The Whisper of a Smile

My oldest and my youngest.

Caleb is just starting to smile. I've only ever seen his smile about half-a-dozen times EVER. But today he had just a whisper of a smile...

And my Sofie. She's been smiling ear-to-ear with the addition of Ruthie. I wonder what she's whispering to her special doll...

It's all about Ruthie?...

Well, Ruthie continues to be the 7th member of our family. Sofie continues to have her participate in whatever our family is doing at the moment. For breakfast Ruthie sat in her barbershop chair, on a stool and "ate" play food while the other kids ate.

Later, I brought Caleb into John's room so that he could watch his siblings play. He loved it! (I'm assuming this because he didn't cry for a REALLY long time) But then Ruthie appeared, beside Caleb, ready to enjoy the scenery as well.

































And Sofie has been very concerned for awhile that Ruthie have a bed to lay in at night. (Since, you know, she has the pajamas) So Gma Wolfe came to the rescue and made this bed for Ruthie.

















I'm so impressed with the craftsmanship. It is TRULY a treasure.

Now Sofie has two Gma's using their ingenuity to outfit Ruthie. No wonder she seems so life-like to Sofie. :)

When the Cat's Away....

This time the cat is Sofie. She's been off with her Grandma Wolfe on an adventure today. So John, Lilia, Caleb, and I (well really just me) decided to just take it easy for the afternoon. I hadn't just taken random pictures of them in a while, so I got out my camera and started to click away!

Caleb kept staring at the camera with that look on his face. As if he's thinking, "What is THAT!!"


I know it's only two of my brood of four, but they were looking so cute and more importantly, were willing to pose!

Oh, and I decided to be random (which is NOT me) and give Lilia's hair a trim. She was working on a full blown mullet and I just couldn't let that happen anymore. So we trimmed and shaped. She loves it and it's very cute!!

Piano Lessons

Many of you may remember that Mike and I got a piano off of Craigslist for free last April. You'd think getting a free piano would then free up some money to actually get it tuned. But alas, it was not to be. Mike did decide, though, that he could tune it himself. And in true Mike form, he's taking on the challenge in epic ways. He has ordered the tuning instruments and is ready to tune his own piano.

But in anticipation of being able to tune it properly, with the proper tools, he did a "rough" tuning of it the other night with some "everyday" tools that he already has. I gotta tell ya, it doesn't sound half bad. It's at least, somewhat playable, as long as you don't play the black keys, they aren't in tune yet. :)

My Mom had wisely brought my old early piano books from when I was a child. So we got out those books the other night and started learning the notes!

My children are so unique. John, in all his detailed energy, wanted to know what each note was and practiced being able to hit the right notes for a long time.

Sofie did that for awhile, but then decided that she was going to make up songs, "so that they sound like real songs"Truthfully I am very excited to get my kids learning piano. I can't believe how far I've gotten away from my own musical background. But maybe that's what happens when you have four kids in 6 years. I can't wait to start myself and my kids back into some music.

It's Just Going to be an Adjustment...

"It's going to be an adjustment..." is code for, "I'm not really sure how I'm going to accomplish this, but people do these sorts of things everyday, so I'm assuming that it's possible, I just gotta figure out how."

We started school this morning after our 1 1/2 month haitus. Actually it was the 1st morning in 1 1/2 months that I've had us follow our schedule at all. I found some time to actually COOK breakfast (thanks to Caleb sleeping in a little), I took a MORNING shower, and we made it downstairs to accomplish some school. Thank the Lord God up above that my MIL came over and watched/ played with John and Lilia so Sofie and I could ease ourselves back into school.

Adding Caleb to the mix was an experience. That's when I really started to repeat to myself, "It's just going to be an adjustment, it's just going to be an adjustment!" He wouldn't sleep and he wanted to be nursed all the time. Which just isn't going to work. I need my hands to hold a book, or hold a pencil. I guess it's like I told my MIL later, "today was an exercise in seeing what WON'T work."

But never fear! I'm keeping a posotive attitude and I truly believe we'll all adjust and be a well oiled machine by the time we are done with school for the year. (Now for tommorow when John and Lilia will be with us...)

Wolfe's, Squared

FOUR children. I'm still struck with disbelief every once in awhile that I have FOUR children. Mike and I have always talked about having four children. That's always been the "goal." But to have them all actually here. Wow. To see them, to know their names, to watch them grow and become. Again, Wow.

All of the sudden the house seems full, busy, chaotic even at times. :) Truly, it never felt this way before. It always felt like we were waiting for last one. Now that he's here, we are complete!

These last four weeks have been a roller coaster, but I expected nothing less. At times I wonder if I can handle it. Other times I'm almost in tears thinking about how the "dream" has come true.
The times when I wonder if I'm actually capable are the mornings. Why are those the hardest?! Usually I'm coming off a night of the less than restful sleep/no sleep, I'm trying to get kids dressed and fed while pacifying a hungry/cranky/ dirty diaper baby. The other hard times are when Caleb is awake. He doesn't know what to do with himself. So all he really wants to do it nurse and look around. He even cries at me when he's using me as a human pacifier and some milk shows up on the scene. He's not hungry, just wants his Mama Nuk.
I'm enjoying these days. I think I'm going into this infancy with, hopefully, a little more wisdom. I know this part doesn't last forever. I've been through worse infancies (read, Lilia!). And I'm just so over-the-moon thankful to not be pregnant and to not have to be pregnant ever again that I'm riding high on those endorphins. Gotta love post pregnancy hormones.

Anyway, here is my brood, all four of my Wolfe Cubs, Praise be to the Lord God up above through whom all blessing and mercies flow. I feel almost embarrased by how lavishly the Lord has blessed me with these children. He even said "yes" to my prayers of 2 boys, 2 girls, 2 dark, 2 light. See how lavishly I am blessed! Thank you, my Lord.


(Here's the 5th Wolfe Cub. :) She goes everywhere with us and her clothes cost just as much as everyone elses.)

The Last Christmas Hurrah

This weekend we had the extended family Christmas. It's arguably one of my favorite parts about Christmas only because we play the Gift Exchange game. It's so fun because people bring really creative and desirable gifts and then people are willing to steal and be ruthless! Which makes for such a fun time. :) This year I scored with a really cozy blanket and Mike took home what we brought. :) A adventure, outdoor gadget set.

Three generations. I'm always noticing how much they all look alike. Strong genes!!!

Santa made an appearance! I'm not sure how they explained to the ones who believe why he was showing up AFTER Christmas. But I don't think it mattered much. :)

Caleb is more awake every day. He was enjoying the Christmas music in this picture. Music, it soothes the savage beast... and cranky babies.This last video is of Sofia dancing to Christmas Music. She's very cute. :) The really impressive part is that her cousin, David, who is 5 years old, is the one that is playing the Christmas music on the piano. What a guy.

I continue to be impressed by David! This summer we camped together and his Dad had bought him a cap gun. His mom and I were sitting by the fire when he runs up to us and says, "Hey Mom!! There are 50 caps in this roll because the box says there are 250 caps and there are 5 rolls of caps!!" Umm, he's just 5... Child genius or poster boy for homeschooling... Gotta love it!