January

There's been less noise around here during the day but no less crazy.  Becca and Pat are back at school and doing well.  Poor Cecilia would gladly sleep in but I find the need to wake her most days to get out the door on time.  Let's start the pictures off with a shot of the girls.

All the kids after church.

This is the only way we can get George to take a nap.

Becca being Becca.

We've started snapping pictures in the hopes of getting one with Cecilia smiling.  Turns out her hand tastes really good.

She's looking at George...

...and he's funny.

Patrick also went to his first Pinewood Derby.  He did very well tying for second on his track.

As Mike helped out, some big sisters chased George and Becca around leaving me with Cecilia, who slept.  She did wake up to hang out with Dad at the end.

All in all, January has been a pretty good month.  We'd like to welcome Walden Estes to the Sullivan clan and Daphne Moran to our ND/SMC family, both born within the last 48 hours.  May God bless and keep you in good health.

Patrick's 7th Birthday

Let's start back before Christmas.  Patrick had been complaining of headaches after reading for 10 minutes.  Given the family history (everyone has glasses) I decided to get his eyes checked.  And guess what, he needed some!  They are just for reading but he looks pretty good in his specs.

2012 went out with a bang!  We headed into Peoria and took the kids skating.  George went out once and was done.  But Becca and Pat both spent most of the two hours on the ice.  Yes they fell, but they got back up and tried again.  I'm so proud of them.

Afterwards, we came home and enjoyed some light-saber-fighting ninja cake.  This has to be one of the best ideas I ever had.

The evening was concluded with our very light-saber-fighting ninja show.

I remember taking more pictures but I don't know what happened to them!  It's hard to believe Patrick is already 7 and yet I feel like he's always been with us.  The noise may bother me but I am grateful for this sweet, wondering, excitable boy who tells me he loves me every day.

Hatton Christmas

 We celebrated Christmas in many parts this year.  We went to Mass Christmas Eve and Cecilia got all dressed up for the first time.

After dinner, we got a great picture of the kids in their Christmas finery, minus the ties.

We woke up the next morning to open some presents and head North to see the Hatton clan.  Cecilia finally got to meet Grandpa in person.

Lucky girl got to hang with Great Grandma too.

Becca earned her keep by doing some dishes.

Patrick and Grandpa had some fun with the iPad.

The boys took advantage of Grandpa's tools and cut out Pat's first pinewood derby racer.

Cecilia even had a chance to commune with Gwennie.

It's been a busy couple of weeks but we managed to see almost all our relations.  We thank God for all His blessings and hope you found the same this Christmas season.