We started and ended in the same place. No moving, no new babies, no job changes. Since we weren’t doing anything else, we started to re-model our house. I organized a family reunion for the Braithwaites in the summer, and we also had a camp out with my family. Peter started kindergarten and played soccer. All the boys took swim lessons. We went on a trip to Denver. I also volunteered at the community garden and raised a baby. (The baby made a lot of other goals non-existent.)

Here are my favorite pictures from the year:

Tower of cars

H had a birthday! As the youngest of three and also have a birthday close to Christmas, his birthday was easy to overlook. We had a birthday with friends and cake and ice cream, and he received a few pop up books. He adores them and then tries to rip them apart. They have to usually be hidden, because if he sees it he wants to read it. Again and again and again. 

H is my skinniest kid. All three of my kids were the exact same height at a year old, but he’s five pounds lighter. He’s also by far the best walker. He’s already been walking for about a month and toddles around everywhere–including up stools and stairs and anywhere else he can climb!

He loves sitting in chairs that are his size, still nurses a bundle, has just barely started sleeping well at night, and loves playing with his brothers.

Christmas. We did all our normal traditions. On Christmas Eve, my parents and sister came over. We walked up to the outdoor nativity and listened to the narration, and then came back home for presents. Christmas Day was Santa, more presents, and than lunch with Joe’s parents. I think the kids all liked their presents, and we all had a good time. My present was a yoga sling, and everyone has had fun with that.

On New Year’s Eve we had a party that night that involved popper fireworks, balloons and a movie. We had a countdown at about 8:30 with the children and set them off to bed. It was a lot of fun.

My sister came up the next day to visit. The high that day was 20 degrees. We were a bit nervous about going sledding but decided to go for it anyway. After a bit of a cold start, we found a hill that was better suited for our kids and stayed far long than I anticipated. Some of the adults even got a little snowshoeing in around the area.

The crafts I do have to be quick, simple and cheap. Otherwise, I lack the desire and patience needed to finish the craft well.

I made snowman kits as gifts to a few of our friends and neighbors.

The kit had a scarf cut from some spare knit fabric, buttons, a carrot and coal eyes. I was quite proud of my eyes, although they are pretty redneck. I made them out of black duct tape.

It’s snowed. A lot. Most people love it or hate it. I could get annoyed at the slippery ice, dangerous roads, and the need to bundle up if I go somewhere.

But there is quiet and white and beauty and I choose to love it. I love going out, often in the dark, when the snow is lightly coming down and covering everything with a blanket. Everything is still, movement is slow, soft. It is peaceful, clean. I love to shovel snow, for the opportunity to work outside even when there is no gardening to do.

The kids love it too. They bundle on snow gear, or ignore the fact that it is freezing and go outside without coats on. They’ve shoveled paths through the yard, come in crying because they have snow down their coat only to shortly go back outside. We’ve sled down hills together, and even Henry was crying when it was time to go home. Even though he was cold, he wanted to sled down the hill one more time, and faster was better. 

PB loves Santa this year. He didn’t ask for much, but he is so excited that he can get candy and presents for Christmas. C doesn’t care much, and H is oblivious.

I remember being told outright that Santa wasn’t real when I was about eight, and I don’t enjoy the memory. So with my kids, I don’t ever say Santa is real or even fake. I let them decide. For instance, if PB asks a question about Santa I’ll turn the question back to him,  just say it’s magic, use terms like, “I like to think so,” or even “pretend” when they ask hard questions. I think kids want to pretend it’s real. As a parent, I want to allow them that opportunity. But I also think kids never really completely believe. I don’t want to ever outright lie to my children and I’m not going out of way to convince them that something that is not real actually is. 

On Thanksgiving I thought of my home, filled with things I love. My greatest blessing is my family. I never get bored, I’m never lonely and I almost always feel very loved.

Besides my family, I have a beautiful (or working to be beautiful) spacious home, a garden, chickens, healthy food. My husband has great employment close to our home, I get to be home with my children, and we are all healthy.

Henry is getting all grown up! He’s up and down stairs, and walking around, saying little words and giving raspberry kisses. He’s the earliest walker out of all the brothers, he won’t be a year old for a few more weeks.

He still adores nursing and won’t sleep through the night, so I still have my baby too.