everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

Easter People

I figure the title is still relevant being we are technically still in the Easter season. We have been adhering to the mandate of celebrating the last few weeks, leaving me a bit exhausted along with looking more 30 weeks instead of 19. In the past I have been a strict no caffeine person while pregnant and nursing, not even a drop. Not sure if it’s my advanced maternal age, chasing around four other children or the lack of sleep that has driven me to enjoy cups of the fully dieseled kind.

Well we made it, hosted two major celebrations both of 30 people or more all within a two week time frame and came out free of any major meltdowns on my part. What I learned, hosting makes you keep your house clean and beyond. Cleaning out of the normal routine; washing the outside of windows, scrubbing down outside doors, washing the walls and no matter how hard I try my patio door will always have little hand smudges on it.

In addition to Easter, this past weekend Ethan made his First Holy Communion. He was sooo excited and kept saying, “this is the best day of my life!” With all the rush of preparing for the weekend I hadn’t taken a lot of time just to reflect on his day not to mention Mass always being a circus in our pew, so I was taken a bit off guard by my emotions. I was surprised when I found my eyes filling up with tears of joy as I watched him receive Jesus for the first time. In that moment all seemed to stand still there was a beautiful period of silence in our pew and I was able to just close my eyes and bow my head as I prayed for my son.

The psalm from today’s readings spoke poignantly to my heart as I reflected on the words.

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”

Psalm 66: 2-3

As I reflect on the past few weeks, months and years how can I not say how tremendous are His deeds, how can my very being refrain from shouting joyfully. The weekend after Easter I happened to run into a priest who once served at our parish. He knew Aaron and I prior to children and asked how my family was doing. My mind quickly raced back to Holy Saturday Vigil eight years ago. I had just found out I was miscarrying for the third time and I remember the exact pew we were sitting in.

During the homily the priest talked about how in our lives after every Good Friday there is an Easter Sunday, although we may not always see the Easter Sunday in our lifetime. I sat there holding Aaron’s hand so tightly as tears ran down my face. As my heart questioned when I would ever see Easter Sunday, when would I experience the joy. All I know is Good Friday as once again another baby is taken from me. Will there ever be an Easter Sunday in my life to follow all of this pain?

There I stood now years later telling him we were preparing to welcome our fifth child. I had to recount bodies in my house as five children sounds unthinkable to me. This, this is my Easter Sunday.

The News…..

…………coming October 1st!!!!

We are beyond excited to be adding to the Everts’ crew and incredibly grateful to God and humbled by His faithfulness!! I know I have said this before, but never did I imagine this would be us. Five years ago I wouldn’t have believed we would be maxing out capacity in our minivan and have more than tripled the occupancy of our house.

I am thankful to have made it through the first trimester (officially 15 weeks!!) and to be feeling much better. Morning sickness hit with vengeance right at 6 weeks and was not just in the morning, but all day long with about every food aversion to go with it. I am excited to finally be able to enjoy the taste of coffee again.

Kolbe and Ethan basically knew since I was 5 weeks, since Grace told them I was getting shots and going for blood draws. They easily put two and two together, knowing that I only do that when I am pregnant. I neither confirmed nor denied until around 9 weeks. Upon finding out they exclaimed they were going to tell the entire school. They are very excited, just a little disappointed there aren’t twins.

Grace is positively convinced, absolutely certain, no telling her otherwise that the baby is a girl. She denies any love or affection she will give the baby if it happens to be a boy, although she dotes on Caden constantly.

Caden is still trying to figure everything out. Occasionally patting my stomach saying “ooh baby”, but also patting my behind saying the same thing. He will also touch his stomach and Grace’s and say “baby”. Eventually he will figure things out.

Along with sharing our news I am also thinking and praying for all of you women wanting and waiting. Don’t ever give up hope. God is at work in the silence and has not abandoned you in your pain and longing.

Christmastide!

The Christmas music has stopped playing in the stores and trees are out on the curb, so posting this may look like I have missed the deadline. It may seem like we are late to the party, but we are still celebrating Christmas in this crazy house until the Epiphany.

The wise men have been journeying through our house and the children love to wake up to find which room they made their way to. Always a little conversation before bed over whose room they will show up in next.

At the beginning of the Christmas season we had a wonderful time staying with my family and seeing extended family, some which I haven’t seen in years. Lots of laughter, memories and time together. Of course late nights and a sick kiddo were part of it too. All which required a couple days of some down time when we returned home, so we could re-energize to keep the celebration alive.

In addition to the birth of Christ, we also find ourselves celebrating Kolbe and Ethan’s adoption day, my birthday and Grace’s birthday all within a weeks time.

An image is worth a thousand words, so I thought I would share our Christmas week through pictures.

Despite not feeling well she insisted on “trying out” Christmas Eve Mass. She fell asleep in my arms the moment we walked in.
Packer fan win or lose, I may have jumped off the wagon after this season.
And now he is asking for a hockey rink in our backyard.

We have been sledding down this hill every Christmas since we were little. Some things never change even though there wasn’t really snow and we are now a little older, well the impact at the bottom seemed to hurt a bit more than I remember. Cousins!
A quick picture before bedtime after celebrating four years together with my boys, the greatest birthday gift I have ever received having them finally in my arms!

O-N-E

He is officially ONE!! What happened to my baby who I think looks nothing like his baby, baby pictures, which makes me a little sad since he looked like my twin as a baby. Continuing to rock the growth charts and will only be a matter of time before he passes Grace in weight. He out eats her every single meal. He has wanted nothing to do with baby food for months and wants all table food all of the time. Linebacker material.

Caden is my calm, quiet soul except when he sees a ball. He has his daddy’s pitching arm and loves to try and swing a bat. He is my awesome sleeper, out for 12 straight hours. He loves to be outside, trying to keep up with his brothers and enjoys dancing to mommy’s silly singing.

He loves to wave and say mama and dada. He gets excited when he sees a puppy and attempts a barking sound. Nothing like his blanket to calm him down and make him smile.

There has to be a way to freeze time. We love you so much baby boy!!!


Big brothers holding his hands, since seconds before he swiped his finger through the flame without flinching as I gasped! They all adore him!!

The Things They Say

Future priest and future police officer and of course our incredibly silly, sweet and dramatic princess.

The first day of school yesterday was filled with mixed emotions. They were more than ready to see all of their friends and I know they will do great despite not being excited about the academic part. Summer flew by, but I am looking forward to being settled (as much as we can be) into some kind of routine. One thing is certain there are two little people who will be missing their big brothers.

Grace walking into the kitchen carrying Kolbe’s support cup for baseball and holding it up to the water dispenser on the fridge.
G: Please mama, drink of water.
Me: No, we can’t use that.
G: Yes, mama! Drink out of this cup. Drink of water from this cup!!

K: Grandma that shirt you are wearing looks like it is from the olden days, like 1989.
The next day…
E: That shirt is better, looks like it is from the new-en days.

Running out of the pew during Mass and slowly returning with a smirk on her face.
G: Hey meany mom! Hey meany mom!!

Discussing whether we would be able to make it to one of Aaron’s work functions.
E: I think you should just go Mom.
Me: Not sure we could find a babysitter that short of notice.
E: Well, you can just order one.

Telling Aaron I was thinking of chopping my hair.
K: No, don’t cut your hair! I like it long. It’s pretty long and it makes you more beautiful.

Complaining to myself that I feel like I am getting sick.
G: I will pray you feel better Mama.

Driving by the hospital.
E: Mom, stop! We need to stop!
Me: Why, what’s wrong?
E: I think you need to go to the hospital and get checked to see if you are having a baby, I have been praying for sisters every night.

Getting Grace ready for bed.
Me: I don’t think we should put your pull up on yet, because you seem to forget to tell me when you have to go to the bathroom once it is on.
G: Usually, yep.

K: Mom, can we please have a pool.
Me: We don’t want anything deep right now with Grace and Caden.
K: Well, we can just buy a Master Lock like the one I want for my bike they will never be able to get in.
Me: Good thought, but we are talking about an inflatable pool.

G: Mom, Caden is poopy.
Me: Oh really, how do you know?
G: I ‘mell him! I ‘mell him mommy, he is stinky!!