Lillie's Circus Celebration Recap

This year rather than have a big birthday party to celebrate Lillie's second birthday, Tori

suggested that Lillie might enjoy a trip to the circus. So we decided to have a family dinner on Lillie's actual birthday and then celebrate with a special trip to the circus the next week! Lillie's special day began with the traditional Roden doughnut breakfast and a special poster made by Daddy. And we also gave our Lillie a lily of her own! Even though she wouldn't eat her doughnut, ( she just stroked it like it was a fuzzy kitty), she was so excited that the focus was all on her!

After a day eating in at Chick-Fil-A, (a real treat for us) and an outing at Brilliant Sky picking out a birthday treat(a wooden apple pie set for our Lilie Pie), she was ready to come home for a quick nap and a big birthday dinner! I can't say Lillie ate

much dinner, but I've never seen a child light up anymore over a birthday cake!

After cake, she was more than ready for presents, and the hit of the evening was from Patti-Grams and Aunt Tori, the playmobil circus set! The perfect gift to get us ready for her big circus celebration!

In addition to playing with our playmobil, we spent the week getting ready for the circus by

reading books about the circus, working circus puzzles, and even watching a special Mr. Rogers about the circus. We also had a circus dress up day and a special showing of Dumbo, which has since become one of Lillie's favorites (she has me read the book almost every night)! Needless to say, by the time the day arrived, our crew was more than ready!

Our trip to the circus could not have been more perfect! After a fantastic dinner at Demos' the whole family went to Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth, which was a first for four of the five kids in our family! Never have the kids had more fun or had more

grateful attitudes than they did at the circus - which made

the whole experience even more fun! Lillie truly enjoyed every site, every sound, and every taste. She was completely mesmerized and engaged

throughout the entire show, even though it didn't even though it lasted until

nearly 10 p.m.! From the snocones to the clowns to the cotton candy and the elephants, Lillie Roden enjoyed it all! She tasted everyone's snack and wound up with everyone's souvenir before the night was over. With her sweetness and charm, she conned every adult into buying her either a snack or souvenir! Lillie beams from the inside out, and I've adopted a quote Sophie said about her, "she can make a bad day good." And as far as our circus outing went, she made a great night, spectacular! Our circus adventure could not have been a better celebration of our precious Lillie!

The Boy

Well, "the boy" has turned four, and though his birthday began with him waking up with a stomach virus, we finally had the big Cars party (more about that later) yesterday, and I believe, in the end, his fourth birthday was a great one! Actually, Matt says that if I understood guys, I would realize that his actual birthday was a dream come true because even though he threw up right after he woke up, because I felt so sorry for him being sick on his birthday, I gave him unlimited screen time and let his stay in pjs all day! He raced Mario Karts, raced on the ipad with his new Cars Appmates, and got to watch his beloved Jungle Junction whenever he tired of the racing! It was not the day I had in mind for my boy, but it may have been the day he's always dreamed of!

Will has matured so much in this last year. As Patti-Grams likes to say, he has really "come

into his own." Not only is he more off the growth charts physically, than he was at his three year old check up (this year - 50 pounds and 45 " tall), but he is also growing emotionally, in his relationships, academically, and spiritually.

Will still has a high need for structure, but he is more confident, and he seems to adapt to changes better than he once did. This latest move has been much easier for him, and he's flourished

in his role as big brother this time around. Will has overcome many fears this year (though he'd still rather keep both feet on the ground), and he is growing stronger and braver each day. H's proud of watching The Nightmare Before Christmas and How to Tame Your Dragon, and he marched straight up to "scary houses" at Halloween while his big sister stood shaking in her boots! And though Matt constantly reminds me, "Carrie, he's a boy" when he doesn't squeal

with delight over party decorations or when he doesn't bubble over with enthusiasm over a gift I know he's been longing for, Will finds other ways to express his feelings. For his Valentine's party at school, I let him dictate to me exactly what he wanted to write on each child's valentine, and most said something like, "I like it when we play cars." or "I'm glad you're my friend," but when we got to his main squeeze, Annabel's, he said, completely flat-line, "Write 'I love you so much.' " No hesitation. No emotion. Just a straightforward declaration of love. And If I'm surprised by the things he doesn't get excited or show emotion about, I'm equally surprised

about the things he does get revved up about. He laughs over bodily function sounds like they are truly the funniest thing in the world. It tickles him like nothing else can. He loves cars and racing with every fiber of his being, and though he doesn't express excitement the way the girls

do, there is a quiet intensity that should not be mistaken for indifference. He also continues to show love by head-butting, and where one of the girls might come up and grab my hand, he rams his head into my back! But rarely does he forget to find mama to give me his "love" before bed, and when he does just run up and hug me or quietly rub my arm or shoulder, it absolutely melts my heart. The boy is growing emotionally.

Will is also learning to negotiate the waters of life with four females! He still doesn't excel at the psychological warfare that all girls are born experts in (he's much rather just flatten them and move on), but he's starting to develop some coping skills. When talking to our pediatrician about Will's place in the middle of the "sister sandwich" with Sophie and Zoe on top and Lucie and Lillie on bottom, we joked that he will either

be an amazing husband or a priest! He has the most tumultuous relationship with Sophie, but at the end of the day, he really adores her and wants her approval (though he will fight tooth and toenail if he thinks she is getting anything more or better than he is). He and Zoe sometimes fight like siblings, but he really thinks she is a rock star, and it is so interesting to see their interdependent relationship, and how one is strong for the other in some situations and how those roles reverse in others. They truly care for each other and take care of each

other and then occasionally fight like brother and sister. Will

and Lillie's relationship is developing by leaps and bounds these days. It's funny to watch them growing from mutual adoration of baby sister-big brother to beginning to play together as friends, really for the first time. Will is seeing her less like a baby and more like a playmate. Since they are not quite two years apart, I think they will grow even closer. And Will thinks Lucie is just the most precious baby in the world. I won't be a it surprised if those two don't have a special connection. Will is amazing with her, quietly chanting in his deep voice, "hey Lucie, Lucie, hey Lucie, Lucie," and singing "My Little Lulu" in an octave so low, I

can't even sing along! For now, Sophie still manages to send him on the occasional "fool's errand," Lillie tortures him by snatching his beloved cars, and the three biggest girls can still run him crazy saying absolutely ridiculous things that any girl would have the sense to ignore, but Will is starting to find his way, and along that way, he's forming some deep relationships with his sisters and cousin that will serve him very well as he gets older. The boy is growing in his relationships.

Will is truly excited about learning, and he loves for us to "do school" together. He will stay at

the table all morning with Sophie, even when the things I have planned for him are all finished up. He loves to do well, and he beams in spite of himself when he accomplishes something new. He isn't reading yet, but he wants to, and he is happy to take a slow and steady approach to phonics that will result in solid reading whenever he takes off. He has great critical thinking skills, and I think he may take more to math than his older sister. He has a very methodical approach to school, and like in the other areas of his life, he likes his lessons straightforward and consistent. Will is growing intellectually.

Will doesn't bring up spiritual things every day, but when he

does, I'm always amazed at the depth of his questions, and how clear it is that he has been pondering whatever topic we last discussed. He is really wrestling with what being a leader vs. a follower, and what it means to be a leader who leads in the right direction. He is passionate about praying out loud at mealtimes (not so much as bedtime), and it is so amazing to see how his prayers are

developing. He has an amazingly strong sense of justice, and though he has a lot to learn about life not being fair, I pray that his strong desire for things to be "right" may motivate him to stand up for others. He definitely wants things to be fair for himself, but I am also beginning to see him care that others are treated fairly. I 100% believe that Will's concept of justice is tied in to how he sees the Lord, and I believe that this aspect of his personality is going to be a crucial part of his spiritual life. The boy is growing spiritually.

Will continues to remain the most mysterious of my children, but never have I enjoyed a

mystery any more than I have him. The fact that this little guy will one day, not all that long from today, be a grown man just blows me away. I see the Lord answering my prayers that I've prayed since before he was born that Will would be grow to be a strong and brave defender, one who will be full of truth and stand up for what is right. I love this guy more than I could have imagined, and I'm so very thankful that I am the mama of the kid who in our family is known as "the boy." Happy 4th Birthday Will! I love you as big as the sky!

Holiday Recap: Christmas 2011

We had a busy, but wonderful Christmas season this year. We were in Christmas mode from the day after Thanksgiving right up until, well, let's just say our Christmas tree was down before MLK day! Some of the highlights of this year were:

Breakfast with Santa - Now, if I'm being honest

this one got off to a rather

rocky start! I don't

remember all the details, but I think it was one of our first attempts at being anywhere early dressed and ready as a family of six! What I do remember is finally arriving and

sitting down to eat, and Will looking across

the table to his cousin, saying loudly, "Hey Zoe! Did your mama and daddy get in a big fight on the way here too?" Thanks buddy. As it turned out, we did have a good time, and this wound up to be a big day for our family because later that afternoon, we had...

Lucie's Dedication - We were so happy to dedicate Lucie at TPC Spring Hill with both Tato and Uncle Derek

on had for the service. Lucie's service was very sweet, with a

small group of parents and children gathering to promise to raise their children according to principles of Scripture. Lucie wore the same dress that I wore when I was dedicated, just as Sophie and Lillie did as well. There was a great reception following the service, and it was a special time to pray for our family, specifically for Lucie that she will come to know and accept the great love that Jesus has for her.

Walk through Bethlehem - This was another big day for our family as we were celebrating Uncle Derek's 30th birthday! After church and cake we continued with one of my favorite activities of the Christmas season. The Walk through Bethlehem put on by Woodmont Christian each year is truly an can't-miss event! Your family is transported back in time to Bethlehem, and you experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the first Christmas. The sheer number of volunteers and then the attention to detail that those volunteers put in makes this day an incredible gift from Woodmont Christian to the city of Nashville. I could and should write an entire post just about this

event, but some of the highlights include:

• the amazing foods the children try (Sophie's favorite this year was pomegranate seeds)
• the various animals the kids get to see and pet!
• the crafts the kids make - this year our crew all made dolls to give to the baby Jesus
• the gorgeous set - I've said before that other than a Disney experience, I've never been so "transported" as I am during Walk through Bethlehem. The church does such an amazing job not only with beautiful and historically accurate props, but also with music and smells of spices and animals that make it hard to remember that you are smack in the middle of Green Hills!
• the incredible way the actors all remain in character and interact with the children - From the Roman soldiers whom the kids are told to protect Baby Jesus from to the village people who are so amazingly knowledgeable about their
• jobs in the town to the beautiful actors who play the familiar faces of the nativity story, the whole experience helps Scripture come alive for children and adults.

Sleigh Ride at Shadrach's - We didn't know quite what

to expect from the Christmas event, but it turned out to blend two of our families favorite

things - Christmas and the fair! After a fun sleigh ride (I think it was actually a

hay ride without hay because of the size of our family), our "colorful" driver

dropped us off at Santa's tent, where the kids had a blast riding expensive carnival rides while the adults enjoyed feasting on expensive fair food! It was not a typical Christmas experience, but we truly had a blast, only to go back to Patti-Grams and Tato's for our first...

Big Family Christmas Get Together - Lucie met Mee-Maw

and Big Dad for the first time, and the next day we all met Leo for the first time! It was a

super-short visit before a longer visit closer to

Christmas, but we were all excited to see one another.

Christmas with Aunt Judy - We kicked off our celebrations with family by getting together with Aunt Judy and exchanging Christmas gifts. This was also Lucie's first chance to meet

Aunt Judy! These were the kids' first Christmas presents (Zoe's first ever!), and they were all truly grateful and excited! It was great to spend some time with Aunt Judy and to spread the holiday fun out a bit so the kiddos didn't get so overwhelmed.

Sophie's Gingerbread Decorating Party - I'm not

quite sure how Sophie talked me into having a party the week of Christmas, two

months after moving to a new house and one month after having a new baby, but she invited the second grade girls over to decorate gingerbread on December 20th, and we had a great time! Patti-Grams, Aunt Tori, and Aunt Hope all helped us to get ready, and Uncle Derek had Will for the

afternoon, so I was able to focus on Sophie and her friends. We had several sweet girls, some siblings, and their moms, plus plenty of cookies and icing for everyone! I was so

proud of my "homemade" gingerbread cookies, that I'd stocked up on in the freezer section at Target. The highlight of the desert table was the gingerbread house, that was actually a gorgeous cake made and decorated by our friend Michele.

Ice at Opryland Hotel - For Aunt Tori's 30th birthday, we had an

awesome birthday cake and then bundled up and headed out to look at lights at Opryland

Hotel and visit Ice with the Merry Madagascar characters. We all enjoyed the amazing sculptures featuring the

Madagascar crew, but the ice slides were a huge hit too! I think everyone was actually most amazed by the ice nativity at the end of the exhibit. After taking the very worst picture with Santa

that my kids have ever made, we walked about 50 miles to a restaurant we'd heard was great, only to find the wait was several hours (even though we didn't see anyone waiting). Needless to say, we cut our losses and headed back to Patti-Grams and Tato's for...

Big Family Christmas - It was then time to celebrate Christmas

with Mee-Maw and Papa, Pammie and Joy,

Jamie, Ry-Dog, and Leo. We had a ball, taking some special pictures with Mee-Maw and Papa (which I can't wait to see and

post), and we even squeezed in some last minute shopping. Ry-Dog

didn't get into town until later in the

evening, so we were a little worried about

the kids making it without a meltdown, but they all did amazing. They had a blast opening presents, playing and spending time with Baby Leo!

Christmas Eve Service - This was Zoe (and Lucie's) first Christmas Eve service, and

as Sophie pointed out, her first as a Christian because she was sick for last year's service. Christmas Eve at TPC is always a beautiful service, and this year was no exception. I was

overwhelmed with how many blessings we'd been given since last year. Last Christmas Eve,

I was celebrating Lillie's very first Christmas, and this year, she was the big sister. Last year, I was so wishing Zoe was with us, and this year, she sat laughing and playing with

her co

usins, already fully a part of our family. Last year, I had no idea that I would be

cradling another sweet baby in my arms, and this year, I celebrated the birth of my Savior with sweet Lucie in my arms. And the Christmas Eve service is only the beginning of what turns out to be one of our latest and hardest-working nights of the year, all to get ready for...

Christmas Morning - Again, the difference of one year was amazing! Santa must

have brought an extra sleigh to bring all the gifts to Patti-Grams and Tato this year! Jesus had a birthday, but Sophie, Zoe, Will,

Lillie, and Lucie got the gifts! There was too much excitement and too many presents to name them all, but Santa brought a few extra special presents. For Sophie, there was an Egyptian playmobil set, for Zoe, a Loving Family dollhouse and family, for Will, a Cars 2 World Grand Prix set,

and for Lillie, presents galore including a special Minnie

Mouse playset. Lucie hadn't put in any special requests, but even she got a gigantic pink teddy bear! Patti-Grams and Tato gave the kiddos special gifts as well, with Sophie getting a Playmobil dream castle, Zoe, a trunk full of costumes, Will, a train desk, Lillie, a piano, and Lucie, a beautiful blanket and pillow. We had a great breakfast, a truly amazing lunch, a much-needed rest, and then a special birthday party for Jesus, complete with Tato reading the Christmas story. We had so much excitement packed into 24 hours, the adults could have slept for the next 24 hours. If only the kiddos had felt the same way!

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year, and this year was such a special one. I know these are the years that our children will remember when they think back on their "childhood Christmases," and I am so thankful for the memories they are making and for the precious people they are making them with.