Call Day #147, 6/14/13, The LAST One!

Eleanor is proud to have Oliver wearing the pajamas she bought him with her own money.

Claire wanted in the picture too.  My thought when I saw this shot?  "Woah, they are all looking at the camera AT ONCE!  That never happens."

Final Friday morning prayer group at our place.  So, we celebrated with a pancake breakfast together.

We had a great morning playing with our friend Erin and her kids who were back in Boston for a visit.  Such a great surprise to have them come to town before we leave.  The kids loved piling up together on the slide.

After rest time, some packing while the kids watched George, and another visit to the park, it was time for bed.  Oliver liked bedtime songs, especially watching his sisters clapping, jumping, and spinning their way through If You're Happy and You Know It.

Well, we're happy to have made it to The. Last. Call. of Residency.  Amazing!  Erik has another week to work, but today actually feels like the big milestone for me.  No more long overnight shifts.*  It has been a long road in some ways, but God has taken care of our family and sustained us through this stage.  I'm thankful for how we've been able to work together during these crazy years and celebrate making it this far.

*In Boston.  Will resume soon in Durham.

Call Day #146, 5/31/13

Playing "Chinese dragon" with a sheet.

Eleanor-Oliver time.  She gets down on the floor with him like this every morning.

Tummy time.

Our friend Laura came for prayer meeting this morning and stayed to play.  She did puzzles with the girls.

And was treated to private performances of the girls' recital dances.

They were happy to wear their costumes again.

Oliver took a turn dancing too.

Blocks.

We went to Brookline for an errand and parked in front of this Russian bookstore.  The kids were looking at the matroyshka and saw an icon of Jesus.  I wondered aloud why they had several cow statues too and Eleanor had a theory: "Maybe it's an idol.  Like when Moses came down from the mountain.  It's golden."  (It was actually silver but you get her point.)

We picked up the pieces we painted when Nanny visited at the paint your own pottery place.

Ballet advertisements and two silly girls.

Popsicles at the park after dinner--it was too hot to go earlier in the day and they thought it was super fun to go at a time when we normally don't.

Oliver drools.

And plays with his hands, the exciting discovery of the past week.

Cracked up when I found this on the computer last night.  In case you can't read the title, it's "Goodbye Residency."  These last few months have been/are a hard schedule, but we're almost to the end.

Call Day #145, 4/28/13

Painting before church.  The getting-ready chart works so well we had time left to play before heading out the door!

After church, we went to the place where the girls dance because it was picture day.  The girls were happy to get to wear their recital outfits.

Hug.

Wink.

Showing off her outfit.

We got smoothies from McDonald's.  (You can see Claire's multiple scratches on her face and hand from falling on the sidewalk a few days ago.)

Sharing smoothies with Daddy when we took him some sweet tea.  Nice to see him for even a few minutes.

Dinner after Sunday night church at Christ the King--JP/Roxbury, the local church plant.

Logan holding Oliver.  Thankful for the many times extra hands were offered at church this morning and this evening, at just the right time--a small but tangible sign of loving and caring for one another.

Call Day #144, 4/24/13

Oliver had his 2 month doctor appointment today (though he was 2 months a bit ago).  He is big, weighing 14lb 1oz (68% for weight).

Waiting for the doctor.

We had a free birthday sundae at JP Licks about to expire so we went and the girls picked what they wanted: oreo ice cream with marshmallow sauce, gummy bears, and mangoes.

It was nice out so we spent some time at the park.  Claire dug in the dirt.

Decorating the trailer truck at the park with dandelions.  She filled in all the holes.

Oliver was super unhappy after napping this afternoon, crying a painful cry for quite a while.  I figured it was the result of multiple vaccinations this morning.  He didn't want to eat and wasn't easily comforted either.  Eleanor got a few smiles out of him though.

We went to the park again and the girls waited outside the park for their friends to come.

Oliver slept in the wrap after getting some tylenol and awoke much happier.

The kids found lots of ants to watch.

Watching a Bible story video during dinner, our habit on call days lately.

Call Day #143, 4/20/13

Girls with umbrellas and rain boots.  Claire with a stuffed animal "baby" under her shirt.

They don't mind rainy days because umbrellas make them fun.

We Are One Boston.

Thank You to All.  

It's been quite a week in our city.  Thankful for the massive efforts to catch the suspects and glad to be able to get out of the house today, after being on lockdown yesterday.  

Oliver buried under groceries at Aldi.

Three kids in a cart at Costco--yay for big carts!

Sometimes unplanned baths happen because diaper clean up is just too messy.  His happy smile didn't last long.  He can scream when he wants too (thankfully, that doesn't happen too often).

Eleanor spent nap time copying the cover of her Bible.

While Claire changed into this getup, a swimsuit and tutu.

Park time with Lila.

Eleanor, Claire, Lila, and Lorenzo tearing around the park.

Oliver sleeping in my arms on the park bench.