Days with the Dorans

Sometimes I look at my children and I wish I could freeze time- remember every moment! Sadly I can't, and many funny moments escape my memory soon after they occur. I am so thankful for my writing, as I think it helps cement my thoughts and I'm also thankful for videos of my children and the way they speak as I know that soon, that too will change. When Joey was young he used to call milk, "mil- kay ". It was the sweetest thing and the reason he would say it that way was because we used to emphasize the 'k' at the end of milk because he was just calling it "mil." Well- for a season milk became "mil- kay " and it always made our hearts smile to hear it. But now, at 6, milk is pronounced... milk. Zach's favorite fruit was, for a time, called " nana ." This wouldn't work because my mom is known as "Nana". Again we put an emphasis on the missing sound, this time the ' ba ' and well, banana became buck- anana ...

In this home... We do second chances. We do grace. We do real. We do mistakes. We do I'm sorrys . We do loud really well. We do hugs. We do family. We do love. Our family motto really- and yesterday when we were doing loud REALLY well. Daddy had it and told the kids that the cushions needed to return to the couches, or at least go to another room so that he and I could finish our conversation. The Bigs were REALLY upset by this and Joe announced, "We're running away!" The funny thing was, he and Ali Jane actually put on their coats and shoes. Daddy said, "I'll miss you." Which fueled the fire even more. It was one of those moments when it was hard not to smile- hard not to burst into tears of laughter- tears of love- Our children would have never even whispered the idea of leaving- in fear of it actually happening- which tells me that they're growing up. Joe came to me and I wrapped my arms around him and said, "I'm really going to miss ...

I remember last summer, Sean Asher and Zoe actually had their first dance (while they were still cooking inside us). It was fun for them to meet each other on the other side! (Though whether or not they actually saw each other was hard to tell...) I couldn't wait then to see what wonderful parents Jason & Courtney would be- yesterday my wait was up! Dr. Jason & Ms. Courtney brought their precious addition to meet ours' and we had a blast! It was so nice when the babes slept, the bigs played the wii - and ran laps around the house- and we played cards and talked... (and you KNOW I won... whooop whooop !) Can't wait to see the Stewarts again- we told them to get moving... they have some more baby- makin ' to do to keep up with us Dorans ! The day was great and we did what we do best... LOUD!

Today I saw a miracle! And it wasn't just that my son was baptised surrounded by family and friends- and it wasn't just that he has Godparents that will always love and pray for him- and it wasn't just that a congregation of people were there to witness and pray and applaud at what they experienced- (Or that our babe was an angel through the whole service!) Well- it was all that- but so very, very much more. Joey and Ali Jane have been talking about the baptism for weeks, telling Sean about it too, and it has been such a joy to watch as I'm sure that they don't remember their own baptisms (though Ali Jane assured Pastor Paul that she did!). While getting ready this morning I heard Ali Jane telling Sean, "You are going to get some water on your head, and it's not going to hurt at all- it's going to feel good. It's going to be God." They wanted a front row seat for everything, and that they had! Sean's Godmother, my sister-in-law Stephanie...

My Nan broke her hip last fourth of July and since then has still been in loads of pain and unable to do much of the things she did before the fall, so when my back was turned (putting away her Christmas tree) and I heard Ali Jane say, "Mom! Great-Nan's on the floor!" I almost lost my breath- but when I saw her on the floor, and what she was doing my racing heart slowed, and grew. She was sitting there- next to Sean ("A real live doll!") and talking to him in the softest sweetest voice you can imagine. I've seen this picture of her with all of my children- talking to them- captivating them- loving them- and I feel so blessed to have seen it with my last child. Her on the floor- loving the babe who was born on what would have been her L ove's 95 th birthday. I have a picture similar to the one above of her talking to Jonasen , with my Grandpa behind her smiling on. I like to close my eyes and imagine him smiling on at Sean Asher too. (And a sid...

The new year brought snow! Snowman making snow!!! This was especially exciting because it seems for years either the snow has not been snowman making snow, or it has been sooooo cold that we couldn't go outside. We've been itching to make snowmen, because Jodi got us this special box- which is a snow(family) making kit- just add snow! It turned out to be a WONDERFUL gift! Jeff came in after shoveling in the morning and said,"Quick kids! Get your snow gear on- it's time to make a snowman!" So they did- and put their gear right over their jammies . They did a great job making the first snowman and even Zach helped! (Don't worry- he did have mittens- just took them off to help finish the snowman.) Ali Jane and Jonasen were much more interested in making snowmen. Here Ali Jane was putting on the finishing touches of "Mrs. Snowman". I was able to snap a few pictures while Sean slept. The kids and Jeff were out for hours though! They made snowmen, snow...

As we wind down 2009, I've been thinking about the year's highlights and low lights and decided to write a year in review... We got a new ride (Dodge Caravan) after our old mini-van died. It has all the bells and whistles (although I didn't want that- it was no additional charge) including two DVD players. We have even let the kids watch the TV on trips- (this was the one thing I DIDN'T want in a car... oh well- never say never...) Last year was the beginning of the infamous car-stops with our Ali Jane... Happy to say that I don't think that we will see these (at least because of her) in 2010. We also began patching her eye and her eyesight did improve... until perhaps our biggest blessing of 2009 came and we became lax on wearing it... glad to report we're back to wearing it regularly again... I became a (biological) Auntie for the first time when my brother and his wife had their first child, daughter Madeline. It has been such fun to watch my little broth...