Surprises are the spice of life.
We had a surprise brewing for a few weeks now. I kept it from the kids, excitement building in my own heart. It had been almost three years ago since we saw these sweet faces, flown straight from Italian soil to our side of the ocean!
One night previous, Elsie had just been in tears for her cousin, Hannah. She missed her so badly.
Few words are needed. It was a blessed week and a half. So thankful we were able to see them a few times and cousins were able to connect over dress-ups, dance-parties, and sidewalk chalk.
In the between days when we weren’t at Matthew’s parents house visiting, we kept busy with the usual school and business of life. Soon I will post pictures of our entire family together. What a beautiful week it’s been.
cousins
Giving Thanks for Twenty-Seven, Road Trips and Scavenger Hunts
Thanksgiving weekend began with our Weldon family gathering. Turkey vegetable tray, dangly earrings, a crackling fire, and games highlighted our time together. We even managed to pull off a paleo thanksgiving breakfast, complete with monkey bread!
Next, we took off for New York. With new tires on the van and every inch packed to the gills, sipping joy tea, we listened to a Thanksgiving history audio book from my dad and enjoyed an almost completely argument-free drive up North. It was delightful!
We were welcomed by a happy sign:
The highlight of our time together was the Mall Scavenger Hunt we did one day. We divided into four teams, according to birth. Various items on the list to find were: “something that smells good, the largest bug, and someone doing the best karate move.” We also had to “plank” as a team and find Grandma and Grandpa who were wandering around the mall. The team who found them first got… the honor of finding them first. As leader of the 3rd-borns, I’d like to acknowledge we found them first. We had one hour to scavenge the mall. The creativity started flowing.
There were the firstborns:
The second-borns:
The third-borns:
The fourth-borns (and Betty):
Besides the fun of the scavenger hunt, the daddies took almost all the kids ice-skating, and we enjoyed snow, games, and many delicious meals together.
Our entire family:
At the beginning of November, my dad reminded us of the news we received as a family twenty-two years ago: Get one small bag packed with all that you treasure the most. Get ready to evacuate Nyankunde tomorrow! As a girl of almost twelve, this was an exciting adventure. It didn’t turn out how I imagined, however. Our “quick” trip back to the United States turned into permanent. It’s hard to imagine how twenty-two years later, our family of six has grown into a family of twenty-seven, with another on the way! (My sister, not me!) God has richly blessed us with a family who loves each other, drives great distances to be with each other, and children who think their other cousins are the absolute bomb-diggity! I couldn’t be more thankful.
Four Times Four Plus One
We’ve been home over a week now, and every day Matthew is stronger. He is heavily medicated, but we are thankful! Yesterday was his first day back at work and he still feels well. He will begin more stringent treatments on Monday, having weekly infusions of a drug called Rituxan for a month. This helped in the past to put him in a good place health-wise, and we pray it does this time too!
The weekend turned into a wonderful family reunion and all four of us “original” Watt kids and our families were altogether again. Four kids has multiplied into seventeen grand-kids! We are blessed! Here is the cousin line-up from oldest (almost 17 years old) to youngest (two and a half).
The “Watt girls”. I missed the memo about the turquoise shirt.
A collection of cell phone shots:
My camera was balanced on a chair and pointing at a jaunty angle, but here is the whole family. Not too bad, for staring at a big open yard and an inanimate camera.
My sweet Betty with her baby browns. If you ask her what color her eyes are, she will tell you: brown.
This is one of the many reasons I love my family. We pray for each other whether we’re apart or together.
Some of my favorite people. I share shoes with my boys, and my daughter is the same height as me. Life is beautifully marching right along. 
Christmas Week The First
It’s hard to believe we were getting ready for our big road trip last week. Now it’s come and gone. Just like the seemingly endless roads from Pennsylvania to Indiana. The two older kids came along with us on our thousand-plus mile adventure. The van felt oddly familiar in an old sort of way. More than once Matthew and I remarked about how big the kids had become since our last cross-country trip with the two of them in that very space, nine years ago. We joked at how I didn’t have to hand Elijah a bottle this time, or that we didn’t give Nadine handfuls of Q-tips to keep her hands busy, ripping them apart. They contented themselves with a kids’ meal toy, books, Odyssey, and talking. I was a tad miffed that I never won a single round of the Alphabet Game.
We had a marvelous time at our friends’ wedding.
Then it was back on the road again. We stopped in Ohio to visit our dear friends. There is nothing quite like driving through the night, in the snow, on roads the map seems to make up as you go along. Somehow we made it, with much opening of the windows so the freezing air would keep us alert. It was an exciting memory!
From Ohio we arrived back home, and happily reunited with the other three kiddos. We enjoyed a Christmas Eve-Eve with Matthew’s cousins. There’s nothing quite as precious as a new baby. Zachary Taylor made a perfect little Santa.
Christmas morning was spent at home by ourselves for the very first time ever. Matthew’s parents, brother, and sister flew to Italy on Christmas Day to visit his other brother and family who are stationed there right now. It was strange to be on our own, but special as well.
Then came the snow. What a delight! The kids played and played.
Today was spent doing things which needed doing. Making laundry soap was so much more fun when I had a cute helper who liked to smile into her reflection on the mixing bowl!
Next, an impromptu trip to Chic-Fil-A for the younger three kids to get their faces painted. 
Betty sat oh-so-still while the lady painted her face. Once she finished, it was as hard to keep her still enough for a picture, as it is to keep a butterfly from flitting away.
She became the butterfly painted on her cheek.
It has been a full week. Full of miles, brimming with memories, and overflowing with whimsy. Tomorrow we get to keep our Christmas week going, as we pile into our van once again and trek our way up North for a Christmas weekend with my family.
Merry Christmas!
Thanksgiving in a Nutshell
Instead of writing what I am thankful for, I have been enjoying those things the past couple of weeks. Other reasons kept me from the computer as well, but here is my short recap of our Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to see both sides of my family for a few days in a row. First mine, then Matthew’s, then mine again. Thanksgiving morning was spent with Pop & Grandmom and the Weldons. I just can’t take enough pictures of these two.
We played a Thankful game which Mom made up. I pulled the card about a man, and got to gush on my wooly husband. He hasn’t shaved or cut his hair this month which makes him look very different. His eyes looked tired in most of the pictures, so I told him to keep them open wide and got the funny one in the corner. I loved every minute spent with him during Thanksgiving.
Back at my parents’ house, we took a walk through the 500-acre wood. My dad made a scavenger hunt of trees and other forest-y things to observe. It was lovely.
Hanging out with Daddy is one of the best things in the world!
Our wonderful host and hostess for the weekend… they put up with many mouths to feed, many messes to clean, and many noises to be heard!
One of my favorite parts was just being with my sisters and mom! I don’t know if we’ve ever had a picture of just us! I am thankful for my family.
Impromptu Family Reunion
It’s the first day of summer, and while the world complains about the heat, I actually enjoy it. This morning I enjoyed some early morning gardening, thankful that I can stand without too much pain today. Two days ago I found myself flat on my face at the top of our stairs, the second toe of my left foot throbbing like mad. It was almost numb and yet on fire at the same time. Without an actual x-ray to confirm it, I’m 99% sure it’s broken. Its black and blue self stares back at me as I prop up my feet. I’m thankful that I don’t have to be anywhere or do anything. I’m thankful for a lot of things. The last week was a whirlwind of family and sisters and my brother and cousins galore. It was packed with many fun moments and the time went way too quickly. I’m thankful for the photos of this past weekend, which keep cheering me up. It’s hard to choose a few out of a couple hundred pictures, but these are definitely my favorites of this week:
I remember when these guys were all little babies, about 6 months apart each.
I was obsessed with this tree at Valley Forge.
Cousins minus the four Watts.
Nadine kept picking flowers and putting them places to honor the soldiers who died at Valley Forge. It was beautiful.
Betty and Auntie Heather holding hands.
I was also obsessed by these weeds. So pretty. So painful to touch. So much like some choices we make. They look so good, so appealing, yet bring pain and choke out what’s truly beneficial.
This little guy is a heart-melter.
Jack walked the entire time carrying his backpack and this huge stick. It’s how he does things.
At last, all seventeen cousins together!
Creek walking is something we did way back when the entire tall crowd were mere munchkins.
I love my brother and everyone loves him!
Jack, finding the biggest rock to throw. In his mind, skipping rocks means heaving heavy boulders.
A few of the kids who went swimming.
After Audrey found a host of feathers, most of the boys became Indians. Jack’s war dance was especially funny. He found a shoe string in the creek, which became part of his attire.
On my brother’s birthday, we all enjoyed cream puffs under the shade of the hundred-acre-wood, also known as my parents’ front yard.
Sisters are the best!
Another highlight of the week was Betty learning to walk. Just before 18 months, she took her first steps, and every day now she is getting more confident. She also learned how to climb ladders.
We enjoyed a campfire one night at my sister’s.
I’ll close with my favorite picture of the entire week. 
Scrumptious Birthday
Last weekend, we celebrated Rachel’s 11th birthday. Rachel is my niece, and she’s a special girl to all of us. Her recent long stay in the hospital was so difficult. How thankful to see her happy, cheerful face again! There was a lot of love and craziness going on the other night!
This little munchkin with a heart on her bum, knocks my socks off every day. She personally doesn’t care for socks herself and pulls them off whenever she can. Her sweet baby booties are just about too small for her, but they keep her feet deliciously warm.
Speaking of delicious, her eyes are so chocolatey. She’s sweeter than the peppermint patty that I’m eating right now.
This one is growing up too fast for her mama. Some days I’m lost between the fact that she’s not five anymore, and that double digits are upon us this year. 
Birthdays are special because they celebrate special people. After cake and more cake, what party isn’t complete without the Oreo game? I was thrilled to catch my first cookie ever, playing this game. Usually it gets caught pirate-style, in the hollow above my cheekbone. This time it slipped straight into my mouth and surprised me more than anyone!
Life is sweet when it’s full of children and birthdays and cookies.
Thirty Thankfuls
The last month has been full of fun memories and thankfulness. Thanksgiving day morning began a new (hopefully) tradition for our family. We went over to the local highschool track near the Weldon’s house and ran a 5K. Our own free turkey trot. It was even complete with Indians and a turkey (i.e. Nadine).
Things I am thankful for:
1. Healthy bodies and the ability to run 3 miles with my kids and family
2. My amazing husband, who pushes me to get over just how I’m feeling and inspires me to do what’s hard, real, and lasting!
3. Monkey Bread
4. Enough mashed potatoes to go around for 29 people… twice… with leftovers.
5. Cousins who make the world brighter, happier, and more fun!
6. My own, personal barista, whom I love not only for his good looks, but also his finesse in coffee-beverage-making-skills.
7. My sisters, because my world would be all grey without them!
8. The laughter that comes at funky hours of the night when parents should be storing up energy for the following day, but instead decide to make memories together.
9. Boys who are warriors at heart. I would feel safe in any dark alley with these guys. (Notice the turkey bone weapon)
10. Gorgeous weather to take family photos!
11. Five healthy children with such distinctly different personalities that there are never boring moments throughout each day.
11. Imaginations of boys with sticks in tall grass.
12. Creative photo ideas!
13. Betty with her 3 teeth that make me grin and want to kiss her a million times!
14. Clothes to wear.
15. Family times.
16. Nadine Ruth, my tall girl who wears my shoes and loves life.
17. Elijah Watt, who figures out how to fix stuff for me, and asks me questions through writing notes to me.
18. Heather who lives so close now, and is a constant source of encouragement and inspiration to me as a wife, mom, and homemaker.
19. Sherry, who doesn’t live that close, but doesn’t let distance get in the way of staying close in heart. She too is a huge fountain of inspiration and encouragement to me.
20. Re-enactments of battles long ago.
21. I will mention cousins again, because they are so special to us!
22. Elsie Rose, who smiles and sings and laughs so much each day, the world is truly a happier place because of her.
23. The way she sings, “Who broke the ark? No one, no one! Who broke the ark? Brudder, no one!” Instead of, “Who built the ark? Noah, Noah. Who built the ark? Brother Noah!”
24. Betty Ann, who sits in leaves and still smiles. She loves life. She loves food. She loves to be loved, and it’s such a privilege to love her.
25. The way cousins interact with eachother, no matter the age.
26. Food to eat.
27. Jack Taylor, and his strength, twinkly eyes, and desire to conquer. He’s tough, but his heart so wants to do what’s right.
28. My husband.
29. Our home and every inch in it, because we use every inch!
30. Above ALL of these things, I am thankful for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. I am thankful for His written word, the Bible, and that it is becoming more alive to me as I grow older. Thank you, Lord, for this month, and for every day and hour we are given to live for you here.
Do It Now
Often my ideas are huge and unattainable. Like, I want to paint beautiful mosaics on Betty’s bedroom wall, even though I own no artistic ability to do so. Or, I want to create the perfect backyard getaway, when in reality the constant flow of dirt and water equals mud, and the small stones that used to all be contained in one small two-foot square, are now covering practically every square inch of the backyard. I see myself moving entire gargantuan pieces of furniture upstairs alone, or maybe strapping a couch that I find along the side of the road to the roof of our van, but I know it’s not possible. I envision a lot. Then I often get frustrated at myself for not doing whatever is needed to make that vision become reality. So, I’ve been implementing two new techniques. The first one is to not get bogged down with what I can’t do when all around me are a hundred and three things I can do. The second one is actually not that new. I’m sure it’s as old as Eve. It’s called the “do it now” method. Here’s the gist: I walk past a pair of grimy socks on the living room floor. I either walk past them another ten times, or Do It Now and pick them up on my way to the laundry room. Here’s another example. I wake up and leave my bed crumpled all day, or I take thirty-eight seconds and smooth the duvet and fluff my pillows. I know this is complicated, so here’s one more go at it: I can either think of a really cool idea to do with my kids, or I can by gum do it!
Last Friday I decided to by gum do it.
It took some planning, but not tons of time. The hardest part was sneaking stuff out to the car without spilling the beans that I was up to something. It began when I gathered the kids together and gave them a clue: “In the front seat of something blue, within an envelope lies a clue!”
The kids raced to the car and found an envelope with another clue, which then led them on a series of clues until they found themselves in the van, on their way to Grandma’s house for lunch! After lunch, we got back in the van and headed to their other Grandma’s house. No one was home, but another clue awaited them, and they trekked over to their favorite local jaunt/nature preserve to look for more clues and to find both Grandma and Jacob who were missing! We had a blast at Briar Bush, and made our way back to the house, where a treasure map led the way to the “treasure”, which was a box full of odds and ends that tickled their individual fancies. It was a lot of fun!
We were able to squeeze it all in before the abundant amounts of rain began to fall over the weekend. That night Matt, Jacob, and Granddaddy took the kids running in the rain. Our kids’ love tanks are filled to the brim when anything that involves out of the ordinary, coupled with getting wet and muddy on purpose, is on the agenda.
The next day we enjoyed visiting with our cousins. The rain was falling in sheets again around suppertime, so the men grilled with umbrellas and raincoats!
I think she’s beautiful even when her tears match the rain.
We celebrated Abby’s 5th birthday with love, a wild game of sardines, and chocolate cupcakes that made even the heaviest rain-cloud-shod day seem like a day of perpetual sunshine. Wow. Those things were amazing.
When we left the cousins’ house Irene had decided to come in earnest and I had a small melt-down driving home. I don’t do well driving in strong rain/wind/snow. Once my windshield wipers have to be on that third little notch, I become unglued. Anyway, thankfully we made it home safely. Then began a long night for me where I got up often, breathed prayers over my kids, glared at the tree that kept brushing the side of the house, prayed some more, and saw two circuit boxes blow outside my window in a spray of electric fireworks. It was pretty wild. The whole craziness of the night compounded itself when somehow 3 out of 5 kids landed in our not-built-for-five double bed. I ended up on Jack’s top bunk and finally willed myself to sleep around 4:30am. I was pretty bleary-eyed the next morning. Thankfully our electricity was only off for about an hour during the night, so we were able to enjoy hot beverages and crepes while the wind blew crazy tunes and the rain filled our little fish pond.
While most of the area had to cancel their first day of school, we were hitting the books on Monday morning. This is our first year of homeschooling without the aid of cyber-school. We have two 3rd graders, one in Kindergarten, one in pre-school, and one in la-la land during it all. As Nadine would say, “It’s been SUCH a blast, and even though we’ve only done two days of school, I just LOVE it.” Me too, sweet girl!
So, we started with a hurricane, and are settling into a routine that is new for us. I’m excited to see how everything smooths out, and when we are into our rhythm I’ll be so glad to share our school day with you! I’ll also be sharing some more of those Do It Now success stories as I experiment with this extraordinary technique that makes piles of junk diminish, dishes get clean, and some not-so-ordinary things happen!
Grow Old With Me 