Joy to the World

Joy to the World, the Lord Has Come!

Celebrating His Love, The Lilyquist Family

2013

Fast forward ...

During birthday week this week we have been looking at photos from when Lydia was just a babe ...

Fast forward four years, and we have this ... so blessed.

Yes, Samuel is wearing a cummerbund (and doesn't Lydia's dress match so perfectl along with Nora's sweet dress - both of which were hand-me-downs that we are loving)!  Samuel's 3rd grade class had the privilege of singing with the high school for the Christmas concert last weekend at the Weill Center.  Jack also got to do this three years ago.  So neat.

And, then she was four ...

Today our girl turns four.  Every year on this day I cannot help but think back to 12/18/2009 and our precious doc delivering our first baby girl.  It still makes me all misty-eyed (I love our boys like crazy, it was just such a shock to have a girl, and that made the surprise that much sweeter).

Let's talk about Lydia ... she is a joy, no doubt.  She is also strong-willed, a tad on the defiant side and stubborn beyond belief (I'm still trying to figure out where she gets it from ... quiet Mom, no comments allowed).  But, she loves big (much like her brothers). 

I heard another mom refer to her daughter as spirited.  This is totally Lydia - spirited.  (Said mom also mentions that there is something to be said to what a spirited child does for your soul, your faith, and your gray hair - amen sister.) 

Lydia makes us laugh, part of it is her age, part of it is just her.  Not everyone has this insider view as Lydia is a homebody - definitely most comfortable with her family, quite shy in new settings and in school.  But quite pleased to be able to bring birthday treats to school for the very first time ever!

 The dynamic that Lydia adds to our family is one that I am so thankful for.

Baby Girl, we love you!  Happy 4th Birthday!

Two Peas in a Pod {more hand-me-downs}

Perhaps I should just do a whole series on hand-me-downs since I seem to have many posts about them!  Lydia discovered this shirt in what is left of the boys too small box ... and, she was quite excited to find out that Samuel had Jack's and it still just fits!  Nothing like being matchy-matchy with your big brother!  These two three make me smile!

December 2013

Samuel - 9

Lydia - Nearly 4

(And, Nora 2 1/2 ... she is our photo bomber!)

December 2007

Samuel - 3

Jack - 6**

 

**Yes, Jack is wearing the same shirt at 6 that Samuel is wearing at 9 ... Jack did wear the shirt a few years ... sadly, Samuel outgrew his ... thankfully they have a little sister who has an affection for their hand-me-downs.

The Circle Top {or, the tree skirt ... it's all about perspective}

It is tradition that we wait until after Samuel and Lydia's birthday party to put up our Christmas tree.  So, this past weekend, after the party was done and cleaned up, we did just that.  It was late Sunday afternoon when we had the tree up, lights on and ornaments in process ... and, the boys were getting all loopy and needed to burn energy ... and, the girls were content to continue "rearranging" "my" ornaments.

Well, at one point of said loopiness of the boys, this is how Jack gets my attention:

Yes, that is a tree skirt.  And, this would have been quite enough entertainment in itself without the commentary that came with it - "Look Mom, it's the new circle top from Justice, it's all the rage."

So many things to say about this comment ... let's just start here, why does my 12-year old son know what a circle top is?  And, why does he know that this would be something purchased at Justice?  Too much attention to girls.  We're in trouble.

Celebrating our nine year old ...

Today Samuel turned nine, just 365 days shy of double digits.  Incredible. 

While it is hard not to look back and feel a twinge of sadness as we reflect on how Samuel is growing up in what seems to be warp speed, it is with hearts of anticipation that we await each new day with this guy. 

Samuel is a character, generally reserved, but when he is passionate about something, he is passionate. Samuel has a big heart for his siblings and all living things. Samuel loves big. 

I'm thankful for how graciously he "shares" his birthday celebration with Lydia who will soon turn four.  While these two have their moments, they generally share a great sibling relationship.

 

We pray for wisdom as we parent this special guy we get the privilege of calling son.

 

Happy 9th Birthday, Samuel!  We love you!

Thankful ...

Thankful for these turkeys ...

 

 

Thankful for a family day this week to explore the Shedd Aquarium ...

 

Thankful for a family day that also included a tour of the Jelly Belly warehouse ... resulting in Samuel transforming into Jelly Bean Joe on Thanksgiving ...

Thankful for this guy who was willing to stand in line with me to get two of a coveted Christmas item (our only "Black Friday" shopping) ... it was kind of like a date ...

 

Thankful for all that God has blessed us with!

Little Green Man ... Again

Two summers ago we did a road trip to St. Louis, and I posted about Lydia's friend - "Little Green Man".  These memories came back in a flood when Nora, this morning at the library, was trying to drag around their "Little Green Man".

Um, please keep "Little Green Man" where the library has purposefully placed him.

Yes, you, you little stinker with lovely hat hair.

Lydia - July 2011

 

I would have gotten a photo of Lydia with "Little Green Man" today, but she was too busy running around, chasing one of Samuel's friends with a puppet ... yes, in the library, which was probably driving "Little Green Man" crazy since his motto is, after all, "SLOW". 

this is how she rolls ...

Before I start, a quick Baby Gracie update - hurdles include learning to nurse and maintaining oxygen levels on her own.  For more updates (and super sweet photos of Amy holding Grace), hop over to Amy's blog ... praying Grace home, the commuting and the balancing time between the other littles at home must be exhausting!

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I was doing a little photo clean-up ... and couldn't help but smile when I came across these ... Lydia with her "buddies" late this summer.  She was obsessed with a turtle we "rescued" (although I'm sure the turtle would beg to differ on whether he was truly rescued or not) and a little toad ... oh dear.

On a side note, apparently she was really liking this star shirt at that time as these were two separate days ... the star shirt has since been replaced with the now favorite Superman shirt.

Seriously ... this is what she finds as we were taking inventory of cold weather gear ... an old Batman beanie cap ... sigh

We certainly do adore her ... and, I'm thankful that Super~Bat~Girl is at least wearing purple-toed socks.  Only the infamous HULK mask could complete this look!

Baby Grace {Prayer Request}

You may remember Amy from previous posts (she is our sweet cousin who took photos of our homecoming with Nora and family photos a few weeks after we were home – she loved on us in big ways).  Amy and her husband have a beautiful big family … I am enamored with big families.  And, Amy and John do the “big family gig” well. 

Last Friday, Amy delivered their eighth child, a sweet baby girl (their second girl … yep, six boys … two girls).  The delivery was not as planned, Miss Grace came a month early and was delivered via emergency c-section as Amy’s uterus had ruptured.  I won’t go into all of the details, you can read a bit more about their journey at Amy’s blog.  So thankful that Amy is recovering well, and Miss Grace shows improvements every day. 

I ask that you lift this family up in prayer as there are still unknowns.  Throughout this past week, God’s hand has been so evident in every detail ~ it has been a beautiful thing to watch this family continue to praise God and give him the glory throughout. 

Cannot wait to see this beautiful Mama hold her precious baby … prayerfully soon …