Archambault-Wegrzyn 2016

Our third annual(first for the two youngest) vacation together brought us to Lyman, Maine just outside of Portland. 

A cozy (rainy and a little chilly) weekend was predicted, but did not prevent us from a walk to the lake.

The view was beautiful from the beach.

The oldest three eventually made their way in and ultimately shed their wet clothes.

As in past years, many memories were made while kids played together and grown ups stayed up too late talking (can't remember the last time I had seen 1 am for a reason other than a baby crying). 

Wegrzyns read to Archambaults.

And Archambaults read to Wegrzyns.

The three oldest slept in a pair of bunkbeds and Sophia loved her "up-high" bed.

This teddy bear clearly benefited from our three during a visit to the Children's Museum in Portland.

Meanwhile, baby J was working on his own critical mission.

                                      

 

"Drumming with the Dads" also took place at the museum in several settings.

I had been leaning towards a "less rustic" option for the lakehouse rental, but Danielle had the wisdom to vote for the one with the playground in the yard for our three three-year-olds. Already looking forward to our adventure next summer, wherever it might be.

New York 2016

During our annual summer visit to see dear friends Rob and Di in West Sand Lake New York,

Diane sent Sophia on a scavenger hunt in the backyard to find "10 weird things",

Sophia spent as much time as she could in a loft space just her size,

the kids and I enjoyed the deck while Joshua swam in the lake,

and Sophia helped Rob build the fire to cook dinner.

Rob was also selected by Sophia to read her bedtime story,

and Diane introduced her to the dollhouse she was given as a child.

They joined us for a day trip to New Paltz where we met Uncle James' girlfriend Rachael,

and brought baby J to the place where we were married 9 years ago.

Colorado 2016

We had the privilege of bringing our son to Colorado to meet his Uncle Eric, Aunt Jennifer, and Cousins Grace, Noah, Levi and Anna.

In addition to the donuts pictured above, we also enjoyed some beautiful hiking and lots of wonderful time together.

Father's Day 2016

This picture was taken on our son's first Father's day.

It captures his father with full arms and an even fuller heart.

I found myself looking down at our nine month old's tiny hands in church this morning and imagining him holding his own child someday; then praying that he would emulate many of the qualities of his own father.

Thank you God for how lovingly I was fathered, and thank you for the father you have given to my children.

Sophia's 3rd Birthday Dance and Interview

Each year we carry out the tradition of a birthday dance with Sophia and her Dad, one that I had with my own father, and am looking forward to starting in September with our son on his first birthday.

Now that she is more conversational than she was the prior two years, we have added the interview portion, which was also a part of birthday celebrations growing up.

Both can be viewed below:

We are grateful everyday for the gift of this girl.

Sophia's 3rd Birthday Letter

My dearest Sophia (favorite nicknames from this year included:  Sweetie, Sweet-girl, Sweet Bear, Sophia-girl, Kiddo-Mckids),

Happy third birthday!

It has become very clear this year that quality time is of utmost importance to you. Working from home allows you to join me in the office many days so you can complete your work (i.e. drawing) next to me on the floor as I finish a last e-mail or two at the end of the day. I hope this continues as you enter school and need to start your homework.

You seem to relish any opportunity to swing the office door open to inform me it is time for lunch or dinner, or that you want to just say hi. You look forward to any opportunity to have me read you a book and often convince me to spend a couple extra minutes with you to snuggle before nap or bedtime.

These days you frequently turn routine events into a “party,” from a simple pizza and movie night at the YMCA, to coffee hour after church, to occasional random dinners at home-- you are always ready to turn it into a celebration and love when “friends” are involved whether you know them well, or they are complete strangers. They all fit into your friends category.

Recently, some days, it does feel like you are two going on 14, as you are very independent and have a vision for what should happen in almost any situation. From putting on your coat yourself, pouring your own cereal, to doing the buckles in your car seat-- you want to master every activity around you. I have no doubt this vision and drive will serve you well in the future, and in the meantime your Mother and I need to remind ourselves to take an extra deep breath, and accept being a couple minutes late.

You and Mama keep a busy library story time schedule these days. The classes frequently include dancing, and reading--two of your favorite activities.  I enjoy joining for the Saturday editions. You also are well on your way to reading 1000 books by Kindergarten, as part of an initiative at the local library. You are currently close to 500, and that does not include the dozen or so books I read you each day that I forget to tell your Mother about. You also really like seeing and saying the letters of your first name and finding words that rhyme (including words you make up).

You continue to love to cook in the kitchen, and will talk for days about how fun it was to make pancakes with Mom on a random Saturday. Your memory is impressive as you will often bring up something that happened a year ago when riding in the car, and frequently know where we are driving based on certain buildings you see out the window.

You love the bedtime routine of telling each other funny things before bed, but also this past year you have become even more creative. You make pretend pizza in the living room for everyone, or build a house with multiple rooms and beds out of playdough.  

You looooooooooove your cousins. And a current favorite game in the car is to repeat each of their names. This past year you had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week with them in Orlando, and loved-every-single-moment-of-it.

But your friends continue to be a regular source of joy. The 3 Southworth-Mahoney boys, the Killilea twins, Maggie MacDougall, Elyse Loscalzo, and Charlie and Sam Wegrzyn are all a recipe for great enjoyment for you. You love to run, tackle, be tackled, and scream your head off with joyful delight.  But this year a new friend has also joined you at home.

With baby J joining us at Chateau Archambault, we have seen you love him deeply and with open arms. Your Mother and I could not have asked for a more loving, protective, and engaged older sibling for baby J. You are patient when his needs need to come first, and often are the first to offer to help. We pray that your kindness toward him and your friendship with him only blossom over the years between the two of you. You hug baby J when he cries, or inform us that we need to make a bottle for him. You refer to him as “my baby” and the biggest problem we have with the two of you is that you get too excited about him and need to give him some space.

We thank God for the blessing of last year, and look forward to more to celebrate next year.

Love,

Dada (or Dad as you sometimes now call me)

Mother's Day 2016

May 8th, Mother's Day 2016, marks half a year to the day that we brought our son home and just shy of three years since our daughter came home.

We made an impromptu grocery trip to Trader Joe's the day before and Joshua whispered to Sophia to say "Happy Mother's Day" and to tell me to pick out some flowers. I was struggling with which ones to choose (the Hyacinths smelled so good, but the tulips were $3.99 vs. $4.99 for the former), when my husband suggested with a mischievous grin that I get them both.

I continued to wrestle with whether we should really bring home what seemed like an excess of flowers (but still put them both in my cart of course). As we made our way through the aisles,Baby J kept flashing me the smiles that completely melt my heart. When we got to the checkout, Sophia asked the cashier if she could have some stickers and then immediately put them in her pocket and said to me, "I'm saving these for Mother's Day tomorrow and then I am going to give them all to you".

I am gratefully enjoying the two plants back at home, but even more so the two children they represent, that I am so privileged to Mother.