Trevor Trivia

See if there's anything you didn't yet know about Trevor.  He had some fun when he got his hands on my camera and the video is hilarious!

I love that I can see his baby face in this first picture.

Video from 1/20/13

A Night of Hope and Healing Concert

Jan. 15th--

We were blessed to take part in A Night of Hope and Healing, a free concert for the Newtown, CT area.  I got 7 tickets and my mom offered to stay home with the little ones, so Colombo and I took C4 (on his birthday), Maddy, Nathanael, Izaya, and Avery.

It was a beautiful night of several Christian artists coming together just to do something for those affected by the shooting.

Click here for the local news clip, including artist interviews.

I sat in awe that a night of this caliber came together in a matter of weeks, an event that should've taken 3 years to plan--to secure a venue, to book the artists, to produce, etc.  Someone must have have moved quickly and made a few phone calls to friends in high places.

Big-time artists cleared their schedules and even cancelled tour dates to be there to somehow offer hope; artists like 5-time Grammy winner, Toby Mac.  Chris Tomlin was also there, whom I later found out will sell out Madison Square Garden next month with tickets selling for as much as $250.  Yet we saw seven Christian artists, Max Lucado, Louie Giglio, and Mary Beth Chapman for free.

I so appreciated their hearts and their ability to be so effective during a time when people are so hurt and vulnerable.  Louie Giglio was unbelievable!  So good, so raw, so genuine.  Listening to the Chapmans, you would have thought they'd lost their 6 year old last month.

All these big names in one place but NO egos; to the point that all the drummers played on the same drum set!  That's huge!

There were many wonderful moments through the night.  I sat somberly and cried through the evening.  So much hurt in that area.  So much evil to overcome. 

The kids loved the concert!  It was a 'first' for all except Maddy.  They stood, they clapped, they worshipped.  I was particularly touched by Nathanael's inhibition to stand and raise his hands in such a beautiful, worshipful moment.

Building 429 kicked things off.

All I know is I'm not home yet

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me Jesus 

This is not where I belong.

Chris Tomlin and Mandisa led a children's choir in Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone.

Laura Story

My favorite moment of the evening was her singing "Mercies In Disguise."

Chris Tomlin

Toby Mac was awesome!

Steven Curtis Chapman--a career that spans 3 decades but he still has it!  A force!  He could barely sing the 'new' verse to  Yours, written after Maria's death.  Wow! (Don't click on that without tissues.)
I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even here
in this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death

God we belong to you.

MaryBeth, clearly not loving the stage, felt a burden to share her pain with others who'd lost a child.

Casting Crowns

I know that before tickets were available to the public they worked very hard to reach out to the victims' families and first responders, and those most shaken by the tragedy.  Some were there, in a separate area.  I pray that they were somehow comforted and that the love of Christ was tangible to them.

Love of Legos

Little Rocco is way into Legos right now, which is AWESOME.  He creates,  imagines, builds, and role-plays, which, by the way, the conversations heard from a 3 year old are hilarious!  He stays busy for hours.  Literally.  And it's also fun for him to do with the big boys.  The only drawback is constantly picking the little choking hazards off the floor before Renna gets to them.

Then, of course, there is this lovely reality:

Oh, so true!

But Rocco loves him some Legos.  He's obsessed with "the guys."

The "guys" also break down into little pieces.  He handed me this little head pictured below and says, "Here, Mom!  Put a shirt and pants on him!"

Week 2

I missed a couple days this week with the camera.  Can you say painting??!!  Pai--ainting, painting...painting in the morning, painting at the noon time.  Painting, painting...painting when the sun goes down.

Tuesday, Jan. 8th
The school room table lived in the kitchen while we weren't using the bar temporarily.

Colombo took everyone except Madison down to Bridgeport to watch Jonathan's game.

Thursday, Jan. 10th
Fan Man had a gift card and really wanted to take me on a date.  He asked for a couple weeks, but it was always bad timing.  We finally made it work and really, really, really enjoyed our time together.  He was the perfect gentleman.  It's not often enough that I get alone time with that sweet boy.

Our D.Q. had a new door handle.

We also hit the car wash.

Friday, Jan. 11th
Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!  The girls made a special breakfast for him.

We had dinner plans with the LeBlanc's at J. Gilbert's (chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting in tow) so we had a little lunch celebration at home.

Yay!!!  A new fireplace screen!

Saturday, Jan. 12th

After church Atrium fun!

Sunday, Jan. 13th
We split the difference and went to dinner as a family 2 days late for C3 and 2 days early for C4. Tradition brought us to Outback.  And Renna had us all in hysterics with her faces as Daddy let her taste a lemon.

My handsome birthday boys!

10 Months

I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but this Girl is just as precious as can be and we are LOVING this age!  She's cute, easy, fun, entertaining, sweet, snuggly, smart...and the list goes on and on.

She was sick with a cold for a couple weeks and even had a fever Christmas Day, but she was good sport.

She gets around quickly.  Crawl, sit, crawl, sit.  She crawls with her left knee off the floor coming behind her. She sits and plays, investigating, turning everything in her little fingers as she studies it. She's content for stretches in front of a pile of toys.

She's a great eater, so far we haven't found any dislikes.  She loves the snacks we've added, like graham crackers and vanilla wafers.  

She waves.  It's more like she sticks her arm straight into the air with a huge smile on her face, but she does it for hi and bye.

She says 'bah' and 'dah', but will also repeat them on command.  She has 4 teeth now, 2 on top, 2 on bottom.

She's a great little sleeper.  Before she got sick she was sleeping through the night.  When she got sick she went back to a feeding at 6am.  But her 2 naps are very predictable.  She even pushes off of me wanting to get into the crib.

One fun milestone- she now is standing in the crib when I go to get her up.  It was shocking the first time, like, "Oh my gosh!  She's standing!"  Now it's just fun.  She has a huge grin and starts bouncing up and down when she sees me.  What a greeting!

I can't even put into words how incredibly lucky and blessed I feel to be Renna's mom.  She's just a gift!  

Pictures were tough!  Holy smokes that Girl is on the move!  I had to give her some Cheerios to keep her busy.  It worked for about 45 seconds, but I love the pictures with her belly hanging out and her little fingers doing their work.

1.6.13

Checkin' out her sticker!

Then it was time to stand and escape.

One of Renna's favorite toys this month was her little piano.  We'd sit her down in front of it and she'd be content for a while.

Here's a couple more shots of her in her Christmas dress.

And one last video--so sweet of Renna doin' a little dance to a book that makes music.  Click here.