Charlie's special day

We got a great deal off Groupon for the train museum, so Wade took a day off work and we spent some time there and then headed over to the zoo. It was a beautiful day out (end of Sept.) and we had a lot of fun exploring the city. With Charlie being the middle child (and the only boy) we try to do special things with him that he chooses. Addy came with us for the day, but we did all the things that were special to him. It was a fun day!

Reminded us of home!

There was an old car museum there too, this was Charlie's favorite car.

And Daddy's favorite car (it reminded him of his high school Olds 442)

Catching up!

Well, I am really behind on my blog..really behind. Life (and three kids) has kept me busy! My busiest time for picture taking is the fall, and I was slammed last fall, so pretty much everything got put on the back burner. I loved being so busy, but it was nice when January rolled around and things slowed down a bit. Now to catch up on the blog!

Halloween was warm again this year, which is so nice! Wade and I was in a wedding in Kansas City, so we got home on the afternoon of Halloween. However, the kids had already had two class parties, and two trunk and treats, so they'd done plenty. They were staying at my in-laws house, so we took them around the neighborhood there. It was nice because the grandparents, great-grandparents and soem aunts and uncles all live within walking distance and they were so excited to get to see the kids. Cousin Mackenzie and baby Noah joined us too.

Gracie was a rock star this year

As with any composition that touches the heart of the hearer, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" flowed from the experience of Longfellow-- involving the tragic death of his wife Fanny and the crippling injury of his son Charles from war wounds. "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue" (Psalm 39:3). Henry married Frances Appleton on July 13th 1843, and they settled down in the historic Craigie House overlooking the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They were blessed with the birth of their first child, Charles, on June 9th 1844, and eventually, the Longfellow household numbered five children-- Charles, Ernest, Alice, Edith, and Allegra. Tragedy struck both the nation and the Longfellow family in 1861. Confederate Gen. Pierre G. T. Beauregard fired the opening salvos of the American Civil War on April 12th, and Fanny Longfellow was fatally burned in an accident in the library of Craigie House on July 10th. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). The day before the accident, Fanny Longfellow recorded in her journal: "We are all sighing for the good sea breeze instead of this stifling land one filled with dust. Poor Allegra is very droopy with heat, and Edie has to get her hair in a net to free her neck from the weight." "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am" (Psalm 39:4). After trimming some of seven year old Edith's beautiful curls, Fanny decided to preserve the clippings in sealing wax. Melting a bar of sealing wax with a candle, a few drops fell unnoticed upon her dress. The longed for sea breeze gusted through the window, igniting the light material of Fanny's dress-- immediately wrapping her in flames. In her attempt to protect Edith and Allegra, she ran to Henry's study in the next room, where Henry frantically attempted to extinguish the flames with a nearby, but undersized throw rug. Failing to stop the fire with the rug, he tried to smother the flames by throwing his arms around Frances-- severely burning his face, arms, and hands. Fanny Longfellow died the next morning. Too ill from his burns and grief, Henry did not attend her funeral. (Incidentally, the trademark full beard of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow arose from his inability to shave after this tragedy.) The first Christmas after Fanny's death, Longfellow wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays." A year after the incident, he wrote, "I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace." Longfellow's journal entry for December 25th 1862 reads: "'A merry Christmas' say the children, but that is no more for me." "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance" (Psalm 42:5). Almost a year later, Longfellow received word that his oldest son Charles, a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, had been severely wounded with a bullet passing under his shoulder blades and taking off one of the spinal processes. The Christmas of 1863 was silent in Longfellow's journal. "6:7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 31:9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly" (6:7; 31:9). Finally, on Christmas Day of 1864, he wrote the words of the poem, "Christmas Bells." The reelection of Abraham Lincoln or the possible end of the terrible war may have been the occasion for the poem. "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy" (147:11). Lt. Charles Longfellow did not die that Christmas, but lived. So, contrary to popular belief, the occasion of writing that much loved Christmas carol was not due to Charles' death. "O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is Good; for His mercy endureth for ever" (1Chronicles 16:34). Longfellow's Christmas bells loudly proclaimed, "God is not dead." "The LORD liveth, in Truth, in Judgment, and in Righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory" (Jeremiah 4:2). Even more, the bells announced, "Nor doth He sleep." "Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4). God's Truth, Power, and Justice are affirmed, when Longfellow wrote: "The wrong shall fail, the right prevail." "To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness" (Daniel 9:24). The message that the Living God is a God of Peace is proclaimed in the close of the carol: "Of peace on Earth, good will to men." "For it pleased the Father that in [Jesus] should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself" (Colossians 1:19-20).

C H I C A G O!!!

This birthday was a big one for me...I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that I am old enough to have a 7 year old! But I am, and I couldn't be more proud of how Gracie has turned out. This last year she's had to help out around the house a lot, and deal with a little less attention from mom and dad. Having a baby in the house again has been so much fun, but very time consuming too. I asked Gracie if she wanted a friend party this year, or if she'd rather just spend a few days just with mommy. Well, she picked me! So my mom came up with this great idea to take her to Chicago. Gracie's been wanting an American doll for a little while now. So, we thought we'd make a weekend out of it and surprise her by taking her to pick out her own American Girl! It was so much fun and relaxing to just spend time with her.

In the car all ready to head out! Nanna and Gracie walking through Chicago

She told me to "hurry up!" we were right across the street from the AG store.

At the front doors, so excited!

Here is the one she picked out! She wanted a doll that looked just like her.

Welcome Katie!

Katie and Gracie meeting face to face...:)

Gracie picked out a winter outfit for her doll.

And then we took her (not Gracie..don't worry, the doll) to get her ears pierced.

And then we took Katie (and the rest of us) out to see the BIG city. Just look at all those people! Chicago reminded me a lot of New York City.

We stopped at the Lego store to get something to bring back for Charlie. Check out this spider made out of Lego's!

And a Lego Woody!

Some of the sights

Then we headed back to our hotel room and Nanna had a few more gifts for Gracie.

A jeep!

Twins!

We headed out for a fancy dinner and stopped at the beach on our way. My mom and I found this super cute matching outfit for Gracie and her doll.