Lucas is a whirlwind, a volcano, a hurricane, and the brightest sunny day, all in one.  He has broken whatever mold there might have been for his older siblings, and is a force to be reckoned with (and I absolutely mean that literally).  This kid can jump five feet, from coffee table to couch (which is not sanctioned, by the way…but we pick our battles).  He can legitimately tackle his older siblings.  He can run fast enough that I actually have to run, not jog, to catch him.  It is just about impossible to wrestle anything from his grip. And he just goes, from the moment he gets up until well past what should be his bedtime.  This physical strength, endurance and persistence that Lucas has is definitely one of his defining characteristics, but he is so much more.

He loves to laugh.  He is silly and funny and actually really gets many jokes.  He hides just because he thinks it’s so hilarious (but it isn’t, kiddo, unless someone knows you’re hiding).  He makes goofy faces and weird noises, and imitates things that he sees others laughing at.  And he loves an audience.  If people are laughing at something he’s doing, it’s almost impossible to get him to stop.

He’s also persistently and oddly outgoing.  He will insist on going up to complete strangers to say hi, even when I (as his extremely not outgoing mother) try to explain why it isn’t a good idea.  But I do let him.  It doesn’t always work out great, since he’s still not the clearest communicator, but he usually seems satisfied with his efforts.  He has also, on occasion, made captive audience of random extended family members so that he can go into a long, not often very understandable, explanation of something.

Another notable characteristic he has is as a protector.  Whenever he deems someone is in need of help, he is insistent on rescuing them.  Seriously.  And unflappably.  Especially if it’s one of his two youngest sisters.  He will tackle, pry, pull, pinch, kick, and put himself in any amount of [perceived] harm’s way to protect and defend someone else.  [side note: generally, these are instances of someone getting tickled, or of a consensual wrestling match]

While Lucas is growing fast in many ways, though, he doggedly clings to his finger-sucking habit despite many efforts to convince him to let it go.  He also has no interest in potty training.  While he can make sure to find the quietest corner to do his business in his diaper, he will not ever head to the bathroom in those moments, despite promises of much-loved chocolate chips for success on the potty.  I think it will come down to a cold-turkey approach, which is obviously way more work for me…hence why it hasn’t quite happened yet. It will be soon, though.

Lucas also, obviously, has many favorites of various things.  He loves being read to, and his current favorites include When a Monster is Born; Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs; I Love it When You Smile; A Good Day; Guess How Much I Love You; and God Bless You and Good Night.  He fights over eating a lot, but some things he will eat as much of as he can get are cheese, French fries, chocolate, oranges and apples.  He is a huge fan of Scooby-Doo, and more recently, Toy Story and Cars.  He will occasionally prefer a Little Einstein’s video or a VeggieTales, too.  When it comes to toys, almost every preference comes down to whether or not the toy has wheels.  No matter what it is, wheels make it fun for him.  But he does also like to entertain himself with making shadows on the wall

Lucas loves people.  If he were allowed, he would choose to curl up next to a sibling every night.  He gives the biggest, strongest hugs and the cutest kisses on the cheek.  His smile is huge, endearing, yet almost always full of mischief.  He sings loudly even when he doesn’t know the words.  He says sorry if he thinks he has accidentally hurt someone (still working on when he intentionally hurts someone). He keeps us on our toes, and exhausted by the end of each day, but he is so fun and so loved and we are so thrilled to be celebrating his three years of life today.

Bethany is 14 today.  It’s getting real, this growing up thing.  More and more, the traces of my spunky, flighty (at times irresponsible and stubborn) little girl are fading.  She’s still the same girl at heart, but more articulate, less willful, more willing to do the work of being responsible.  She is growing in grace and beauty every day (in more ways than one), which makes me relieved and mortified all at once, I find myself praying more fervently these days that she will have wisdom, and that she will know how to guard her heart, and that she won’t be swept off her feet by the first guy that looks her way.  She has a good head on her shoulders, and a healthy sense of propriety, as well as a recognition of her God-given worth, so I do breathe easier knowing these things.

But while there are many changes, some things have only become clearer.  She LOVES animals.  She is fairly brilliant at math.  She is not a naturally good speller.  She’s great at understanding mechanics.  She is determined.  She loves shiny and sparkly and fluffy anything.  She makes chocolates and she dances and she loves music.

I love the maturing and refining that is happening in my oldest girl, but I am so thankful, too, that she is still so much who she has always been.  I love my Bethany and all her wonderful uniqueness.  She is a gift and joy to my heart.

Today, Caedmon is 16, and it feels like a big deal.  I mean, it is kind of a big deal.  We took him to get his permit first thing this morning, and although he aced his written test, I know the months ahead promise lots of learning experiences for him, and will foretell a shift in dynamics around here (Caedmon, can you run to the store for me?  Here, drive yourself to saxophone lessons, today (?!)…and so on).

It’s just one milestone in a list of milestones that keeps growing.

He finished building his 12-ft dinghy (rowboat) this past summer and proved it sea-worthy (or, at least, river-worthy). He took his PSAT as a “practice run” for next year, and scored in the 97th percentile.  He grew 3 inches this year, reaching and surpassing my height now, and not seeming to be finished growing yet.  He took on house projects, and demonstrated not only capability, but the determination and work-ethic to endure some messy, physically demanding, tedious conditions to see the jobs through to completion.  He has steadily improved in his saxophone playing, his Tae Kwon Do skills, and anything he has set his mind to.

But perhaps even more significant than all of those has been his persistence in assessing his own beliefs, opinions, and character.  He knows what he believes, in many instances, but he is refining those beliefs – in some cases bolstering, in some learning to afford latitude – by asking questions, processing what he sees and hears, and attempting more and more to frame his understanding with biblical truth.

There is so much about Caedmon that makes me proud, and so much that I will miss when it’s time for him to venture into whatever plans and purposes God has for him.  I might be biased, but I think he is exceptional, and I am so thankful for these sixteen years.  He’s not exactly my “little guy” any more, but I love him now as much or more as when he first made me a mom, and he will always be just as precious.

Yesterday, we celebrated 10 years with Elijah.  As I think about who Elijah is, I always first think of his sense of humor and love of laughter.  Even as a very newborn baby, he would often wake himself up laughing.  And now, he is always ready with a joke or a quick-witted reply.  Perhaps unfortunately, most of his jokes these days have a potty-humor bent, but nonetheless, it is impressive how sharp and creative his mind is in coming up with quips.

Elijah has also shown himself to be quite musical.  He has continued playing the trombone this year, and is making impressive progress.  He also can still sit down at the piano or pick up his harmonica and play reasonably well despite little instruction and not-so-frequent practice of late.  Somehow his rhythm was slower to develop than other skills, but he finally is able to reliably keep a steady beat now, too.

My Buddy continues to be both excellent and frustrating with his schoolwork.  He grasps concepts deeply and completely…eventually.  But, if he doesn’t focus on learning something, the easiest concepts in world will elude him entirely.  I’m sure attentiveness is the primary hurdle here, so we’re working on removing distraction and giving “doodle breaks”, but there’s still work to be done.  We aren’t too discouraged by this, though, since, as a fifth grader, he is already doing pre-algebra math, and getting excellent grades in it.  I just try to remind myself of that when I have to repeat the same science concept to him for the tenth time, haha :).

Elijah remains sensitive and athletic, and his naturally encouraging nature is even starting to show itself more, again.  He is usually a wonderful big brother – patient and kind – and he still greets me every morning with a hug.  While there are areas in need of growth and refinement, Elijah has many character qualities that are admirable and special.  I love this kiddo so much and I’m thankful to call him my son.

So, Ava’s seventh birthday came and went without me writing about it.  I’ve remembered at inconvenient times since then, so I finally made a note to remind myself to write something, because I don’t want to miss the chance to stop and think about the precious gift that Ava is.

Ava continues to reinforce her reputation as our putzy princess.  Not in a bad way, though.  She just never rushes through anything.  Although she is very quick on her feet, she takes her time with everything else.  And despite being incredibly capable at many things, she is happy to have others do things for her.  It does sometimes cross the line into laziness, but mostly I think that being “served” is just what communicates love to her.

Ava is an excellent student, and though she is no quicker at schoolwork than anything else, she works diligently until her assignments are completed, does everything with exceptional thoroughness, and rarely struggles with understanding.  Her quick mind is evident also in her ability to keep up with older siblings in board games, in her insightful observations, and her clever creations.

She also loves art and has a great eye for color and dimension.  I often can’t tell her artwork from that of her older siblings (none of whom I would consider to be deficient in artistic ability).

And as she gets older, there are new facets to her personality coming through.  Though (almost) always gracious and cheerful when playing a game, there is a competitiveness that is also coming through.  She has learned that she really prefers to win!  Ava also is becoming more sure of her convictions.  When she thinks she’s right, she stands her ground, which is still a bit surprising coming from our girl who has always been quick to relent in favor of just getting along.  Still, she remains a peacemaker in most situations, often preferring others before herself and making choices that promote peace in a situation.

Ava loves to snuggle close and still benefits greatly from a big hug when she’s having a hard time.  She’s sensitive, but also strong and able to move past hurts when she needs to.  She is funny and sweet and kind, and even at seven is still mostly endearing to those around her.  I love her so much and, even though I’m a little late, I greatly value the time and reflection it takes to note the things that stand out to me as unique and special at this seven year milestone.

Today is our Bug’s birthday.  Our living room is decked out in yellow balloons and yellow streamers, because yellow is, and has been, his favorite color, by far, since before he could talk.  And, like his color preference, Nathanael has a lot of very obvious and distinct personality traits.  He continues to be a big fan of white chocolate, anything lemon, and grilled cheese.  He is (almost) always excited to help with any home improvement, car repair, or mechanical “fixes” around the house.  He is the most likely among his siblings to ask questions about our morning devotional, or about a math assignment, or about how something works, or about why something happened.  He always – ALWAYS – hangs back with whoever is lagging behind when we’re going somewhere together, often quiet and unassuming in his personal conviction in this.

As a twelve-year old boy, there are obviously still growth areas, though even in these he is consistent in his propensities.  He is quick to have a witty comeback in any situation (even, at times, inappropriate ones…hence, the need for growth).  He still answers the question “I wonder what will happen if…?” by doing, rather than by reasoning, much too often.  He is generally of the opinion that if something isn’t working, more force will fix it.  All things that sometimes don’t work out so well for him, but he is learning to rein in these tendencies.

I admit, there are days when I still miss my little toddler boy reliably plopping down next to me in the morning, demanding snuggles before he would start his day (how could I not miss that??), but I absolutely love my twelve-year old Nathanael, and all the years we’ve had in between.  He is an exceptional gift and a wonderful joy to my heart and to our family.  I am truly excited and grateful to be able to celebrate him today.

So, Isabelle’s 5th birthday came and went, along with all the usual celebratory trappings, but I forgot to note it in a blog post.  Life is always busy in May, and especially so this year, it seems, but it matters to me that I take time to write about each of my kids on their birthdays.

With Isabelle in particular, and this year in particular, it matters even more.  Because this year has been tough on my Sweetpea, I think. She is in that unenviable position of not being in school yet, but not really needing my attentions to manage most of her day-to-day existence.  So, while the older kids have a built-in amount of attention in the form of teaching and directing in chores and answering school-related questions, and while Lucas is in that mode of needing constant oversight if I hope for the very structure of our home to make it through a day, Isabelle has, unfortunately, been left to fend for herself too much of the time.

On top of that, she was really hit hard by her Grandma passing away this year.  Even though her comprehension of it all was, I’m sure, a little fuzzy, she lost someone who lavished her with attention, who was always willing to answer a question, or let her water flowers and fill bird feeders, or be a glad recipient of Isabelle’s forceful hugs.  A void was definitely left in my little girl’s heart by this loss.

Nonetheless, Isabelle has paved a way for herself in so many things.  She persistently asks questions, and will volunteer to do ANYTHING, even things she just can’t quite do yet.  She has learned her letters and numbers and counting to a hundred and spelling her name, and so many random facts about things simply by being inquisitive, and without any prompting from me.

She absolutely loves singing and dancing and just performed in her very first dance recital.  She daily requests an audience for her latest Isabelle-original song or dance, which she always performs with great expressiveness and energy.

Isabelle is amazingly articulate.  She has an impressive vocabulary and is an exceptionally clear communicator for a five-year-old, although she occasionally struggles with shyness in unfamiliar situations, at which point she will staunchly refuse to utter a single word.

She is a born nurturer.  Whenever someone isn’t feeling good, she is quick to take care of them, and sticks with them throughout the day to attend to every need (which she does quite well).

Her natural personality is best characterized as exuberant.  She hops her way through life, bounces into hugs, gives the biggest, cheesiest grins anytime a camera is pointed her way, laughs loud (and screams loud).  She does everything with flair.  She LOVES playing dress-up and pretend. She is intelligent and determined and silly and strong and loving.

I am so thankful for her and I love her beyond words.

Last week, Lucas had his second birthday.  Two years has flown by, and now my baby isn’t so much of a baby any more.  He is in full-fledged I want to do what my older siblings are doing mode, from chores, to schoolwork, to playing games and building with Legos.

In many ways, Lucas has broken the mold of my expectations these past two years.  From his first year with constant spit-up, late teeth, persistent finger sucking, and uncanny physical strength and coordination, to this past year with his ability to defy any childproofing attempts, his tenacity against which I am woefully mismatched, and his acute intelligence which is only mildly veiled by his as-yet limited speaking vocabulary, my ability to predict his forthcoming strengths and challenges has proven to be lacking.

On one hand, he is intense and demanding and dissatisfied with anything that doesn’t completely meet his “requests”, but on the other hand, he has a compassion and gentleness towards someone who is hurting that was not evident in his older siblings.  He rarely says any intelligible words apart from Mommy, Daddy, and a few other staples, but will occasionally blurt out an entire sentence as clear as day.  He loves bath-time when the water is running, but hates it any other time.

Yet, still, there are the normal 2-year-old boy things, too. He loves cars and trucks…well, anything with wheels, really.  He runs and climbs and jumps and bangs his head on all kinds of things.  He has started loving books – his current favorites being Peek-A-Who, A Good Day, Froggy Goes to Bed, I Love it When You Smile, and God Bless You and Goodnight.  He will usually willingly go to bed at night, but insists on being picked up any time he wakes up (I have lost my will to stand my ground at 3am…for now, at least).  He loves going outside at recess time, and even knows to go grab socks from his drawer and bring them to me with his shoes.  He loves french fries, and bananas, and pretzels, and macaroni and cheese, and corn, and cookies…but there are many more things that he won’t eat without a fight.  He is silly and funny and loves to be the center of attention.  He needs to work on obedience, but has at least learned to obey stop! (the most important first step, in my opinion).

Lucas sometimes makes me feel like I’m in over my head, but his presence in our lives is immeasurably valuable.  His biggest of big smiles, the way he sort of gallops away when he’s excited, and the out-of-the-blue hugs and kisses are some of my very favorite parts of any day.  I have loved being Lucas’s mom these past two years, and I am so excited to watch him grow, and to know him more and better in the years to come.  He is loved beyond words.

Today, Bethany is 13 years old.  So here, 13 things about our Bethany Kaitlyn:

1 – She is strong-willed.  Though always a defining characteristic, she has learned to (mostly) use it well, and yield when necessary.

2 – She is great at math.  She doesn’t always get the best grades (though she has improved her attention to detail by leaps and bounds this year), but she very rarely struggles with understanding.

3 – She loves animals.  I’ve tried to explain the lack of logic in such a strong affection, but she persists in it nonetheless.  It is possible that I’m just a bit less compassionate than she is.

4 – When at home, she seems incapable of sitting down without pulling her knees up to her chest…except at the dinner table, which might only be because the table impedes her progress.

5 – She is beautiful.  Tall and strong and always tanned, with dimpled cheeks and big brown eyes (on the outside).  Quick to laugh, quick to forgive, cheerful and optimistic (on the inside).

6 – She loves Jesus.  Simply and completely and without reservation.

7 – She can put both feet behind her head at the same time…a feat I’ve never been able to accomplish (lame pun intended).

8 – She is still, and possibly forever, a fan of anything sparkly or shiny or fluffy.

9 – She is most easily offended in life by her 9 year old brother.  Always.

10 – She is, literally, the exact picture of a small child chasing a butterfly.  Chores and schoolwork and attentiveness, in general, often succumb to her as yet uncontrolled ability to be distracted.

11 – She is a gifted artist.  It just makes sense to her, I guess.  I enjoy so much seeing any new drawing or painting or clay sculpture she creates.

12 – She can now, after many years of diligent practice…drumroll, please…walk in a straight line.

13 – She is indescribably precious to, and immeasurably loved by us.

We are so excited to walk alongside and celebrate with Bethany today.  She is a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Caedmon is 15.  Despite my deep desire for time to stop for just a little while, it marches on, still.  In the past 6 months, Caedmon has outgrown 2 pants sizes and his voice is now more man than boy.  My guess is that the next six months will find us packing away a few more sizes of pants…but I really don’t want to get ahead of myself in all of this.  Instead, I will take this moment to reflect on who Caedmon is right now, in these fleeting days.

On one hand, Caedmon is the same Caedmon as always – diligent, particular, hard-working, relishing any chance for “play”.  He excels in all of his schoolwork, to the point where I have to re-learn (and re-learn, and re-learn again, sometimes) the math concepts he’s working on…and often he “gets” them much more quickly than I do.  He still spends most of his free time building with legos, though he will occasionally forego that in favor of a game of Castle Risk, or to watch a favorite movie.  His saxophone playing continues to improve by leaps and bounds, and he regularly sits down at the piano to try to hammer out a new song.  At the end of this past summer, after earning money by restoring and painting some of our windows, he set out to build himself a rowboat.  He found plans online and has planned, purchased, measured, cut, glued, and epoxy-ed his way most of the way through this project, with plans to be finished by the time fishing weather rolls around.  As always, he has big ideas AND the determination to see them accomplished.  He is steady and dependable and hopeful and principled.

But, there have been some subtle changes, too.  I think he is more sure of himself…less concerned about trying to fit anyone else’s mold.  He is more grounded, recognizing more readily the difference between a pie-in-the-sky notion, and something that is a real possibility.  He’s giving more thought to his future (though not obsessively so, by any means), and he has a better idea of what interests him and what doesn’t.  In short, I guess, he’s growing up…which, in some ways, makes me more distraught than I could possibly ever explain, but which is also a relief.  A relief knowing that, when the time comes for him to be on his own, he has a good head on his shoulders and a firm foundation under his feet.

But, I won’t be rushing things.  And as always, I am so happy to have this day to pause much of life just to celebrate my firstborn son.  He is a treasure and joy and I will relish every year that I have the responsibility and the privilege to make his birthday a big deal.  I love him more than words.