Days with the Dorans

We have survived three kids with two Christmas trees for quite some time, but if I've learned one thing as a parent. it is to never say "never"... The Friday after Thanksgiving, I began decorating our living room. I always put a tree with white lights and red and gold trimmings up in our front window. I like being able to decorate a tree myself and have a room look fairly clutter-free (except for Jeff's many guitars that is... Well... I guess I should say it is fairly 'kid free'- though again, let's face it- that is nearly impossible in this house). As always, the kids loved watching me decorate and were excited dancing around and singing carols. The Bigs would hand me the ornaments and appeared to understand that this was 'mom's' tree. They didn't even try to put them on the tree themselves. It seemed to be a huge success until I looked down and saw the newest addition to our family walking around with the most curious little smile on hi...

Thanks to a Costco coupon, we were early taking our annual Christmas card picture. Today my mom came over to snap pics, my dad came over to dance and get eyes going in the same (general) direction and as always sometimes it is the pics that don't make the cut that tell the best stories... for some of the rejects (and descriptions) I made a slideshow to share with all of you! But because this blog is published into a hard bound book for our family, I had to include some of my favorite rejects. Merry Christmas! Personalize your own free slideshow design

This year I started my Thanksgiving day with over 17,000 people! Though I was unable to do the Turkey Trot last year (having had Sean just a month and a half before), I have a feeling I won't be missing another one! What a great way to start out the day (though I could do without leaving my house before 6am)! My friend Chrissy and I met up with my folks, brother and sister-in-law at my brother's house (where my mom was watching my niece) and we were off to downtown Detroit with a whole lot of other interesting characters! What a great place to people watch, but of course I didn't charge my little point and shoot camera so didn't get too many pictures. My brother and dad ran the 10k where my dad won his age group! I sometimes tease him about this saying it's because he is probably the ONLY one in his age group- but running 8 minute miles when you're in your mid sixties is pretty darn impressive (especially because I am certain I couldn't do it in my mid thi...

For a while I was trying to save every little thing the kids made- and then I realized that (a) I have to many kids (b) they are super creative and always making 'things' and (c) I don't have a house big enough to hold all of their creations. I have gotten pretty good and 'recycling' their things after I take a picture of them to document their writing or art. Joe and Ali Jane have their own blogs, but since Z isn't 'writing' yet, some of his creations will have to be documented here. This poor little guy probably wouldn't have made it very long even if I were the type to save everything (don't worry, I have saved some things...). Zach was so proud of his little turkey that he carried him around in his bowl for quite a while. I think he was very proud of his little creation and I can't blame him... he is a pretty cute little guy. You can hear more about him in the words of our silly goose below. And yes- this Turkey is safe because we don...

On the last day of school before Thanksgiving, the Bigs each had exciting things going on in their classrooms. Of course I was unable to go see them because I was busy in my own classroom painting hands that would soon turn into turkeys. Thankfully, my mom was able to go up to school to see Ali Jane's 'Pow-Wow' in the morning. In the middle of painting my students' hands, I heard my phone register that it had a text message. It is odd for anyone to contact me during the school day so I had to check to see who it was. The message was from my mom and it said two words, "No camera". I felt so sick getting the text because I was thinking about both Bigs all morning and felt a bit sad that I would miss them. I kept trying to think how my mom could get me pictures... borrow someone's camera... use her memory card... ask a teacher if they had a camera she could borrow... when suddenly I got another message, "Camera's working!" And so it was an...

I'm not a girl that into 'stuff'. My wardrobe basically consists of varying colored T-shirts, jeans, cords and khakis. Don't get me wrong- I have a cute dress and a skirt or two, but I am basically your pretty simple gal. I don't buy a lot and I don't like carrying purses with me (though I do still love that miche bag I got for my last birthday). My folks' neighbor has an amazing talent and makes these adorable little purses. I love how small they are and I can fit my wallet and keys in there which is basically all I really need! Because I love the purse (I actually bought a black and white one too), I brought it with me to church last Sunday. As usual, Jeff was leading worship with his guitar and voice, so I was solo when it came to getting the kids to Sunday School. I somehow managed to get everyone everywhere on time and lugged my diaper bag, purse and five coats in to the gym with me (which is where us contemporary 'holy rollers' -as my Nan put...

I remember sitting in my sixth grade elementary classroom- edge of my seat- watching as my teacher, Mr. Ligon read us poems by Edgar Allen Poe. I was mesmerized ... not just by the words that he read, but the way in which he read them... his voice would go fast then slow, shake the walls and then drop to a whisper. I remember just watching him read aloud and wondering if he remembered there was a class full of students surrounding him- though it would be understandable if he forgot. He was the first person who showed me that you truly can get lost in books... We were all holding our breath- wondering what would happen next... Reading aloud is one of my favorite things to do. It is me becoming the actress I also thought I would become... dramatic pauses, fun accents and even little songs when the author calls for them. I have shared some of my favorite children's authors from Spinelli to Rowling with my students, but I always go back to that first author that changed the way I l...

Though he is still the toothless wonder, and his lack of hair still showcases his lovely bruises from trying to keep up with his sibs (and the boy is walking EVERYWHERE now), he has added some new 'tricks' to his arsenal. He will now wave (rather enthusiastically I might add), carry on a lovely conversation with you full of wonderful sounds and intonation, and shake his head 'no' when you tell him not to do something... but his biggest trick is one that we were hoping and praying he would do... and our prayers have been answered! When Joe was Sean's age, he used to make little fists and flex his muscles and his little arms would shake he was flexing so hard. It used to make us laugh until we cried. He certainly loved the reaction and would do it whenever we called him a "Strong man!" We tried to get Ali Jane to do it... and even Zach but they weren't as enthusiastic about it and we were sad to think that the only way we would see another "Strong...

On Thursday I woke up with a minor sore throat. I figured it would go away so got up for my early morning meeting and kissed my darlings goodbye. By noon I could barely swallow my saliva and I knew that I had just broken a rule... teachers are not allowed to be sick (and neither are moms for that matter...). I was able to make a doctor appointment and had a wonderful friend cover my class for the last half hour of the day. When I was in college, I remember getting a sore throat so badly that I needed to spit into a cup because it was too painful to swallow. I felt that what I was experiencing was the same thing and self-diagnosed myself with Strep. Once I reached the doctor, he confirmed my findings. Thankfully he saw no need to swab my tender tonsils- one look and he knew immediately what it was I had. He told me that because when I get strep it is so very severe, I should consider taking out my tonsils. He told me that it is very painful to have them removed as an adult, but...

Today Joey learned that his dear fish, Rocky, died. He was very upset and we cried and hugged for a long time. We prayed together and even Ali Jane joined us. As she spoke, she too began to cry (What an amazing sister she is!). I was incredibly moved when Joe said he wanted to write about Rocky. He is unaware that it was my writing that got me (and continues to get me) through the loss of his brother and E. To say that I am proud of this little boy would be the understatement of the century. Here, we remember Rocky, in the words of my favorite first grader. They Story of Rocky I went to the fish store and I looked and looked. I saw a Beta that was blue. "I want him," I said. "I like the fish," I said. "And I love him." When it was night time, I looked in my fish's tank. He was gone. I cried and cried. I was sad. I liked Rocky. Even though you know he died, he is now my brother, Andrew's fish. And I say, "Thank you Rocky for being my fis...