Claire's 8th birthday!

Claire turned 8 in February!

Oh my word HOW?? I remember her birth so vividly that it seems impossible that 8 years have elapsed. Having said that...what a lot of life she has lived! 

For this birthday, which was still solidly a pandemic-era birthday, I rented a movie theater just for us! I'd seen a few other people do that near the end of 2020/beginning of 2021 and decided that it would be such a fun novelty birthday activity. And it really was! 

When you rent a movie screen at the theaters that offer this option, there is a somewhat limited list of movies to choose from...and most of them weren't really movies that were appropriate for my children or anything they'd be interested in. I- semi-blindly- chose the movie Abominable and prayed that it would work out. And it did!

So confused...but she slept for most of the movie and seemed to enjoy the parts she was awake for. Sweetie baby.

Bill and Barbara were able to come over for the weekend to celebrate with us and got here in time to join for the movie. We ordered popcorn (with extra butter), thoroughly enjoyed the movie (it is SO cute), and the girls loved dancing and running all over the empty theater (and all the grown-ups enjoyed the heated, reclining seats).

Claire's birthday was on a school day, and it would have landed on a co-op day, had it not been the week we took off for Spring Break. She was bummed not to be able to see her friends on her birthday. We did our best to make it as special as possible, anyway! For school that day, we did fun projects and learning activities (which was something I started doing last year. Now they're going to expect it every birthday...). Family members made lists of 8 things that we love about Claire and read them to her/wrote them for her to read, which filled her love bucket all the way up (she tucked the lists away in her treasure box). She had presents from friends and family ALL OVER to open, we got take out pizza on the way home from the movie, and I made her an ice cream cake. She went to bed a very happy girl!

Because four kids is hard sometimes, I completely failed to have them open their Christmas presents from my aunt at Christmas time. In a fortunate turn of events, I was able to assuage the 4-yo and 2-yo feelings of present-opening fomo by bringing out their Christmas presents to open alongside Claire!

She got puzzles in her gift and got to work IMMEDIATELY. She is the puzzle-iest one out there.

Sunday morning was pandemic-style, of course. I've mentioned many times that we've kept our habit of getting ready every Sunday morning, as if we were going to church. We then watch the recorded children's Sunday school lesson and join in with a small group over Zoom to go through the liturgy and watch the service.

And sometimes we do puzzles.

Barbara and I have managed to get a picture of her with each of the girls, "dipping" them, in someone's kitchen (mine or hers). I don't know what made us think of doing this particular re-creation out of all the pictures we have, but this is the one! We grabbed one with Hallie over Claire's birthday weekend.

Hallie 2021

Brynnie 2019

Lily 2017

Claire 2013

We also got a normal picture.

Claire had such a great birthday weekend; she told me so several times. I'm so sad at how big she has gotten, but I'm so thankful for the sweet and kind soul that she is. She makes our lives better just by being in them.

The Lord Sees Us

For the most part, I haven't had the extreme emotional lows or despair that the pandemic has a tendency to induce in folks. Obviously, I've experienced the frustrations and the normal anxieties that come along with living life like this for as long as we have, but generally speaking, I've been pretty ok. The normalities of my life didn't come to a crashing halt because of the pandemic (it did that before the pandemic, actually, thanks to pregnancy), Brad has been great throughout COVID life, and my children have held up very well over the past year, which has been such a blessing.

That said, I have had a few things that have brought me down and discouraged me over the past year. Things that might have happened, pandemic or not. Back in February, a couple of those things came to a head, of sorts, and I was feeling particularly blue and very sad. I didn't really talk about it with anyone but Brad, though. And the Lord. I did ask Him "But WHY?" quite a number of times. 

That very week when I was feeling so sad, I got a package. A very unexpected package full of things that made my heart so happy! My beloved Amanda had sent me a box from a company that curates treat boxes from around the world. She saw that they were doing a Ukraine box and sent one my way. 

Brynn was a little overly enthusiastic with the map...

I couldn't even handle it when I saw all of the Roshen treats! Roshen is local to the oblast that I lived in while in Ukraine.

Look at all of those goodies!

I was so tickled by some of the VERY Ukrainian things in there, like veal-flavored chips and black bread chips. The girls were so into all of the gummy snacks, and none of the treats lasted long at all.

I know Amanda sent it because it was Ukrainian and she knew I'd like it (GAH- everyone needs a friend like Amanda!), but it was a very tangible reminder to me that He sees me. Much like Hagar in Genesis when she is so abandoned and lonely and He came to her. I was feeling so lonely that week (which is always funny to say, given that I live with so many people!), and a box from a friend, full of reminders of a place that I love showed up on my porch. Quite a gift, indeed.

Valentine's Day: a few different ways

We spent Valentine's morning in Boone, Valentine's evening in Durham, and we celebrated for quite a number of days surrounding. We're fortunate enough to have many kind people in our lives who love us and are sure to remember us, even for minor holidays. 

Nana and Poppy sent pre-Valentine's treats, so that everyone would have the appropriate stickers/necklaces/etc. to wear/use at co-op and whatnot. (And then, of course, there were a number of fun treats and gifts on Valentine's Day proper.)

Mrs. Romine sent cards and very cool North Carolina-themed cleaning rag that they were all super excited to put to use in the kitchen (I say that seriously: they loved it!).

That heart that Lily is holding is the dish rag! It stiffens and holds this shape when it dries!

Uncle Tim, Auntie Jenna, and Zoey sent a box of gifts and craft supplies.

Brynn LOVES turtles. Her stuffie that goes everywhere with her is a turtle from a sea animal set that Tim and Jenna sent them last year.

I should note that this book was not a passive-aggressive message about Lily's manners from Tim and Jenna- Lily loves all things Berenstain Bears, and this was one she didn't yet have. She loves it!

Guys, if you have little people ~Claire's age and up in your lives, I cannot recommend The Vanderbeerkers of 141st Street (and subsequent books) highly enough. They are SO DEAR. I read them to check them out before Claire was quite ready for them, and I was SO SAD when I finished the last one. They are very good.

Gran and Grandpa sent cards and treat bags for all (but I didn't snag a picture, as I let the girls open them in the van). This wasn't a tidy plan, but it did help mitigate some of the big feelings of having to leave Boone.

After returning from such a mind-blowingly fun weekend in Boone, the girls just couldn't hang that evening. They were overly tired and so sad from having to leave Nana, Poppy, and Bo that we gave everyone supper and put everyone to bed early. Brad and I then had a very fancy Valentine's evening of homemade nachos (read: turned leftover Mexican takeout into "nachos" via our air fryer) and watched Miss Congeniality (Brad let me pick) while the baby played on the floor until her bedtime. It was a really great Valentine's, to be honest.

My gift from Tim, Jenna, and Zoey!

Our only picture from Valentine's Day

Tell me those Leftovers Nachos don't look fantastic.

We felt very loved by friends and family near and far. I hope you did, too.

A trip to Boone

Amiee began her job in Boone back in December but wasn't able to move into Boone proper until February. My parents drove up to help her move in over Valentine's weekend, so we drove over and met up with everyone for a quick visit.

Amiee, Mom, Dad, and all of the girls minus Hallie stayed at Amiee's (2-bedroom) apartment; Amiee bunked with the girls in the guest room. Brad, Hallie, and I stayed at a nearby AirBnB. The weather was gross all weekend; gray/rainy/sleety/leftover snow everywhere. Bleh. But, we had a great time celebrating Claire's upcoming birthday, trying out a nearby coffee shop, supporting the local economy via takeout, and celebrating Valentine's Day before heading home.

Amiee had barely gotten anything unpacked before we all descended upon her.

But, a friend from work had already dropped off some housewarming gifts, including chocolate-covered treats!

Had to get a picture of Hallie with her headband matching the chair.

Mom brought party supplies all the way from Alabama to throw Claire an early birthday fiesta! We got Mexican takeout, had SUCH colorful decorations and cake, and did presents. She was thrilled with every part of it! They also got to stay up late to watch Mary Poppins Returns, which was just everything they could have hoped for.

Somehow, Brynn got a hold of the lighter...

The birthday sombreros were a big hit!

Colors everywhere!

We got all packed up Sunday morning before exchanging Valentine's gifts and treats. This was a very hard juxtaposition for the girls; they were so excited about Valentine's things but OH MY GOSH SO SAD about having to leave. Bless.

The Valentine's outfits I brought...

These were not worn long before they opened their Valentine's gifts from Nana, which also contained dresses.

Amiee is ~3 hours from us in Durham, which is, officially, the closest we've ever lived to any family. (This fact has been capitalized upon several times already.) Although we could have hoped for better weather, it was so good to have even a short visit with family. Thanks for moving to Boone, Ame!