Cape Ann ~ Gloucester, Massachusetts in Winter

In yesterday's post I promised photos of our afternoon in Cape Ann. We went to Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. It is located along the northern coast of Massachusetts and is one of the earliest settlements (1623) in our fair state.

Our children are standing on the most prominent geological feature, a large rock sixty feet high and two hundred feet wide. It gives us panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding fishing village.

The waves gently break on smooth stones and trees grow out of the larger boulders above. There are winding trails through the rocks and a wonderful playground at the park near the large rock. Our children loved being in the rocks and woods above the sea.  Max found a hollow in an old tree and claimed it as his own. 

It was a quiet time there by the sea in winter. No snow on the ground but, cold enough to wear our winter gear. I found a nice piece of pale blue sea glass. I want to come back to this place again. There is something restorative about the sea for me. I love the smooth stones, the dragon art on a huge rock, the sea glass, the trees growing out of rocks and all the winding trails above the sea. Magical.  Healing really. 

Our children want to return too. I'm hoping the next warm and non-scheduled day to head back. Max can reclaim his tree home. Grant will fight the enemy. Ben and Charlotte will create imaginary scenarios and play them out and I will search for more sea glass and enjoy the solitude together with them. 

Grandma and the "Lice"

We had David's parents visiting from California recently. It was somewhat of an unexpected visit. When they last visited, back in June, we thought that would be their last visit to our home here in Massachusetts. We thought our home would be sold by now and we'd see them again in Saint Paul. They can't bear to be without their four grandchildren too long.

Some friends of ours loaned us blankets and pillows and we made do with what we have remaining in our "empty" home.  It was good to see them. Grandma Sonnie seems to end up doing surgery on fluffy lovies and Charlotte loves her stuffed bunny. Thankfully, I had some thread and a needle.

Charlotte loves her Grandma Sonnie. They had the cutest conversation in the bathroom. Grandma Sonnie was combing her hair and uses a lot of hairspray to give it some lift and keep it in place.  Charlotte noticed some white flakes on the comb and shook her head and said, very matter of fact,  "Hmm, hmm, Grandma Sonnie it's lice. Yes, lice."

Grandma Sonnie laughed and told Charlotte that is was just her dried hairspray on the comb. Charlotte, thankfully believed her.

Celebrating Seven Years!

 It is truly amazing. Our triplets just celebrated their seventh birthday. Many of you know that my Beloved and I tried to have children for ten years. We experienced many dark days with loss and miscarriages. I would cry out to God asking Him to bless us with children.
We eventually chose to adopt and after nine months with our adoption agency, our first son was born. I had the honor of being in the delivery room when our birth mom gave birth to him. It was a transforming experience for us.
Then, two and a half years later, a miracle occurred in our life. I gave birth to three babies. They were seven weeks early but, perfect. Max came out first. We called him our "Atlas" because for 33 weeks, he held the other two up. He weighed 3 lbs 8 oz. Charlotte came next. She had little, downy curled hair (very briefly) and then was my beautiful, bald headed baby for the longest time.

Now she has long, beautiful hair that I brush and braid each day to prevent tangles.
She weighed the same as Max.
Ben was last to come out. Dr. Nicole Brown reached in to pull him out and he kicked her hand away. She had to reach in again and get a solid hold on him to pull him out. He was our biggest baby weighing 4 lbs 4 oz. They were in NICU for 6 days and then transferred to a step-down unit to grow and gain some weight before they came home. They came home on Veteran's Day (27 days after they were born). We consider all our children to be our miracles. So, it is with great joy that we celebrate their seventh birthday.

I stayed up late the night before their birthday making three, individual cakes. Each year, they tell me what kind of cake they want and I try to make their dream come true. In the morning, they came downstairs to find their special cake waiting for them. Of course, they ate cake for breakfast, cake for elevenses, for lunch and supper I serve something healthy and then they sneak some more cake before bed.

This year, Max had an odd request. He asked for a "blob cake".  There is a Wii game that he enjoys playing. It is adorable. I highly recommend it for 6 to 10 year old boys. You can find a copy of it here on Amazon So, I had to get creative and make a blob cake for him.

Charlotte asked for a Hello Kitty cake (this is the third year she has asked for a Hello Kitty cake).

Here's a photo of the Hello Kitty cake I made for her fifth birthday.

Benjamin had numerous requests. First it was "Sugar Bunny" cake; then it was a "Lego City" cake and then a combination of "Mario in Lego City". I helped him settle on a Mario and Luigi cake. I think he liked it. Usually he chooses a dog cake. Here's the cake I made for him on his fifth birthday. I had a lot of fun making it.

Happy Birthday to our trio! May you all be blessed with many more!

Charlotte and Ben Save the Day!

Sometimes our children amaze me. On this morning a few weeks ago, Charlotte and Ben come calmly downstairs holding Max's space nightlight. Charlotte was holding the nightlight with Ben's pajama bottoms over her arms and hands. It was still hot.

This nightlight has spinned and glowed every night for at least a few years. Early on this morning it decided to burn out. It began smoldering as their bedroom filled with plastic smelling smoke. Charlotte (age 6) says she unplugged it from the wall, Ben had left his pj bottoms on the floor so, she picked them up to use them as potholders. 

They decided to show me and carried the smoldering nightlight downstairs.

I was so proud of them.

I don't think I would have had that kind of insight at age 6

and who knows what could have happened if it kept burning!

They were rewarded for their bravery with new, cool sunglasses.

Charlotte's Punch and Judy Show

Our Charlotte is a unique one. She lives with three brothers and is our only girl. She doesn't really like to play with dolls (especially if they look human-like). In fact, a number of years ago, I was with our triplets in a "Celebration Army" store and found three Gerber baby dolls for sale. I picked them up thinking that our kids might like to have them. As I walked toward the shopping cart, they were all sitting in, they developed this look of horror. I could see them withdraw inward as their little heads drew toward their necks and they all became very quiet the closer I got with the dolls in my arms.

I said, "Look! Aren't these wonderful baby dolls to play with?"

They all said, in unison, "No Mommy. No!"

So, that was that. No baby dolls.

Stuffed animals on the other hand...we have a zoo full. 

Their beds are filled with Hello Kitty, bunnies, puppies, dragons, dinosaurs, kitty-cats, teddy bears, birdies, frogs,. The list of  stuffed "friends" is a long one.

My dear friend, Rhonda, found American Dolls in a box (free stuff by the side of the road) and she thought of our Charlotte. I gratefully accepted the box of dolls with the hope that sometime in the near future Charlotte may change her mind. I've heard that these American Dolls are expensive and dearly loved by many little girls.

Instead, Charlotte informed me last week that she would like to learn Karate when we move to Minnesota. Can you say, "Hi-yah"?

Here is her version of the Mr. Punch and Judy show.

Punch: "Here, take that!"

Judy: "Ahhhh..."

Punch: "Ouch, that hurts."

Judy: "You're a big baby."

Punch: "Ahhhh, hrumph, pow!"

Judy: collapses and then regains consciousness.

Judy: "Ahhh, hi-yah, pow!"

Punch: collapses and then regains consciousness.

They both hug and all is okay.

The show begins again with,

Punch: "Hello"!

Judy: "Good-bye".

                                            She is pleased as punch with herself.