Wordless Saturday, Cause Wednesday was too busy!

On Sunday night, after the raucous party was over, we all reminisced about the day John Henry was born. It was actually DAYS, since my water had broken, and re-sealed, a week before, and I kept everyone up till 2 am the night before, sure I was about to give birth any minute!! HAHA! After some sleep, and a quiet day at home alone, then with John, the gang came back and he finally arrived a bit after 6 pm. Beautiful Big Strong baby boy!! One of the few babies that we just KNEW the gender of before birth--there was no mistaking his boy-ness from very early on in the pregnancy!

And so it continues--my first boy has been growning up surrounded by loving sisters and brothers. He's less a general member of the pack now, and more of a leader (when Thalia lets him, anyway!). At his best moments he is a loving, patient, sensitive, brave guide to his siblings.

And Quinn too! It was funny to watch Quinn helping John Henry (who is not quite a fluent reader yet) read his birthday cards. I resisted the urge to tell him to stop, because John Henry didn't mind, and Quinn was offering his own services very lovingly. It all goes by so fast, I am cherishing every moment of these childhood years, and working on not rushing through, smoothing over, and just plane missing the moment because the next one is coming too fast! I love John Henry! What a wonderful 9 year old!!

Thaddeus' Story

His assignment was to put the Goya paintings in any order and tell a story:

There were two boys and a dog lost in the desert in Egypt.



The dog died and they were very thirsty and they blew up the dog baldder [we have done this with pig bladders].

They were lost till they grew up and they came to a bayou and got to drink water [New Oleans study is going on--can you tell?]

Finally they got to America and got married [presumably to women, not each other].

Sunday Afternoon

Blaise is great at getting up on chairs and stools to grab what he wants. But he wails piteously when he wants to get down!


John and the kids got out the Christmas puzzle, and we all worked together, with minimal fighting and shouts of "get off the table."


That's the Golden Hind in the middle. There we are in ego alley, Annapolis, delivering a child to St. John's. Or maybe not. . .

Celebrating Sondra!

Today I had the honor of helping Sonrda's Husband Chip with throwing her a surprise party. The unique thing about this luncheon was that, with the exception of 2 non-separating babies, there were no children. The select guest have 21 children (including Eddyblouins), so this was a feat. So much of a feat that the birthday girk had to be stalled in town after getting a ride with Cathy, because John was dropping our kids off at her house for the day, and had to beat her back to our house!! But it all came off, and she was indeed surprised!! YEAH!
The delicious cake I baked at 180 Degrees F for 40 minutes before figuring it out!

Happy Birthday to you!

Goofy Face Eddyblouin. Both of us


Dooood! Allison will clean my fridge!


hmmm--a lot of bad things happened in 1971! Dead Cosmonauts, that crazy guy in California being sentenced, war protests. . .


Chloe and Cathy gets cozy while Phil is cool and aloof.



The afternoon ended with a massage train. It was really time to stop!

Wordless Wednesday

Blessing the doorway.

Bless your home and family
by marking your door on Epiphany


The Gospel tells us that the Magi found Christ "on entering the house."

The door to your home is a holy threshold. You can bless those who come in and go by inscribing above the door in chalk the first 2 numbers of the year + C + M + B + the last 2 numbers of the year.

So for this year you would write 20CMB10.

Tradition tells us that the C,M and B stand for the names of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.

It may also stand for Christus mansionem benedictat which means "may Christ bless this dwelling"

It's appropriate to bless your door in January - janua means 'door' - and January is the door to the new year.

After inscribing the doorway, say this prayer:

God of Bethlehem and Cana, God of Jordan's leaping waters, in baptism You bring us into Your family. You wed us and embrace us as Your beloved. May we fill this place with kindness to one another, with hospitality to guests, and with abundant care for every stranger. By the gentle light of a star, guide home all who seek You on paths of faith, hope and love. Then we will join the angels in proclaiming your praise: Glory in heaven and peace on earth, now and for ever. Amen.

Some then sing a Christmas carol.

Birthday Video

Blaise's First Birthday. from Allison Eddyblouin on Vimeo.

Semi-Formal Bound!

Smile like an angel!

Dada the protector/date!