My Newest Aspiration

for my children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cP26ndrmtg

I can't connect the video with blogger but if you click on the link, you will see the performance of my favorite Christmas song.

Today it hit me: in about 7 years, I can have my own children perform this for me!

I have always loved music, probably spurred by having a grandfather who was a music teacher and literally had me sitting at a piano pressing keys before I could even hold my head up properly. It was a sad day for me when at age 10, after 2-3 years of piano lessons, it was decided that my keyboard was not going to cut it anymore and there was no room in our house for a piano. I instead turned my musical prowess to the saxophone for the next 8 years, where I was first chair for both my junior and senior years of high school. Both my middle school and high school band teachers told my parents that if I had a little more drive, I could have been a superb player. Unfortunately, I was too busy being mad about being forced to be in band to focus my attention where my talents really were. Hindsight and all that.

Anyway, I digress. The point is that as I was listening to "Christmas Canon" today, I realized that I could train my children to sing this! I still have the rudimentary piano skills from 15 years ago and with a little practice, can certainly accompany them. In fact, a piano is one of the first pieces of furniture we will be purchasing for our next house in like 5 years. Jake doesn't know this yet, but I already have it planned out.

Digressing again. Back to the point, listening closely will reveal that there are two lines to the melody. In just a couple months, we will have a fourth child. That is two kids to each part. I've already started laying it all out in my head. We'll wait about 7 years just so the unborn has a chance to grow before I start the training. In my ideal dream world, I'll also have a child who can play the violin so we can cover that part as well. But look for my children putting on a performance of "Christmas Canon" in about 5-7 years. It may be a performance that will only take place in our living room, but gosh darn it, I will make this a reality!

Regardless of where the concert takes place, just thinking about it sends chills down my spine. Of course, I'm taking it for granted that they will sound just like those children on the video. But they will. I'll find a way. Watch out Von Trapp family singers, here come the Wendorff's!

Addendum

I received a call from Crystal Lake Elementary around 12:50 pm today.

Ellie threw up in her classroom.

Guess my hopes that she would avoid it were for naught.

Another day of quarantine for us all.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had an eventful Thanksgiving weekend. While Thanksgiving Day itself was in fact a low key affair with just us at home, we made up for it by all getting the flu over the long weekend. I was hoping to avoid it as I had a flu shot but apparently that was just not to be. Anyway, as my dear dad informed me today that it has been a week since my last post, here is our weekend in a nutshell:

Ellie didn't have school on Wednesday so all 3 kids got to play at the child center at the gym while I worked out. There was face painting that took place and each picked out a different picture for their face. Ava has a snowflake, Ellie a pumpkin, and Carter a turkey.

Not wanting to be left out on Thanksgiving, I filled myself a wine glass with sparkling grape juice. While it was delicious, the kids didn't like it and I ended up drinking the whole bottle myself. Our meal was divine and I'm really starting to outdo myself with my cooking skills! I may have burned a few of the potatoes when making mashed potatoes but I learned a valuable lesson. 11 potatoes to feed 4 people is probably a bit much anyway. Also, when stirring, it is best to make sure that you get all the way to the bottom of the pan. Otherwise, our meal was fantastic!

Friday I did my Target power shopping. The stores keep opening earlier and earlier (Target opened at 4!) so I don't know if I will keep this up every year. I only went to Target so I was back home and in bed again at 5 am. I just need to pick up one more item for the twins and my Christmas shopping is complete! A great feeling, especially since Jake and I usually wait until about 3 days before Christmas to get anything.

Friday afternoon, Carter wanted to go "play out in the winter." He really likes the snow and the only thing that got him back in the house was a potty break.

Friday was the day Ava got sick, but by afternoon she was feeling better so she went out to play with Carter for a little while. As soon as her mitten fell off and her hand got wet, she was done though!

Sunday was the day Jake got sick. I banished him to our bedroom in the hopes that the illness would be contained. The kids and I scrubbed down the main level and then I took them outside to play again. (Did you catch that Mom? I took them outside, purely on my own initiative!) I was hoping to freeze out any remaining germs that we might have come in contact with.

Sunday night, I slept with Ava in her little twin bed in the hopes that by staying clear of Jake, who hadn't left our room all afternoon or evening, the rest of us would be in the clear. But alas, it was not to be. I woke up around 3 am Monday morning to the sound of Carter throwing up in his bed. I don't think I've ever moved that fast in the middle of the night before! I spent most of the night up with Carter as he got sick a couple more times. Finally, Monday lunchtime everyone seemed to be on the mend. Jake stayed home from work and was feeling better and Carter was starting to get spunky. Then I was struck down! I ended up getting sick shortly after lunch and spent the rest of Monday in misery. We all were tucked in by 9 pm last night and a good 10 hours of sleep has me finally feeling better. The only who hasn't been sick yet is Ellie. I'm hoping she stays healthy as she wasn't here this weekend and went to school Monday so she hasn't had too much exposure. Today, the twins and I are scrubbing down the house and washing every item that came in contact with any of us. What fun!

All I want for Christmas.....

are my two front teeth!

The other one has popped out. Literally. Ellie had been working on it and it was kind of just hanging there. She was talking to Grammy on the phone and just like that, it popped out! I feel I was also missing both front teeth around Christmas time. I wonder if there is like a law of teeth physics were every child must lose both top front teeth before Christmas?!

Weekend Fun

This was actually last weekend, but here we are baking cookies. I usually help Mom by getting all the ingredients out of the cupboard but this time I decided that I was going to do the actual mixing.

Here's Carter jumping for joy because the cookies are almost ready.

No pictures of Ellie last weekend as she was off with Dad for Papa's birthday party. The roads were icky from the first snowstorm of the season and Mommy got stressed enough driving to class (she did get bonus points for being one of 11 to show though, which is exactly why she went!). So Carter, Mom, and I stayed home while Ellie and Dad went to Amanda and Tony's for Grandpa's party. Ellie had fun bowling and getting some attention from all the adults and we got to hang with Mom at home, bake cookies, and curl up in front of the fireplace watching Toy Story 3.

This weekend was much of the same. Ellie had her first reconcilliation on Saturday. Carter and I got to hang out with Papa as Mom & Dad didn't want to take us to church with them. I wonder what Ellie confessed?! I hope she apologized for all the times she's been mean to me! Today we all just hung out at home and made a mess of the house. Mom seems glad that tomorrow is Monday and we have preschool. She must want to actually get the house back in order.

Hope you had a great weekend too!

Love, Ava

Fall Photos

We had our annual family photos taken in early October. I decided to switch it up this year and try a different photography, Annie Torrini. I love the photos that Melissa has done for us in the past but many people in my multiples group have used Annie and I have loved how their photos turned out. Both photographers run about the same cost-wise so I decided to give Annie a shot. I couldn't have been more pleased!!

Photos were taken at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. The leaves were perfect!

That said, I still love the work Melissa does. We know Melissa because she is a teacher at Rich's (my father-in-law) school. Of course, being someone who tends to stew on things and feel far more guilty for something I shouldn't, I have been feeling really bad we didn't use her again. This feeling was compounded by the fact that for my education class, I needed to spend 25 hours viewing a classroom, preferrably a grade level I'd like to teach. Melissa teaches 6th grade math, which is ideally where I'd love to be someday. So every Monday for the past 7 weeks, I have had to see Melissa and feel guilty that we weren't using her for the third year in a row! Anyway, to pacify my guilty conscience, we will likely be using Melissa for either maternity photos (if Jake can fully convince me) or for Finito's first baby photos. Both are fantastic photographers so we might just have to start doing semi-annual photo shoots and using one in spring and one in fall! If only I wasn't so conscientious!!

They're Clothed!

Behold! A picture of Ava and Carter dressed!

Yes, in Ellie's shirts and they still don't have pants on, but I'll take what I can get!