Week 3

Monday, Jan. 14th

Somehow came across this gem from Meg's wedding.  That day is one of my all-time favorites.

 Lunch time!

The boys got their Christmas payoff...a game in NJ with Dad to see the Blackhawks battle the Devils.  Also notable: the boys are the exact same height right now, but Nathanael isn't stopping.

Kelly came over to decorate C4's room since he'd be arriving home after midnight, making it his birthday.  She even asked to involve the little guys.  

Tuesday, Jan. 15th

He’s 20 today. It’s hard to put to words what’s in my heart. In short, just gratitude and so much love for this one who made me a mom. But I also cannot believe we are here; exiting the teens and entering a new decade of “20’s”. Just, how?!? 

It’s a big year for my six-pack. This guy starts a new decade, Maddy turns 18 becoming an adult, Nathanael turns 16 and starts driving, Trevor turns 13, and Rocco hits double-digits. So, yes, it’s a milestone kind of year. 

They are all big. Big years made up of happy memories, minor struggles, priceless moments, fears overcome, huge milestones, little victories, and everything in between. 

Colombo DiSalvatore IV. 20. Makes me feel very old to have a child in their twenties!!! He is a GIFT. Always has been. He’s fun, witty, responsible, trustworthy, smart, loyal, steady, and has been a complete JOY to us since the day he was born! He’s given us grace for all our parenting fails, never holding our mistakes against us. I would lay my life down for him and I feel underserving to call him mine. Happy birthday, C4! 🎈🎈 You have taught me so much. I love you.

#tbt  Maddy's very first solo!

Her second duet.

Wednesday, Jan. 16th

Celebrating this kid! #20

Thursday, Jan. 17th

Friday, Jan. 18th

I don't even know what category to put this in.  I so badly want to smile when I look at this, thinking of Lisa's series of "Signs of Life".  Or convince myself that the hundred thousand times I've been told / read it in a book / heard it on a podcast- that someday, I'm gonna miss this.  I really want to get the warm fuzzies when I see this, but I just don't.  My reaction is more one of shaking one's head in disbelief and disgust.  But this particular one is so beyond, beyond that I actually did get to the point of laughing...while shaking my head.  I simply cannot make it up.  

The kids bathroom.  They choose to live like this.  There are 5--FIVE--empty t.p. rolls.  You only see two??  That's because there are THREE underneath the full roll.  HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!?!?  That takes way more effort than tossing them into the trash 4 feet away.  And for an added bonus: a cracker.

Pretty!

Saturday, Jan. 19th

Trevor and about 8 other youth, along with C4 and Kelly (leaders), and Pastor Sterling and Kendra headed up for Avalanche, a winter retreat in New Hampshire.  Our church doesn't normally pull into it because of limited space, but since Pastor Sterling was the guest speaker, a handful of our kids got to go.

In other Winter Fun news, they flooded the park down the road from us, so C3, Nathanael, and Rocco enjoyed an afternoon of pond hockey.

For the first time, the comp team held a Pep Rally in anticipation of the start of the comp season.  Several moms (not me) worked very, very hard to plan it and made it a very special and fun night for the kids.

Sunday, Jan. 20th
Snowed in for the day!  Super heavy icy mix that weighed the boughs down.

We did our best to be snowed in for the day.  We stole Sienna for a sleepover.  The girls built forts, played with slime, and made about 40 minutes worth of video on my phone!

I spent an hour or two bedazzling Renna's costume while C3 worked on the bathroom.  If you scroll back up, you'll see that Renna's first solo dress is the same color as Maddy's first solo dress.

Week 2

Monday, Jan. 7th

Her selfie game is strong.

And she knows how to do stuff on my phone that I don't have a clue about.  (and apparently Maddy had an ortho appointment)

Tuesday, Jan. 8th

I love driving to the ortho two days in a row.  It's my favorite.

Wednesday, Jan. 9th

I'm still often caught off guard at moments like this.  Overwhelmed with gratitude, so thankful to be home with them.

Thursday, Jan. 10th
Marie Kondo'ing my closet sorta, kinda.

Friday, Jan. 11th

Colombo's birthday was a pretty regular day.  He managed to fill it with meetings and conference calls.  Nathanael had a game, so I found a fun little dinner spot to try with the littles before the game. The bigs were at youth group.

Happy birthday to my husband. We’ve celebrated more birthdays together than not which has included a lot of life!! He’s hard-working, smart, honest, generous, the burpee ninja, and gets hotter every year 🔥. I’m so grateful for his commitment to family and the way he sacrificially loves. He’s an incredible provider, servant, father, mentor, friend.  You're aging well, my love.

Saturday, Jan. 12th

We tore the downstairs half bath apart.  That was fun!  Separate post for that in queue.

BFF's at church!

Bob and Colombo are 8 days apart, so we celebrated together.

Sunday, Jan. 13th

Lazy Sunday afternoons at the O'Bonks watching the Patriots.

Then we went to see "The Keys", Brent's newest show.  I had seen it also in August, but this time was able to bring friends to Crossroads.

Week 1

Here we go...2019...another year.  Amazed by the speed of the last one and filled with hope for the one ahead.  Grateful for His faithfulness and His new mercies.

Tuesday, Jan. 1st

It was a good day.  A good start to the year.  Renna-Girl was invited to a birthday party at Jump Off.

Tradition meant Colombo took the kids skating.  

Maddy's jump video reached 800,000 views!!!!

Tradition meant I made a fancy dinner and we read our goals from a year ago, chatted about how we did and what we accomplished (or didn't), and wrote out our 2019 goals.  We also laughed and laughed and laughed.  These kids are so stinkin' funny and we rarely sit around this table without laughing our heads off.

Wednesday, Jan. 2nd
My 2018 Crossfit goal was pull-ups!

My turn to pack sandwiches (and chips and cookies) for the hockey team.  

Thursday, Jan. 3rd

Love it!

 Love it! 

Friday, Jan. 4th
He gets lots of ice time during JV games; we just don't have many JV games on the schedule.

Saturday, Jan. 5th
There are 20 kids in Maddy's program.  Out of that 20, two of the girls lost a parent on the same day!  Jenna's mom in California lost her two year battle with cancer.  She left a husband and two teen girls behind.  On the same day, Bella's dad laid down on the couch to watch some Sunday afternoon football.  When his wife and two teen daughters returned from errands, they found him unresponsive and CPR efforts were futile.  Very different circumstances, both so tragic and sad.

Bella is from Albany, NY, so Maddy and I drove to the funeral, a beautiful service with a HUGE Italian family.  A stark reminder that life is short.  We were honored to represent the Launch family.

 Our church hosted the JBQ meet, so Colombo and the kids volunteered for part of it.

Sunday, Jan. 6th

 I mean...c'mon!  Does it get any sweeter?

Maddy organized, advertised, and taught a workshop at the studio while she was home.  She is so poised and beautiful. She takes my breath away. The younger girls loved it.

 Renna was too young, but snuck in, playing the 'little sister' card.