Why I shouldn't Blog...

Well, the title says it all. While I have the best of intentions I rarely possess the wherewithal to bring those intentions to fruition. I really want to keep this blog current to keep friends and family abreast of our lives' comings and goings, but darn it all. I'm really busy with three little ones. And when I'm not busy with them or the disaster they leave in their wake...I'm TIRED! Since my hubby is next to me updating his blog I decided there would be no better time than the present to post a second stunning addition to this blog. So bear with me.

April brought about the big she-bang of a first Birthday party for our baby girl Olivia. It's so hard for me to fathom that she has already been a part of our lives for 15 months now. In my life, the 1st birthday is a blow-out. I love the big, elaborate theme party madness that consumes all reason until the day of the event. This one was no different than the others...a zoo! I chose a ladybug theme because darn it they're cute. And Livy is our little lady, though more often than not she's behaving like an absolute beast. But she's so cute is difficult not to forgive her. I digress...so I chose a ladybug theme and researched the topic so I could make this memorable...for my scrapbook. I undertook the task of making a ladybug cake, and attacked it with fervor. You can be the judge for yourself, but I was pleased with result, considering I am a novice cake baker and decorator. There were live flowers on the tables in ladybug adorned pots and mason jars filled with live, crawling ladybugs...cool huh? There were over 80 people in attendance and it was a blast. My dad the consummate grill chef was in charge of cooking burgers and dogs, which were yummy.

The kids bounced with glee in a huge Princess bounce house. And adults chatted it up with those they hadn't seen in awhile. Liv was pretty tired, and went to bed early, but all in all a success. She started taking quite a few steps in a row on my mom's lawn that day, almost as if she knew it was her time to shine.

Fast forward to May, the month packed with birthdays in our home. Our eldest daughter was turning 5. This is also a momentous event, as it signals the end of the family birthday party and the beginning of a whole new era called, the friend party. She chose a Princess theme...naturally. She is the girliest of all girls and is currently obsessed with Ariel. So I invited all nine girls in her Montessori class (thinking maybe half would be able to come) as well as her friends from church and a few cousins in the same age range. Let me tell you, I was unprepared for the 16 little girls that swarmed our home that afternoon. All dolled up in their best Princess garb, they were truly a sight to behold. We served a Tea Party with actual china cups and saucers. Tiny fancy sandwiches and pink lemonade to sip. Surprisingly, not one cup or saucer was shattered in the bunch. For dessert I made TONS of miniature pink butter cream iced cupcakes and petite sugar cookies. Grammy was in attendance applying make-up in true princess fashion. And what fun we had. It was hilarious to see those angels swinging from the trapeze in the ball gowns and heels. And at pinata time...look out! Madelyn was exhausted but thrilled with the fact that all of her school friends had come to her house for tea and cookies. I will tearfully remember that day as the first in a string of milestones signaling my firstborns independence. She is no longer a baby, but a darling, intelligent little girl. I miss her already.

Some days I think I'll pull my hair out trying to take care of this crew, and others I can't imagine my life any other way. As they grow I am constantly reminded of how fleeting these years are. I try to slow down and let the sweet taste of their innocence melt in my mouth and settle into my heart. Before long they'll not need me to wipe their behinds or pour their milk...then what? So I'll take all of the 12,000 questions my son asks me every morning before 8AM in stride, and I'll smile and kiss his precious blond head while I still can. I'll also remind myself that children are a gift from the Lord, and that it's His peace I need to rest in when I feel overwhelmed with these blessings He's given me.

Here we go!

So this is it. The grand re-launching of the Brunnengraeber family blog. We decided that this would be a good way to keep our family afar updated on our status in a fun and interactive way.

Our house is a zoo. I try to be honest with myself. We live in chaos, as all parents of young children can attest to, but this is blissful chaos, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. There is too much noise, too much mess and sometimes, too much stress, but I can't imagine living any other way.

Our nearly five year old is a bossy little know-it-all, who is usually right. She is also a very compassionate soul who cannot bear to see suffering, and is the first to run for a lovey if her brother or sister gets hurt. She is exceptional (as all parents believe their children are), precocious as can be and so smart that it takes me by surprise to this day. I always say by the time she is 7 she'll be smarter that her parents. Our three and a half year old son is a ball of constant movement, he cannot bear to be still. The noise mentioned earlier is usually attributed to him...and the little one. The other side of Eli is unexpected, he is the most affectionate and loving child I have ever known, from the time of his birth this has been true. He will gaze at you with those angelic blue eyes and golden curls and say, "I love you Mom...this much!" spreading his arms as wide as they will reach. Nothing could touch a parent more profoundly than such an expression from their offspring. He is bright and easy-going the majority of the time, but oh can that temper surprise you! Then there is Olivia, our youngest, and the firecracker of the bunch. She started out as such a mild-mannered baby and has grown into a very demanding and impatient darling. Her dark locks are constantly in her eyes, and she bats them away in annoyance, yet when we restrain her hair with a band she pulls until it is free. The complexity that is Livy Lou, as we call her. She has dark blue eyes and the cutest button nose, and she LOVES to eat! Don't dare keep her waiting. She cannot stand to be out of the mix of things, following her older siblings everywhere and trying to play whatever they do. These three loves keep us VERY busy.

My loving husband and I have been married for 8 years this fall, and it has been a wondrous journey. Learning the intricacies of each other has been at times challenging, yet always worth the effort. He is an amazing man of faith, and an incredible father to our children. At times I still get misty eyed thinking of how blessed I am, that Jesus Christ chose for me this perfect mate. The fulfillment of all I hoped for as a little girl. The Prince in all of my fairy tales...truly he is my other half. Phillip is the love of my life, and this blog is the chronicles of our life...as they happen. So stay tuned and be prepared for a frank look at life and an honest perspective of child rearing. Because you likely won't find any sugar-coating here. But we hope that our families will keep abreast of our lives, long-lost friends will reconnect with us and perhaps random folks will find encouragement in our trials, struggles and victories.