Wedding day!

Today Ted and I celebrate 12 years of marriage. The past 4 years have been a lot more interesting than the first 8 were, but we haven't had much time to reflect on that. For the past few days, our minds have been consumed by a much more recent wedding: Tia Glenda and Tio Bill finally tied the knot yesterday!

Arriving at the reception

The kids were supposed to be the ring bearers and flower girls, but things didn't quite go as planned. While waiting to get our pictures taken, Isaac realized that we'd put mousse in his hair and freaked out. He did not recover in time to walk down the aisle (hours later!), but Jude saved the day by marching to the front of the church by himself, carrying both his Bible and Isaac's ring pillow. (Witnesses tell me that he walked right up the platform toward his Abuelito, who was officiating the ceremony. After a bridesmaid delivered him to his daddy, he loudly declared, "I did it! But I walked too fast.") The girls, who were right behind Jude, got off to a good start, but when Dahlia ran out of petals halfway to the altar, it was her turn to freak out, and both girls turned back, crying.

With a 25% success rate, it feels like it was a whole lot of effort for very little return. But I am consoled by the fact that, by the time Glenda and Bill celebrate their 12th anniversary, all they'll care about is how adorable the kids looked in their wedding attire:

We love you, Tia Glenda and Tio Bill! Thanks for making us a part of your day!

"Vintage" clothes

As you probably know by now, I'm a sucker for comparison photos. So this weekend, when Lucy and Dahlia found the muumuus that Tia Glenda brought them from Hawaii a couple of years ago, I just had to grab my camera. Here is the original picture I posted of the girls modeling their then-new outfits:

And here they are in the same outfits (matching bloomers now serving as shorts), almost exactly two years later:

The girls also still love to wear the dresses that Bisabuelo brought them from Peru nearly three years ago:

Last year they wore them as long shirts over khaki shorts; today they wore them as decidedly shorter shirts with the very same shorts (apparently Lucy and Dahlia are getting taller but not any bigger around!):

Very soon my beautiful daughters will grow out of these not-quite-vintage clothes. When they do, you can bet that I will carefully put away these special outfits in the hopes of someday seeing my granddaughters grow up in them!

Inhibition can wait

Dance like no one's watching? When you're 3 years old, there is no other way to dance:



Who cares if your moves are a little more Benes than Jagger? When you're 3 years old, inhibition can wait!

If only I could figure out how to bottle her utter lack of self-consciousness ... I know I'll be longing for this age of innocence soon enough!

Stoplights and marbles

There's a new sheriff in town:

Our refrigerator chart

Here's how it works: Every morning, the kids all start out on green (happy face). Throughout the day, bad behavior such as talking back or not listening can get you moved to yellow (worried face). You have two chances to make a better choice before you land on yellow, but some infractions (such as hitting) will land you directly on red (sad face). You can get back on green by being obedient, kind, helpful, or otherwise having a better attitude.

If you are on green at the end of the day, you get to put a marble in a jar; landing on red at any time, however, means that you must take a marble out of the jar. When the jar is filled, you get a big prize! Right now the kids are working toward a trip to a cafe (something that they've been begging to do after seeing one on TV) and they are almost there:

Our marble jar 
(full for the purpose of demonstration)

Lucy, Jude, and Dahlia are highly motivated by this system because it's what their teacher used in preschool last semester and they understand what the stakes are. Since Isaac was in a different classroom, however, he is still learning just what this green/yellow/red business means. He does get a kick out of putting a marble in the jar, though—so much so that, even though we have not yet formally tried to potty train him, he now goes #2 exclusively in the potty just for the chance to "putta narble inna jar":

So proud of himself!

And I think that, alone, makes our stoplight system a resounding success!

Copycat artist

Check out what I found on Isaac's magnadoodle today:

Magnadoodle art by Isaac, 3.5 years old

Don't recognize it? Maybe this will jog your memory:

Believe it or not, Isaac copied the logo from his memory. And here I thought Dahlia was going to be the artist in the family!

Ball boy

Jude loves to play ball. And we're not just talking catch. The kid likes to dunk:

And kick:

And swing:



As you can see, he's even got built-in cheerleaders!

Now if only he could learn to refrain from hogging the ball ... the rest of the squad likes to play once in a while, too!

Good neighbors

This morning I took the kids to a splash park for the first time. Whenever we do something new, I have concerns about whether I can keep everyone safe and in line, but today I wasn't too worried. After all, a friend had invited us to meet her there (so I knew I would have a pair of back-up eyes and hands), and she had assured me that it was entirely fenced-in, with only one opening (so I knew I wouldn't have to monitor multiple points of exit).

And everything did go fine ...

Fun at the splash park!

 ... until we decided to have lunch. At that point, the girls followed me to a nearby picnic table to get dried off while my friend made sandwiches. Isaac was not far behind. I saw that Jude was still playing in the water, so I decided to let him have fun while I got the other kids settled. The next thing I knew, a lady was tapping me on the shoulder, saying, "The kid who is wearing exactly what he [points to Isaac] is wearing is outside the fence!"

Sure enough, I looked up to see that, during the short amount of time that I was drying off the other kids, Jude had exited the park, walked along the fence (next to the parking lot!), and ended up in the grass near the playground, on the opposite side of the splash park from the picnic tables. He was standing there all alone, looking very small and helpless. Supremely embarrassed and more than a little bit horrified, I thanked the woman, left the other kids with my friend, and ran to retrieve my boy.

Safe and sound!

Turns out Jude realized that none of us were in the sprinklers anymore, and—even though we were just a few steps away at the picnic table—he thought we'd gone back to the car and went looking for us. The woman who alerted me to his escape was at the park with seven kids of her own to keep track of, just happened to notice during a head count that one of mine was outside the perimeter of the park, and cared enough to let me know right away. Now that's what I'd call a good neighbor!

Incidentally, our literal neighbors have been pretty good to us this summer, too. Already we've enjoyed one's playroom and bouncy house, another's hand-me-down clothes, another's sprinkler and water table, and yet another's amazing trampoline:



Thank you, God, for good neighbors!

We all scream for "ice cream"

A few days ago, the same show that gave the kids the idea to make a pie inspired them to start asking if we could go to an ice cream shop. Not one to ever turn down a chance to eat ice cream, Mommy said YES!

We waited until Saturday so that Daddy could go with us. And don't tell the kids, but we didn't actually go to an ice cream shop—we went to a frozen yogurt shop. The kids loved watching Daddy operate the self-serve soft-serve machines:

We got two big bowls of frozen yogurt to share: one with chocolate and vanilla, and the other with passion fruit and pineapple. At Jude's request, both were topped with a generous helping of maraschino cherries. We sat down to eat our treat in the fun orange and white chairs—one for each kid!

Dahlia, Lucy, and Jude loved their "ice cream," but Isaac was not a fan:

He much preferred reading the sign: "Orange! Weaf! Yogurt!"

The frozen yogurt was good, but I think next time we'll try a frozen custard place (that's Mommy's favorite kind of ice cream). And who knows—by then Mommy and Daddy might even be brave enough to try ordering CONES!

Our first pie!

A couple of days ago the kids saw a pie on television and asked if we could make one. Amazingly, we had all of the ingredients on hand to make a pumpkin pie, so Mommy said YES!

The next morning, the kids watched Mommy unroll some refrigerated pie dough and helped press it into the pie plate. A little while later, while our pre-baked pie shell cooled, everyone gathered around the kitchen island to make the filling. First Mommy read the directions on the can of pumpkin puree, and then we all got a chance to smell the spices. Lucy didn't like the cinnamon, but Jude thought it smelled like "yummy smoothies!"

Smelling the cinnamon

After everyone got a whiff or two, Mommy measured the dry ingredients and let everyone help to mix them all up. Then it was time to beat the eggs! Obliterating the yolks was Isaac's favorite part:

Beating the eggs

After everyone had a turn with the eggs, Mommy added the pumpkin puree, and we took turns stirring our little hearts out:

Mixing in the pumpkin puree

By the time Mommy needed to add the evaporated milk, though, we were done waiting for turns!

Too many cooks in the kitchen?

When the filling was ready, Mommy poured it into the pie shell and stuck it in the oven to bake while we napped. A couple of hours later, we woke up and—ta-da!

Admiring our pie!

Everyone was excited to eat the pie, but reviews were mixed. Jude loved it:

Dahlia tried it, but immediately spit it into her hand:

And Isaac and Lucy played it safe by eating only the whipped topping:

Oh, well! I guess that just means more pie for Mommy and Daddy, right? Can't complain about that!


* Thanks to Play At Home Mom for inspiring me to try making pie with my 3-year-olds!

Numbers (and letters) guy

During the kids' first semester of preschool, Isaac's occupational therapist worked with him on tracing and imitating various shapes and lines. We saw his fine motor skills improve dramatically, and he's putting those "pre-writing" skills to good use with lots of, well, actual writing!

Yesterday, for example, he brought me his magnadoodle and drew the number 10. He has done this before, so I was getting ready to walk away when he drew an 11 next to it. Okay, easy enough. Then he shocked me by writing a 12, a 13, a 14 ... all the way up to 19! I knew he was doing very well with counting, but I had no idea that he could write every single numeral from 0 to 9!

Isaac writes his numbers on the magnadoodle

I also didn't know that Isaac could write "balloon." I have never instructed him in how to write any letter of the alphabet, yet he is slowly figuring out how to write more and more of them himself. He proudly showed me his new word several times yesterday, and I was lucky enough to catch his excitement on video:



Of course, right now Isaac can still spell much more than he can write, and he shows us his stuff by using his beloved magnetic letters. For example, a couple of Sundays ago he spelled out "god sun" and said, "Mommy, God made the sun!" Turns out that's what the kids learned in Sunday school that morning:

Isaac ponders his Sunday school lesson

We are so proud of Isaac for teaching himself to count, to read, to spell, and to write. Since he is still learning to talk, however, I have started trying to use his abilities to his advantage by writing relevant sentences for him to read (such as "I love you" or "Chase me" or "Can I have that?"). I've noticed that doing so is really helping with his understanding, articulation, and self-expression. We are excited to see how else we can help our boy learn to communicate by using his love of the written word!

Hello, goodbye

Goodbye, school ...

Last day of the first semester of preschool

Hello, pool!

Opening day at our neighborhood pool

Here's to a great summer, full of lots of stuff to blog about!

My mother's gift ... to us

Dear Mom,

Three years ago you wrote a letter reflecting on what my children (and Ted and I) mean to you. Dad gave me a copy of it just before the babies were dedicated, but I was too preoccupied and sleep-deprived to appreciate the significance of what I was reading, to properly thank you for such a special gift—or to even remember where I put it. But yesterday I found it. And I love it. And I am publishing it here because I want everyone to know how blessed I am to call you my mother!

Love always,

Suzy

What the Fab Four and Their Parents Mean to Me

I remember the moment I knew I was going to be a grandmother

It filled me with pride, joy, and anticipation of something greater than I could fathom

Little did I know that a few days later I'd learn that it would be not a grandchild but the Fab Four that we would be expecting

Our first glimpse of the Fab Four (6 weeks gestation)

I saw the many emotions that were going through your mind and body—concern, fear of the unknown, excitement, and a myriad of other emotions

Times were fun and exciting, planning was furious and sometimes scary, but excitement never ended as we puts lots of love into the simple but beautiful nursery awaiting the arrival of the Fab Four

Nursery ready for four babies!

Then the difficult days came when mama had to lay everything aside and concentrate only on bringing four precious, healthy bundles of joy into the world—whatever the sacrifice

None of us knew the sacrifice, pain, anxiety, and dedication that this process would require from both Suzy and Ted during those difficult months

My mom and me 
(6 weeks before the babies were born
and days before my mom's double mastectomy)

But then the day came when the doctors knew it was time to bring these precious lives into their new world—on the eve of Christ's birthday—how special

Again their mommy gave her all and with great sacrifice and pride delivered four healthy, adorable bundles of joy into our lives

I'll never forget the excitement in the hallway of the hospital when we heard the lullaby four times in a row and knew the babies were here

I can remember the moment the T and R families came together in the recovery room to see Suzy after the delivery and with pride she and Ted told us the names of their precious babies

First picture together (1 week old)

Isaac Nehiel - Isaac meaning laughter in Hebrew and Nehiel, also a Hebrew name, after his grandfather

Lucia Celeste - Lucia meaning light and Celeste meaning heavenly—how appropriate to this precious little girl—Heavenly Light. Celeste also means light blue in Spanish and is the color of the Uruguayan flag (of great importance to Suzy as that is where she lived most of her growing up years)

Jude Wesley - Jude of course comes directly from a Beatles song (no surprise here) and Wesley a beautiful T family name

Dahlia Solis - Dahlia being one of the flowers we always grew in our front yard in Uruguay and Solis the name of the beach where we took regular family vacations when living in Uruguay—what memories

Again a miracle happened—all the babies were in the NICU just barely over two weeks—unheard of for premature babies—especially quads—again all this thanks to God's protection and the sacrifice of mommy and daddy

Homecoming Day (2 weeks old)

Although the cycle never ends—changing, feeding, bathing, napping, playing, and starting all over again, the precious moments have been many

The pride I feel having a beautiful daughter that gave her all for these four precious little ones

The pride I feel having a son-in-law that loves my daughter and cares for their little family with dedication

The first time I held the Fab Four was the beginning of a new life for me—God's blessing and love radiated through them to me with a healing power nothing else could give

The pleasure of holding each one, feeling their soft breathing, feeling their delicate little bodies against mine was breathtaking and healing

Abuelita Joanna holding the Fab Four for the first time
(5 weeks old)

The connection that would come between me and the babies when I would change them, feed them, bathe them, make their bottles, hold them, comfort them, talk to them, or discover a glimpse of their personalities cannot be described—only felt

The glorious feeling I get when I see them progressing into little people, watching them discover their new world, that first smile, that first laugh, that first time I felt like they knew I was someone who loves them unconditionally will only grow as they and I grow together

Are there difficult times? Absolutely

Being far away and not being able to have more moments to cherish with them and their parents

Longing to put my arms around each one of them and around their beautiful parents each day

Learning I can't stop and shop in the baby section of every store

Days when I would like to be there so Suzy and Ted could get some extra sleep or a homemade meal—oh how I would love to give it to them often

But we are all blessed!

The Fab Four just before their due date (6 weeks old)

Four beautiful, healthy babies

Two loving, healthy parents—I am so proud of them both—what exemplary parents they are

A God who cares for each of us even when we are far apart

The privilege of being only a phone call away when we need each other

To God I give each one:

Isaac Nehiel - the joy of my heart

Lucia Celeste - the light of my life

Jude Wesley - my kindred spirit

Dahlia Solis - my precious flower

Suzanna Raquel - also a precious flower in Hebrew (lily or rose) - I am so proud to be your Mother

Theodore Wesley - I am so proud you are the father of the Fab Four and the husband of my lovely daughter

At the babies' dedication (6 months old)

My love for each of you cannot be measured

May God bless and protect all of us as we grow together in the love and knowledge of Christ is my prayer

Your loving Abuelita, Madre, y Suegra

Joanna

Jesus loves Lucy

Do you remember the first time you sang "Jesus Loves Me"? Well, I don't—but I do know that I've been singing it for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I knew it as "Cristo Me Ama" (#155 in our himnario), and we sang it just about every Sunday at the request of one of the little boys in our church. "Jesus Loves Me" was also the first song that Abuelito Nehiel sang to Lucy, and our friends and family later sang it together (in English and in Spanish) at the babies' dedication ceremony. And every night, Ted and I sing both versions to the kids after we tuck them in their beds.

But never has this old tune sounded as sweet to me as it did yesterday, when Lucy sat down with Tío Ner's guitar and gave us this unexpected performance:



Sí, Cristo te ama, Lucy—and so do we!

Easy writer

Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a writer! In the past few days I've noticed Isaac making different combinations of lines and circles on the magnadoodle, and today I caught him writing an actual word:

d-o-g

He was so proud of himself, writing it over and over to show his abuelitos and his daddy. Here is our little scribe in action:



This boy never ceases to amaze us with the things he manages to teach himself. And his erudite Abuelito Nehiel has even bigger dreams for his namesake: This week my dad started teaching Isaac the Greek alphabet!

Worth the (group) shot

Last week I decided that I wanted to take a picture of my gang before they went to school. So, as we headed out the door, I grabbed the camera and braced myself. After all, although I never know whether a photo shoot will result in a good picture, one thing's for certain: Any attempt to snap a group pic will involve a degree of chaos—most often characterized by a lot of running around (by the kids), a modicum of sweating (by me), a heaping helping of not listening (by the kids), and the possibility of some shouting (by me).

That day's photo session was no exception. As soon as we stepped out the door, I told the kids to stand still so that we could get a picture before we got in the van. The girls did as they were told, but the boys acted as if I had not spoken at all:

"No, Isaac, we're not getting in the van yet! Go back
and stand with your sisters so we can get a picture.
You, too, Jude."

While the boys were getting their act together, the girls decided it would be a good time to show each other some love:

"Aw, that's sweet, girls. Very nice. Okay, you two stay
there and hug. Isaac, go stand by your sisters, and I'll
 take a picture of you guys. Jude, you, too!"

But the tender moment was over before the boys could get into place, and the girls decided go stand by Jude instead:

"Oh, good idea! Yes, everybody stand against the wall.
Isaac, go stand by Dahlia!"

Suddenly everybody was right where I wanted them:

"Okay, great! Now, look at Mommy, guys!"

But I could only get one or two people to look at the camera at the same time:

"Isaac! You need to look at Mommy! Jude, you, too!"

 Then Isaac got bored with facing in my direction:

"No, no, Isaac! You need to turn around!
Everybody, PLEASE, look at MOMMY!"

And decided it would be a good time to make some noise:

"Isaac, we're not going to bang on the wall right now.
Dahlia, stop copying your brother! Both of you,
please turn around so we can get a picture!"

I'm sure he was trying to drown out the sound of my ever-growing desperation to get a shot of everyone both looking at the camera and facing me:

"Good job, Dahlia. Okay, Isaac, now look at Mommy,
please. No, you need to turn around and look at me!"

Just as I was ready to tear out my hair and throw in the towel, though, something magical happened:

"YES! Thank you for looking at Mommy!!!"

A good-enough shot—totally worth the blood (pressure hike), the sweat, and the (near) tears. And we still got to school on time!