Happy Birthday, Beth

Today is Beth's birthday.  She's our 5th child and our 3rd daughter.  And she's the only one of our kids that lives within shouting distance - about 25 minutes away.

A little while ago I conducted a short interview with her.  Here's how it went.

How does it feel to be one more year older? It feels pretty good. I don't feel old at all, except that I'm always cold, my body aches, I only want to wear comfy shoes and my eyesight is getting poor but beyond that I'm as fit as a thirty-two year old.

Are you about where you thought you'd be at this time in your life?   Yeah.

Do you have any exceptional plans for the coming year.  I do but I have to keep those private for now.

What's your favorite thing about motherhood? Goodness. I enjoy playing and laughing with the kids. I love watching the siblings play with each other. My favorite thing is seeing Anna and Noah love and teach Eli and Clara.

What's your favorite aspect of daughterhood? I think that was a typo. I think you meant favoritedaughterhood. Oh, it's an enjoyable place to be. Right now, as an old wise lady, I can really see what an amazing job my mother did raising her six kids. Wow. What a tough job.

What's the best part of having such a large family?   The best part? Well, I love checking on my kids at night before bed, one after the other. Sometimes, I leave them alone, sometimes I pick up the babies and snuggle, sometimes I cover up Anna and Noah. Sometimes I take the Santa hat off of Noah. Other times I just leave it. Anyway, when I'm done checking on them, I feel such peace in knowing that they're safe and sound in their comfy beds and that they're there because of their parents.

The worst? Probably outings. For instance, Anna and Noah both need haircuts. I'm pretty sure getting a license to become a hairstylist is easier than that outing itself. 

Are you happy to be running your own business as opposed to working for someone else?  Explain. I am positively thrilled with my professional life. I can't believe that I'm actually doing it and not just doing it but thriving. I have a long way to go but I'm so thankful to always be learning and interacting with such amazing people. Working for someone else is not something I oppose, because I'm convinced I wouldn't work as hard as I work now. So it would probably be a bit easier. But not nearly as rewarding.

Where do you see yourself ten years from now? mmmm...drunk.

Oh wait. no. I'd love to still be shooting, maybe have a full-time assistant. (I love the idea of giving someone a means to support their family.) I plan to build a home someday with tons of windows on 10-15 acres. 

What can you tell us about yourself that I've not covered here?

I think we've covered everything. I have to get ready for dinner. My parents are taking us out to eat and I can't be late, okay? gotta go.

And that concluded the interview but I can tell you a few things about Beth that most people already know.  She's a wonderful mother and a wonderful daughter.  Her sense of humor is legendary.  She's one of the hardest working people you'll every know and she's unfailingly thoughtful, loving, and as big-hearted as anyone you could ever meet.

So happy birthday, Beth!  Here's hoping all your dreams come true!!

 (Some photographs were taken by Crooked Eyebrow)

Christmas Joy

We're lucky enough to get to spend Christmas morning with Jenna and Jeremy, our grandchildren from Belleville MI.  We always enjoy it and I always take the pictures.  In fact, I think I've designated myself the official Christmas morning photographer.

This year Santa brought extra special gifts for the kids and I took pictures as they opened them.  Yesterday as I went through the December pictures looking for appropriate shots to include in Jenna's birthday post, I ran across the 'special gift' pics and every time I look at them I smile.  Therefore I'm sharing the sequence.

You'll see that Jeremy is excited and happy but Jenna?  Jenna is overjoyed and overwhelmed.

I'm glad Santa went a little overboard this year because these images will stay with me and make me smile for years and years to come.

Happy Birthday, Jenna

Today is Jenna's 12th birthday.  She's our tenth grandchild and our 4th granddaughter.  Jenna was born at 33 weeks gestation and weighed 4 pounds 1 ounce when she was born.

Although she's always been tiny, she's now growing into a beautiful young lady.

A little while ago, I conducted a short phone interview with her.

Here's how it went.

How does it feel to be 12?  Good.  So does that mean you're a teenager now?  No!  That's why there's a teen on the end of thirteen.  That's when you're a teenager.

Are you having a good birthday so far?  Yeah.  And what have you done that's special?  We went to Chuck E. Cheese.  What did you do there?  Played games.  Who'd you go with?  Amber, Chris, Jack, Dane, Aubrey, and my friend, Keayra.  Is she in your class in school?  No, I know her from Softball.

 Has softball season started?  Yeah, just practice.  Do you enjoy it?  Yep.  You're on a new team this year how do you like that?  It's better. 

Did Jeremy go to Chuck E. Cheese?  Yes.   You've always been close with him right?  I guess.  Is he a good big brother.  Sure.  Are you a good little sister?  Yep!

Who else are you close with?  Anna

How about your mom and stepdad.  Yes and yes.

How do you like being an aunt at such a young age.  It's fun.  Why?  I don't know.  I guess I just think it's fun.

Do you like school.  Kinda.  Why kinda?  Because sometimes it's boring.  What's you're favorite subject?  Social Studies.  Why?  It's easy.

What do you like to do in your free time?  Arts and crafts.

What do you like best about the week at the Christmas house?  Playing with my cousins. 

What haven't I asked about that might be interesting.  Nothing really.  How about things you like to do.  There's so many things if I told you all of them it would be too long.  Give me three.  I like playing softball.  I like Coloring.  I like shopping. 

And that was about it except that she admitted to being a huge One Direction fan.  (And you can tell by the shirt she wore for her birthday party.)

In conclusion, we're wishing this sweet, wonderful granddaughter a very happy birthday and a happy year to come.

Happy Birthday, Anna

Yesterday was our 12th grandchild and 5th granddaughter's 10th birthday!  And tonight I conducted a short phone interview with Anna which was lots of fun because she was very chatty.

Here's how that interview went:
So for 5 days every year, you and Noah are the same age.  Do you like that?  Nope!  Why not?  Because it makes me look younger.  And you want to be older?  Yes, Yes I do.  How old do you want to be?  Just older than Noah.
Did you do anything special for your birthday?  Yes, yes I did.  What did you do?  I had a sleepover with my friends. 

Did you stay up late? Til 11:30ish.  And did you all sleep in today?  Yes til 8:07ish.

 

How do you like being a big sister to 3 younger siblings?  Fine.  What do you like about it?  I like to boss people around.  Do they like that?  No.  But, Eli doesn't really care.  He's like 'okay'!  

 

Do you like school?  Yes!  No!  Not at all.  Why not?  Cause it takes up like the whole week of my time just to learn stuff I already know. And I have to get up really early.  What's your favorite subject?  Going home. 

Seriously.  History.  Pioneer era.  Oh!  So the Little House on the Prairie books that you got from your mom and dad for your birthday were perfect for you!  Yes!  I'm still on the first book and the first time I took it to school there were Oreos that I forgot about in my backpack and my water leaked and now the pages are all brown.  But it's okay.

What's your favorite thing to do in your free time?  Play with my friends and go on my Ipod.  And my friends got me this really cool art set and I like to play with that.  It's like a suitcase full of it literally. And I like chewing gum.

 What do you like best about the Christmas House?  Seeing all my cousins.  And staying up on New Year's Eve.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  I don't know.  Either a singer, a waitress, or a cashier.

What have I forgotten to ask you?  What my favorite kind of gum is.  And what is it?  EXTRA Root Beer Float.  There's also Water Melon Fruit Punch and Orange Cream Bar.  They're all really good and my friends got me fruity stripe gum. It's awesome.

What else?  How much do I like One Direction.  How much do you like One Direction?  A lot a lot a lot.  Right now I'm wearing my One Direction shirt, my Niall necklace, and I'm thinking of One Direction songs.

Did you hear about the ice storm that's supposed to happen tomorrow.  Between 2 and 3 pretty much we're supposed to get freezing rain.  Which reminds me of another question.  What's your favorite channel on TV?  The Weather Channel!  They just came out with Coast Guard Florida and it's awesome.  And they already had Coast Guard Alaska but it's grosser.

And that was about it.  With some kids it's hard to get the shortest answer but I think I could have chatted with Anna all night.  She's funny and quirky and sweet and we're wishing her a very happy late birthday - maybe one that lasts all year!!