Evangeline turns 8!

My most middle child, turned 8!  Her birthday is squeezed right in the middle of the holiday frenzy of last minute gift purchases, wrapping, and the excitement of the season.  Her birthday came and went with not nearly as much notice and celebration of her as I would have liked.  The stomach flu caused us to have to cancel her birthday fun (a get together with family and a piano recital Christmas party that she was really looking forward to).  Brighton threw up in the morning so we were stuck at home, all of us, still trying to recover from 5 days straight of sickness (which ended up being 10).  

Grampy admiring Evi

She was a dark haired, round faced beauty!  And still is, although her hair is not dark.

Shh, don't tell, but if I have to pick a favorite baby experience, it would be with this child.  She was an "easy"baby.  She ate and slept well, was generally content and happy, adaptable, and not easily rattled by a change of routine....And she is still very much this way!  She can go with the flow quite easily.  She gets along well with others and is especially sweet and patient with Brighton.  Rarely is she in a "bad mood".  She is sensitive and compassionate, a bit flighty and giggly, somewhat messy, quick to smile, and aims to please.  She is an introvert but at the same time confident and very sure of herself and doesn't care much for conformity or popularity.  She loves to sing and dance and do art work.  

In the hustle and bustle of a busy family with two older siblings who vie for leadership, and two younger siblings who both have strong, extrovert personalities, she is the true middle child...quiet and compliant, and I have to be mindful that she doesn't get overlooked.  

She is a child who is my polar opposite in terms of personality.  It is so interesting the dynamic of our home with such different little people all growing and changing and becoming who they are... With their emerging strengths (and weaknesses), interests and preferences, styles and quarks.  With a spouse, you choose your compliment but children are really just a mix of "surprises" all masterfully orchestrated together to make up a family!  


A new art set.

Birthday ice cream cake.  For dinner, she wanted chili (it is what Sawyer had) but I tell you, nobody wanted that after being sick...especially me since I hurled up Mexican food a few days prior LOL.  

It is very sad when it is not your birthday.


Christmas trees in the bedrooms are lots of fun!

(Oy, we really need to rent a carpet cleaner!)



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Boots

Image
Last week, was snowy and cold cold cold, then rainy.  I continued to work on getting the yard cleaned up.  I dug out the ponds and refilled the holes with dirt.  I loaded up rocks, pavers, and bricks.  I cleaned out the water features.  I collected the strawberry runners so I would have starts to plant.  I unloaded 2 loads of bark dust.  The children were a tremendous help.  They loaded an entire trailer of firewood all by themselves and then helped with another load of rocks and bricks.  I am amazed at how much there is to load and fix just in the yard alone.  It is a lot of work for the simple concept of "curb" appeal.   Waiting for the snow to melt so I can put down the bark dust. Even with two pairs of socks, my feet were freezing so I broke down and bought a pair of Muck Boots.  The funny thing is, 2 years ago, I really wanted to have a new pair of winter boots but I just couldn't justify paying so much money just to have ...
Read more

Then Came Dense Fog and the Thunderstorm

Image
Sunday, I woke up to a dense fog and smoke cover combination.  I think this is probably the densest fog I have ever been in. Before the sun came up, it was white.  Once it got lighter outside the smoke color showed through. On the porch, looking toward the swimming pool (North) but unable to see it or the goat barn or the walnut trees. On the porch, looking toward the barn, only able to see the garden before the parking area. Outside the window looking at the tree block, barely 30 feet away. I am not sure how I let Phil talk me into (trying) going to the store...but the fog was supposed to lift by 11:00 and we were scheduled to gather at the Rawie's for church and I needed ingredients to put together something for the potluck.  (We ended up having to cancel our homechurch.) Our mailbox, we couldn't see any cars, so we had to roll down the windows and listen.  I was already terrified at this point and didn't want to continue. After having to slam on his brakes multipl...
Read more

More Hats

Image
The Etsy shop is still a work in progress and unfortunately the name Over the Top is already taken.  I have been tossing around the names Tip Top and Whimsy.  I managed to get 7 hats made during the month of November.  I have a couple that I can put on Etsy when we are ready to list them and several Christmas hats made for the children.  I have been timing how long it takes me to make a hat and I am surprised (and not in a good way LOL) at the number of hours I spend.  A baby hat takes over 5-6 hours, a child's hat takes about 7-8 hours, and an adult hat 10 plus hours.  It takes even longer if I decide to tear out the stitching because it isn't looking the way I had imagined.  The more yarn variety I use, the longer it takes me to weave in the ends.  I usually spend over an hour just with a tapestry needle making all the ends secure.  Minimum wage plus materials puts the hats in the 50-80 dollar range.  Yikes!  I would never pay th...
Read more