(Late) Big Fat (first half of) Summer Dump Post

It is hot and humid and thunderstorms are beginning to rumble.  My entire family is at the pool.  I am slathered in sunscreen and in my suit (under my clothes) sitting here blogging on my couch, because Sam is napping, and someone needed to stay behind.  We just didn't think through the detail of WHO would stay behind until we were ALL dressed and ready to go.

So, I'm taking advantage of a very very rare moment of quiet, to shove a bunch of pictures up and try to give them captions.  In this way, I will feel that I have fulfilled my blog quota for a few weeks.

SUMMER 2018:  June at the Pool

 smiles and suits

 crazy selfies as they wait to go

Arwen's "Oxford University" shirt was a present from her uncle, who happened to be at Oxford this Spring.  It's giving us high aspirations in the home school. lol

This has been the summer of "not-my babies".  My baby is a toddler, and you never quite realize how big a Two-Year-Old is until you see a newborn.  My sisters were able to spend an afternoon a bit ago, and I had twin 1-Year-Olds and a Three-Month-Old angel in our living room.

Baby feet. (Swoon.)

And then my amazingly awesome sister-in-law had us over.  She not only is an outrageous hostess (she used to manage restaurants, so...she knows a thing or two) but she is also a hair dresser.  She used her talents to give Sam his first professional haircut.  He didn't appreciate her talent as much as I did.

#milestones:

Summer moment at a new park:

"Consider the lilies, they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of them"

I've been working on adding lilies to my garden.  When I see them, or water them, or pass others' more abundant lilies in another yard, I try to contemplate the passage above as I enjoy their beauty.

Another not-my-own baby.  Watching for a friend.  My kids need their fill of babies, and Sam isn't fitting the bill anymore.

Cousin besties: my sister was in town for too short of a time, but I was honored to have her family at our home for many long and joyful hours during their visit.

Cutest frogs ever.  Caught by Gimli on a golf course. (Look close, I think there were three). We released them after enjoying them in a spare fish tank.

Father's day.  Should have it's own post.  As usual, I didn't have much planned.  In addition, my husband told me not to buy him anything.  He put the family on a spending freeze, which, let's face it, has been a big fail.  I mean, not spending?  There are eleven of us...there's going to be some spending.
But I didn't get him the upgraded fire pit I had in mind.  I do try to do my part.

But some grocery store balloons and homemade banners make things special.  And Galadriel tried her hand at my mother-in-law's famous lemon cake and homemade lemon frosting.  She did pretty great, but no one can beat Gramz!

Baby shower, lake side:

For my amazing newest sister-in-law.  Keep the babies comin'!

Baby snapping turtle, caught by Galadriel and her cousin when they were visiting.

Just let him hang out with "Harry and Henry" our aquatic turtles for a while.  I mean, so long as you've got an aquarium...

Sleepover!!  Cousins can't visit often or long enough, so we have to make a little more time in the day (or night, I guess!).

That's it!  My big, out of order, first half of summer dump post.  Hope you enjoyed it!!

Overheard

Eowyn: Mom?

Me: Yes?

Eowyn: Did you ever have glass slippers?

Me: (pause) No.  No, I never did have glass slippers.

TWO!!!

Two years ago, I began my 4th of July celebrations with a tiny little sharp pain and a burst of water.  It was 12:30 am and my water had broken.  I was just. so. very. relieved!  Mr. 4th of July was supposed to be born on June 25th, and I was very very ready for him to come!

I heard fireworks as I sat there, marveling at my beautiful baby boy, born at 3:30 am on the 4th of July, named for the 3:00 Hour of Mercy into which he was born, in 2016, the Year of Mercy.

So, what do you do when your baby is born on the 4th of July?  Well, you go ahead and celebrate!

It's funny, but "Sam" is the blog name I chose for this boy, after Sam Gamgee, to round out our "fellowship" here on the blog.  It occurs to me that it's an appropriate name for this boy, "a real live nephew of my Uncle Sam, born on the 4th of July!" lol

Sam's red hair has bleached out to a strawberry blonde, like Bilbo was.  Sam isn't a fly-weight.  He loves to run and romp and throw balls with his brothers.

He is completely doted upon by everyone.  Every day someone tells me "look at Sam! Did you see what he just did?! He's sooo cute!!!"

That's the gift of being #9.  None of us can imagine life without this sweet, chubby Two year old!

In two days will be the Feast of St. Maria Goretti, the "Little Saint of Great Mercy".  I can't have a birthday post without a shoutout to the great Saint who heard my prayers, when her major relics went on tour in the United States for the first time, in honor of the Year of Mercy.  That was in October.  I had just gotten over my first miscarriage in August, and was begging God for just one more.

Two days before her Feast day, Sam was born.  I would have had "Maria" as part of the name if he had been a girl.  Instead, his middle name--Clement--means Mercy.  And it is Mercy that I received in abundance!

Each child is precious.  Each child has their own story to tell.  This is Sam's story, and I celebrate it today with a very full heart.  Full of gratitude and thanksgiving.


Happy 4th of July!! and Happy Birthday Sammy!!!

"Come and hear,

all who fear God,

and I will tell of what

He has done

for my

soul"

(psalm 66:16)