Relaxing Winter Break

Happy New Year!

Oh, how we have enjoyed our Christmas break! The last couple of weeks have been relaxing... a term I wouldn't use to describe our typical day. Steve has been home for two weeks on company furlough and vacation, so he was there to keep me from losing all sanity, which commonly occurs during winter and summer breaks.

We kicked off the holiday by attending Christmas Eve mass with extended family. The snow had started falling earlier that day, and by the time we left for church we were up against a full-blown blizzard. Steve's sister had come all the way from Miami to visit for the holiday, and needless to say she wasn't quite prepared for the weather! My parents, siblings, and their families came over to our house after mass for lasagna, pizza, and lots and lots of gift opening. It was certainly a much nicer celebration than Christmas Eve last year, which we spent without our big boys in a cheap hotel In the Middle of Nowhere, Illinois with nothing but gas station food for dinner.

Seven little grandsons, ready to open presents!

Sammy received some power tools

Joseph got a tattoo kit, and tried it out on himself

The seven little grandboys (my poor parents have no granddaughters) had a blast, and everyone was snug and in bed just in time for Santa to arrive. The next morning we awoke to a beautiful white Christmas (which we haven't seen for years.) Santa had come, and the family room exploded into a heap of paper, boxes, toys, candy, instruction manuals, batteries, and giggling little boys!

Alex shows off his new Lego spaceship

Sammy does the happy dance when he sees John Deere tractors

Zachy tries to figure out his new toy

Christmas just takes it out of you!

David poses with his new Bionicles from Uncle Matthew

Sammy takes a break with Aunt Heidi and his John Deere blanket

Joseph geeks out with his new Spy Gear

Zachy discovers he might like broccoli (but would have nothing to do with it the next day)

The boys play in the dwindling patches of snow to break in their new boots

It has been crazy at home! The weather has been cold, so for the most part, we are stuck inside. The boys are eating like they're going into hibernation, and we may need to send them to look for jobs just to pay the food bill. The huge mess that started beneath the Christmas tree has spread throughout the entire house, and it's pointless to try to straighten up while all the boys are still home. Even Zachary is getting into the game, as he follows behind us undoing whatever we try to pick up.

Yet, we really have no place to go and no one to see, and it feels so good to hang out and relax before the rat race of school and work starts up again. Steve has been experimenting with facial hair, and I have done a little more cooking and shopping than I generally have time for. The boys have had more time to bond,play with their new toys, and get together with friends. Samuel is still swiping Zachary's binkies, and Alex took up reading the Chronicles of Narnia because he says "there's nothing else to do!" Yesterday Steve volunteered to be the "weight" on board Cessna's new CJ4 business jet for a test flight to San Diego!

(Fortunately he was back home by afternoon.)

We have enjoyed our winter break, but are ready to get back into a routine and kick the New Year off running! We wish you all many blessings in 2010!



If you are new to our blog or would like an introduction to our family, we have included a copy of of our 2009 holiday letter:

Last year we didn’t get Christmas cards out, but as always you were in our thoughts and prayers. As you may know, Christmas 2008 was a special time for us, for we had recently welcomed the newest member of our family. Zachary John was born December 2 in Ann Arbor, Michigan and underwent open heart surgery just nine days later to help repair a congenital heart defect. He returned for a second surgery in June, and will need a third this coming summer. Today Zachary is a happy, busy baby who loves his big brothers and is learning all their tricks! We thank you for all your prayers that continue to help us along Zachy’s journey, and are humbled by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support you have shown.

Samuel enjoys his new role as “big brother,” and has grown up so fast this year! He potty-trained himself earlier this fall, and started taking swim lessons with Joseph. Sammy is a big-time tractor enthusiast, and he will tell you that his favorite color is green because he loves John Deere. He is so much fun to have at home, and has somehow evaded those “terrible two’s” except for the occasional temper tantrum. Though he was a little late to talk and walk, today he impresses us with his vocabulary and his new-found independence.

Little Joseph graduated from pre-school this year and started kindergarten! He enjoys the learning and new friends, and these days he tries to read everything in sight! He entertained us over the summer as a t-ball star, and practices swimming the rest of the year. For the most part, Joseph is a laid-back, easy-going little boy. Though he loves to carry around pieces of “junk” and has a bit of a hoarding problem, it doesn’t take much to make Joseph happy. He is often pleased with the simplest things in life.

David started second grade this year, and is looking forward to making his First Holy Communion next spring. Though homework is not his forté, he enjoys school for the social aspect and the opportunity to meet girls. He became the proud papa of two cute little leopard geckos this year, and has no problem sharing a bedroom with them and their dinner—a cage of crickets. David is unstoppable, and when he’s not in school you can find him building anything from Legos to forts, riding his bike, swimming, and teaching his brothers all about science.

Alex discovered this year that the fourth grade is serious business, but he continues to amaze us with his study habits and his grades. He has also become somewhat of a videogame superstar, but complains that his limited “gaming” time is so unfair. Alex joined the swimming pre-team this year and has really progressed in his skills the past few months. The little boy we once knew is starting to sound more like a teenager (both good and bad!) He’s a big help around the house, and takes his role as oldest brother quite seriously.

Steve moved from LSI Logic to Cessna in 2008, and is currently working on new flight control technology for their existing and future business jets. During a year of so much economic uncertainty and tremendous layoffs, we are very thankful for his job. He is also coaching a new Lego Mindstorm Robotics team at the boys’ school and looking forward to their upcoming competition in March. He likes to take the big boys swimming once a week, and helps them settle in for the night with his imaginative bedtime stories.

Michelle is thankful that she is still able to stay home. She’s coming to understand what it means to raise a household full of little boys. It’s really not about order, a fancy house, and fine details. It’s more about shopping in bulk, wearing earplugs when necessary, and having patience. It’s all about trusting in God, setting priorities, and letting go of some of our former “luxuries.” In her spare time, Instead of making dinner some nights, Michelle enjoys writing about the family’s adventures on their website, “Five Little Blessings” (http://fivelittleboys.blogspot.com.) The pastime evolved from a website she set up to keep friends and family updated on Zachary’s hospitalizations (https://www.carepages.com/carepages/ZacharyJohn.)

Aside from our trip to Michigan in June for Zachary’s second surgery, we took just a few long weekends to Kansas City, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. We’re finding it isn’t so easy to “pick up and go” with a family of seven, and when five little boys are packed in the van like a can of sardines, road trips can be a challenge. Still, the boys are filled with the spirit of adventure, and perhaps next year when Zachy is older we’ll set our sights a little further from home.

We are thankful to be together at home, happy and healthy, during this Christmas season. May the Baby Jesus bring you peace and happiness this holiday and many blessings in the new year.