Celebrating Life

As I write big snow flakes are falling from the sky. Nothing is sticking but it sure is pretty. This past weekend we had wet and cold weather. Rachael's last soccer game was canceled so the season was very anti-climactic. We were very proud of how she played and cheered for her team. Emma's tournament was also rained out but hers is rescheduled for next weekend.

The Saturday turned into a nice stay at home kind of day. As we ate dinner, Megan suggested we build a fire that evening and everyone gave a big "Yeah!". That set the evening in motion. After dinner Jim started the fire while I made brownies with the girls. Then they all took quick baths and got into jammies. We put on the movie "Kung Fu Panda" and snuggled in for a family movie night.

On Sunday, the 3 big girls and I headed over to Joe and Magaly's house for Kelly's baby shower. She is due Dec. 19, and we were really excited to have the opportunity to throw her a baby shower. It was a fun girl's afternoon with my mom, aunts, sisters and cousin. Becky brought 6 week old Benjamin and Heather brought 3 week old Lillian, so there was lots of baby and pregnancy talk. Emma had been excited when I suggested bringing a group game and made lots of attempts to get us to play it, but we were all so enjoying the conversation and food that we never got around to it.
 

All of us were eager to hold the little ones. Emma stayed upstairs taking turns holding Lily and Benjamin, while Meg and Rae played downstairs with Sophia. Toward the end of the shower Meg was asking for a chance too. Lily and Benjamin were happy to be held and slept through most of the passing around. Rachael was the last to ask for a turn to hold the babies since she was busy playing with hippos and enjoying treats. When she held them she did it well and looked intently at their little faces. The babies are both perfect and neat mix of their families. Each is so individual and I know has been right from the moment they began growing in my sisters' wombs. It is a wonderful oppurtunity to share this with my daughters and emphasize how special they each are and have always been. I am looking forward to seeing baby Nava-Blake.

Getting together with multiple generations has such benefits, I wish we did it more.