing school work.

Gabby trying to inspire others...

Girls doing their soccer training.

G school work.

Toe teaching X the ps4 ropes.

T schooling.

M schooling.

Xavier "zooming" for Spanish class.

Xavier's turn for ISR

All four of the older kiddo's took part in the ISR program.  Infant Swimming Resource is a program that teaches children how to self rescue if they were to fall into the water.  They "swim" for 10 minutes at each lesson, 5 days a week, for roughly 6 weeks.. and what they are taught is based on their age.  Xavier learned to float and then they tried to teach him to do a "swim" to the edge.  The coronavirus cut our lessons short - but X was able to learn to not only float but to flip himself over to get to his float from a short swim.  "X-man" (as his instructors lovingly nick named him) did not like being away from Momma when he was in the water... but towards the end of the program, realized that swimming could be fun!

week 1 

week 5

shenanigans with Xavier

X and Mateo "selfie" (for a Spanish assignment during the coronavirus home school edition).

He loves me so much.. I love waking him up in the morning.

X loves his food... sometimes preferring to wear it instead of eating it.

His sisters have taught him the importance of a firm buttocks (Big butts can't rely on a full diaper).

"Ah, Dad.. how about we switch?  Yours works better than mine."

(I love my Dad most of all when he is sharing his food... shh- don't tell Mom!)

"Get in my belly!  As fast as you can- cheese pizza!"

"She is always posing for pictures with me.. gotta love my Abby."

(She is the first one to play with me in the morning.)

"See, I told you I knew it was in there."

Mary said to say "cheeze!"

(She isn't afraid of a dirty diaper.)

G keeps telling me she wants me to stay a little baby...

 (Does this mean I can get away with picking my nose and touching her with it?

 She's pretty grossed out by my dirty diapers and I don't think she will like my boogers.)

christmas 2019

Merry Christmas 2019!!

life as we know it...

Life with 5 kiddo's is controlled chaos.  We have fun.  We are noisy.  We are messy.  We get into each other's business.  We support one another.  We fight with one another.  We unconditionally love one another.  We continually forgive one another.  We protect one another. We are grateful for each other.

TRIFECTA

On Sunday, December 29th, 2019 we celebrated the kiddo's "TRIFECTA."  

trifecta

[trīˈfektə]

NOUN

NORTH AMERICAN

AUSTRALIAN / NEW ZEALAND

1. 
   

   • a run of three wins or grand events.
     "today is a trifecta of birthdays"

The trips had turned "13" on the 7th (OMG - how did time fly so fast that we now have 3 teenagers?!?!), Xavier had just completed the monumental "first year," and Abby was well on her way to turning double digits "10" in the middle of January.  We invited family and friends, made their favorite foods, and was entertained by Rick Smith Jr., a now famous card magician and illusionist.  Such a fun, fun way to celebrate our grand event!

All 5 posing with Rick

Happy 13 G!

Happy 13 Toe!

Happy 13 May!

Happy 10 Abby!

Happy 1st Birthday, Xavier!

 

"Don't even think about it!"

"all mine!"