Last Day of 2010!

It's hard to believe another year has come and gone!!  It seems to happen faster every year.  The kids keep growing and changing, we have new experiences, make new friends, and life keeps moving (too quickly!).  Here's a list of my favorites from 2010 in our family.

1. Brandon seems happy and well adjusted at college
2. Hannah has become quite the young lady.  She's extremely helpful and always fun to be around.
3. Owen has really come out of his shell.  Seeing him play Kurt in the Sound of Music was definitely a highlight in my year.  He's always there to lend a hand and make me laugh.
4. Katie's violin playing has really improved.  I love listening to her play.  I also love seeing her read to her little brothers and sisters.
5. Jackson has become a great helper and a good student.  He will patiently sit with Cecilia for however long she wants him to and he is really good at reading the decades of the Rosary.
6. Samuel provides endless entertainment for his little sisters.  He has also become a great reader and I love playing board games with him.
7. Mary is such a sweet girl.  She loves playing dolls and has become a great sharer this year. 
8. Cecilia is a crack up.  She has developed a fantastic sense of humor and also allows us (even begs us) to take her picture now!!
9. Clare has gone through a lot of changes since last new years when she was only 10 days old!!  I think my favorite is her adorable grin and how she has learned to dance.  She's a sweetie, that's for sure!

I hope you all had a wonderful 2010 and are happy and healthy in 2011.  I don't do resolutions as I tend to break them by week 2.  Last year my New Year's theme was to be joyful.  This year it is hope.  To be hopeful in all things.  This morning we saw a beautiful flickering heart beat of a baby the size of a sugar pea on the screen at the doctor's office.  After two miscarriages already this year I was afraid to be hopeful as I went into the doctor this morning.  I'm so happy to report that all is well for Baby Ekblad!!!  I will remain hopeful that the rest of the pregnancy is as uneventful and by August we'll have another person to entertain us!

Happy New Year everyone and God Bless You!!!  Oh, and below is my favorite photo of 2010.  It's Cecilia and my Grandma on Christmas Day.

Henry Ford Museum - Light

Jesse took (only) six kids to Henry Ford Museum today while the rest of us were doing various things.  I asked him if he felt like he was traveling light.  He said yes.  Here's a few pictures from the afternoon.

Jesse said Cecilia was so beyond happy to be allowed in the front seat.  I think it shows on her sweet little face.  Aren't my kids lucky to have such a fun dad?!!

And So It Begins

I'm officially feel pregnant.  I'm sick as a dog.  I'm grateful to be sick as it's usually a good sign so I'm not complaining.  Just saying - I'm sick.  Women have done this for thousands of years who had much harder lives than mine so I try to keep that in perspective.  There's something comforting about this most horrible feeling.  But comforting and grateful doesn't get the laundry done.  I'm slowing down and not much is getting completed around here.  I can only manage a few tasks per day beyond the everyday maintenance of caring for the other children.  I've counted out the weeks to see when I should start feeling more myself.  Until then I will go easy on myself and try to remember what's most important.  That is not my strong point.  I measure my self worth not by who I am but by what I do.  That is all wrong, I know, but it's a habit I've yet to be able to break.  Look for a perked up me in mid February.  Until then it could be slow going.  At least I have faces like this to keep me company.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I hope you are all celebrating Christmas with friends and family.  We are so blessed this year to have my grandma with us.  It's been a fabulous celebration and is still going on!!  God bless you all and have a great Christmas season!!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

It's hard to believe that Christmas is here already!  Our house is a buzz with excitement and anticipation!!  We will celebrate Mass tonight and then head to my parent's house for some yummy food, board games, and a few presents.  We've had a fabulous Advent and are so grateful for the best gift of all - Jesus coming into the world for you, me, and everyone!!  I hope you all have a blessed and Merry Christmas!!

More Birthday

 Grandma Jackson continued her tradition of making a cake just for the birthday baby.  Clare enjoyed having her own cake to dive into!!

Clare is 1 year old!!

When Clare was born on a cold December evening and they left her with me in the dark, I thanked God five thousand times for this amazing gift.  I prayed that I could be the mother that she needed me to be.  Her little 7'14 oz body cuddled close to mine and I didn't sleep at all that night.  I stared in awe for hours as her daddy slept next to us.  Now that she's one year old I still stare in awe at her for hours as she lays next to me every night.  What a privilege it is to be her mother, to be all of their mother, and I still thank God five thousand times a day for the gifts I've been given.  I still pray to be the mother ALL of them need me to be.  Happy first birthday baby Clare.  Your fan club still adores you.  And your mother is still in awe.

Santa Came Early

I can't sit on this secret any longer.  I tried to be a good surprise keeper but I am not.  Santa came early and brought this great shirt for Clare.  We're all beyond thrilled and are anxiously awaiting the summer of 2011!!

O Christmas Tree(s)

We have officially entered the world of two Christmas trees.  Our ornaments overtook our one tree last year so here we are with two.  It was a two day process to get it all up but we (when I say we I really mean the kids) did it and did a great job!!

It's a Wonderful Life

10 days before Christmas and our house is a buzz, let me tell you!  Lots of questions about when we will put our trees up (we have to have two trees because we have MANY ornaments!), lots of talk about baby Jesus, our Christmas trip to Henry Ford Museum, and this year we have the added benefit of Clare's first birthday!  It's going to be a whirlwind of excitement around here the next couple of weeks.  I'm hoping to sit back and enjoy the ride.  I was able to sneak away with Brandon for some hot chocolate at the coffee shop today.  That was a nice treat!  I hope your holiday shopping is winding down and you're all able to enjoy friends and family!

And I couldn't resist this fabulous photo of the girls going shopping.  I just love Mary's sunglasses.  A must for indoor shopping in the winter :)

Today I Am Grateful For....

This was in my inbox bright and early this morning!!!

Greetings!

We hope you are having a wonderful day.
Ready for the latest news?
TRADER JOE'S IS NO LONGER A BOYCOTT TARGET!


Your hard work and the grace of God never cease to amaze us!
Merry Christmas and thank you for your faithfulness and continued support!


Sincerely,
Your Co-Laborers at Life Decisions International
P.S. Would you believe some people still think boycotts do not work?
_______________________________________________________________________________

Oh yes!  So after months of not going to Trader Joe's, Jackson, Clare, and I went there as soon as we possibly could this morning! 

Yahoo!  Sea Salt Caramels and a new kind of tea!  Hey!  Who ate those two pieces?  Hmm....

Two happy girls.  Best friends.  And (usually) a joyful pair playing dolls.  This was quoted a few minutes after I took this picture.  Cecilia: "I love Brandon" Mary: "That's because he's ours."  Love these two!

I stood at this counter last Christmas and signed Christmas cards while I was in labor with Clare!  Here I am doing it again with her on my back sleeping peacefully.  I'm thankful for almost a full year with her (even though she doesn't sleep.  She likes to make the most of our time together ;) ).

Hannah and Owen making the most of their Latin school work.  They are working together and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate while they study. (I might add there was a bit of complaining as well ;) ).

I'm grateful for kids who play outside even when it's freezing and the mess that follows.  I'm trying to find joy in all of it.  Trying.  I said trying.

Last but not least I'm grateful for these 11 stockings that hang by our fireplace.  I love looking at them and remembering when I bought them as each new baby arrived into our family.

I am beyond grateful for dear friends who sacrifice their time for our family and who pray for us.  I cannot believe how very blessed I am to have such people in my life! 

I hope you are able to find peace and joy on this day (11 days before Christmas!!).  God bless you!!

Third Week of Advent

It's hard to believe but here it is.  The "pink candle" week (or Gaudete Sunday)!  May the joy anticipation of the birth of Jesus find you all safe and healthy.

Weekend of Performances

We've had a whirlwind weekend of performances with our homeschool co op.  Last night was our end of semester extravaganza, today Katie had a musical performance, and tonight was a fundraiser for the Drama Club.  It's been a good but very LONG weekend so far!!

 Today was also my birthday.  I was surprised this morning to find my favorite donut from a bakery where we vacation every year (South Haven, MI).  Jesse and Hannah had them shipped to me!!  It was a nice way to wake up on my birthday. :)

We are so blessed to have my grandma here with us this Christmas.  I cannot remember the last time I got to see grandma on my birthday!!