Tell me my kids aren't the coolest

Seriously.  I cannot tell you how proud it makes me that this is the way they spend their Christmas vacation:

The girls are making a movie

The girls decided to make their own version of X-Men First Class. They are not done filming it yet, but here's the teaser trailer.  (I know I'm the Mom and everything, but I have to say I am legitimately impressed!)

Abbie's first fifteen minutes of fame. Huzzah!

We went to the Renaissance Festival last weekend, one of our favorite yearly things to do.  Huzzah!  We love the cheesiness of it!  Huzzah!  We love the people who come in elaborate costumes, many of them having quite literally nothing to do with the Renaissance!  Huzzah!  Most of all, though, we freaking love the performers.  Knife-throwers, jugglers, singing wenches - Huzzah!  I have this itchy feeling whenever we go, the same feeling I get when we go to the circus,  this feeling that I could have very easily ended up as a Carnie.  The idea is very, very appealing some days!

This is not about my desire to run off and join the circus, though.  This about Abbie, and whatever magic she's got going on that makes people kneel at her feet.  Here she is in this video, plucked from the audience to assist our all-time favorite Renaissance Festival performer, Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy.  We have literally been watching him (and loving his act) for years.  Note the crown she is wearing;  some random woman stopped us and insisted on giving it to her earlier.

What cracks me up is this:  I understand when people who know about Abbie's brain tumor make a fuss over her.  I understand (although it gets on my nerves) when people ask me how Abbie is, as though she's my only kid who matters.  The random lady who gave Abbie a crown, though, she did not know a thing about Abbie.  Hilby, when he called her to the stage, had no way of knowing that she was ever a cancer-patient.  The crowd, who cheered so much for her that she ended up going back up to bow again at the end of the show (something that we've never seen happen in all the years we've been going to this) did not know that she was once one of those brave-but-plucky kids they put on St. Jude commercials.  This is just the pure attractive magic of Abbie at work. Is it because she actually cares so little for what people think of her that they always seem to love her so much?  I don't know, it's kind of a mystery to me.  But she had a blast here, as you will see on the video, and whatever the various reasons that go behind why people single her out for attention, she always handles it well.

7 Quick Takes, wherein Lucy is released into the Wild

-1-

Lucy started Preschool this past Tuesday.  It's at a local Nature Center, and I think it is going to be a good fit for her.  I haven't, in general, been a big fan of Preschool but I could tell that Lucy both needed a primer on how to behave in a classroom and that she was desperate to go to school like her big sisters.  This program is only two days a week and is "nature-based" which translates into playing outside and taking a lot of walks, with some visits from awesome animals thrown in.  (They've already visited the barn owls they keep on the grounds and have begun to raise horseshoe crabs!)  

-2- 

We are wondering if this will signal the end of the Imaginary Classroom:  Rosie,who lives above a coffee-shop and has hot chocolate every morning, the wise teacher Mrs. Orangie Power, who once died of a broken leg and whispered to Lucy with her last breath, "Don't be afraid of ghosts!"  (Mrs. Orangie Power eventually resurrected, although the details on that are unclear.)  I will be kind of sad to see it all go.  It's been fun to see the crazy things Lucy comes up with, like her 'second-best' imaginary friend Amy, who had a pet stink bug, not to mention the fact that Orangie Power is a freaking awesome name and it makes me happy every time I hear Lucy say it.

-3-

After her first day of school, Lucy said that she was a little homesick but had fun.  (She also told me all the details so that I could tell everyone else - she did not want to waste her own time repeating herself.)  

The second day, when I asked her how her day was, Lucy said, "I had a lot of fun!  I didn't miss you at all!  Actually, I forgot you existed!"

I'm going to take that as a good sign.

-4- 

Claire had an incident in lunch this week.  A boy started harassing her about the size of our family, telling her that "Eight people in one family is too much!" etc.   She held her own and told him that he must be unhappy with his own family if he was focusing so much on hers.  (Claire, at 8, is sometimes remarkably insightful.)  It all worked for the good, though, because now this boy is not allowed to sit anywhere near her during lunch.  He's been a thorn in her side for years now, so I'm glad she gets a break.

Still, this is the first time any of the girls have encountered a really negative attitude towards having six sisters.  Claire handled it well and didn't get unduly upset, yet still...The whole thing makes me sad.

 -5-

I stole my neice and nephew for a few hours earlier this week, and I'm sorry Becky but I couldn't help myself!

I could not get him to stay still enough to take a unblurred picture, which cracks me up.  He may end up wearing Minnie-Mouse shoes when he comes here, but this kid is always all-boy!

-6-

Yesterday, while I was putting Ruth to sleep and Chris was picking up the Girl Scouts, Lucy went on a rampage of sorts.  She opened the Ovaltine and ate about a third of the powder with a spoon, then she went into the bathroom and ate 3 Children's Chewable Tylenol tablets.

The positives:  I got to catch up with my good friends at Poison Control.  The medicine cabinet was in need of a good cleaning-out anyways (I found some stuff we haven't used in close to a decade, stuff I'm mystified ever survived the move.)  I have one less portion of dessert to worry about for the next week, as Lucy is most definitely cut off.  Ah, and I realized that she can reach the faucet just fine so the stool (which gives her access to the medicine cabinet as well) is now comfortably nestled in storage.

-7-

I just made this blanket for friends of ours who just had a baby (incidentally also named Ruth).

This is by far the best blanket I've ever made.  I think I'm finally getting the hang of it!  I'm also now just finishing up an epic blanket that I've been making for Lucy.  I began it two years ago, so it feels good to almost be finished!  I'll post a picture once it's done.

Thanks to Jen at Conversion Diary for hosting 7 Quick Takes!

Deus Benedicat

Claire made her First Communion today!

God bless you, my sweet and silly girl, today and always.

Winning, no tiger blood necessary

I have some pictures to put up from Lu's birthday, but right now I need to brag, just a little.

Report cards came home last week, and there was nothing but one letter in sight for every single girl.

Yeah, that's right:  all of my kids got all A's.  Every single one.  My kids, you say?  I know.  Who'da thunk it?

(Although you know, they are Chris' kids too, which explains a lot here.)

Seriously, though, I am very proud of them.  These girls take their schoolwork seriously, and they all work very hard every day.  The fact that they are all brilliant in addition to being gorgeous, gracious and grounded is just icing on the cake.

Love letter to Ruth

Here, in no particular order, are some things that I love about this gorgeous baby:

*The way she crinkles her nose when she smiles.
*Her long, dark eyelashes that literally sweep over her cheeks when she closes them.
*The way Ruth laughs in her sleep, almost every day.  It is the most adorable thing I have ever seen, the sight of her sleeping little face breaking into a huge gummy smile, and then hearing the gurgle of an absolutely delighted laugh.  She isn't laughing yet while awake, which makes these sleep-giggles all the more precious.  It makes me happy to know that her dreams are good ones.
*The way, when she is fussy, Ruth immediately calms down when she hears my voice.  The girls find this amazing, which has reminded me that it is amazing.  Beth said to me recently, "I like the way that babies and their Mommies are just best friends!"
*When I go into Ruth's room in the middle of the night, she immediately stops crying and will give me a huge smile.  It doesn't matter how much she was fussing before, it's instantly forgotten in her happiness at seeing me.  If everyone could let go of their own unhappiness so quickly, the world would be a much better place.
*I love the feel of her warm little head on my shoulder.  There is something so sweet and touching about the way an infant leans on you with such complete abandon.
*The way Ruth loves her family.  She is fascinated by watching everyone interact, and the girls will often be holding her and talking to each other when they realize that Ruth is looking up at them as they talk and smiling wildly.
*The sweet way Ruth is crazy about her Daddy.  He was the first to get big smiles from her, and nothing elicits her interest like the sound of Chris' voice coming into a room.  She's already trying to push her stomach out in an attempt to follow him as he moves around.
*The way she crinkles her nose when she smiles.  Have I already said this?  It needed to be said again!

This baby is just so sweet, and calming, and fun.  We are so blessed to have her with us, I can't believe our luck!

They're creepy and they're kooky

Mysterious and spooky

They're altogether ooky

The Addams Family

Da da da da (click click)!

*Accompanied by their 'pet', an extremely stubborn and go-along-with-the-crowd-resistant Hello Kitty.

Introducing Ruth Miriam!!!!

Well, this post is very overdue! Baby Ruth, however, was not - born a week early, weighing in at a teensy (for our kids) 6lbs 9 oz. She came into the world quietly and intensely alert, casting a surprised and bewildered look around her, a look that she has not yet lost. She spends her very few times of wakefulness each day looking around her with a, "Where in the world am I? How did I get here?" kind of curiosity.

We've been home a little over a week now, and although we haven't really settled into a routine yet (mostly due to the pain-killer stupor I've been in) everyone is doing great. Not to sound too Pollyanna, but the girls are all very excited about the new baby, and are handling the off-kilter routine really well. Lucy is nuts about Ruth, insisting on giving her sloppy/slimy kisses every few minutes and taking on "diaper duty" (bringing new ones and throwing the old ones away) with gusto. Woe to anyone who has the audacity to change a diaper without her assistance!

It is weird for us to have such a tiny baby this time around. Ruth was born a week before her due-date, which puts her five weeks earlier than Abbie and three weeks earlier than almost everyone else. We've realized that we aren't actually used to newborns, since most of our other babies were so overdue, born with clear eyes and chubby, chubby legs and a fluidity of movement that Ruth can't quite muster yet. She is so small, and moves her head and arms in such a herky-jerky way that it is sometimes hard to believe she is real. She looks more like an animatronic baby than a real one. To boot, she has this habit of holding her hands up to her face and with the mittens she wears to protect her skin from her tiny nails, she looks exactly like Henrietta Pussycat from Mr. Rogers - small and adorable and cuddly and vulnerable. We all can't help but dissolve into puddles at her feet.



Ruth has not been around for a full two weeks yet, but somehow it is already impossible to imagine life, or our family, without her. This is one of the miraculous things about having babies that I will never get over - that instantaneous, gut-wrenching love that binds you to this tiny stranger, this minature, barely responsive person who somehow causes you to feel the most intense kind of protectiveness just by the way she opens her mouth, trusting that someone will love her enough to place some kind of food in there.

I'll be posting more pictures and videos over the next few days, but I don't think I can be blamed if I choose, instead, to spend my free time looking down at the even breathing of this new, amazing little baby who has come to help us become, as a family, who we were meant to be.


*By the way - yes, that blue curtain in the first picture is hiding the fact that my guts were at that moment still splayed all over the table. Isn't that a weird thought?

Yesterday was Abbie's first full day of Kindergarten. She hadn't yet met her teacher, so I decided to walk her to the classroom door in case she was feeling nervous at the thought of spending the entire day in the care of some stranger. We got out of the car, and I took both Abbie's and Lucy's hand as we crossed the crosswalk. The moment we went through the school doors, however, Abbie quietly but purposefully pulled her hand out of mine.

My hands are in general considered pretty hot real estate among the girls. My guess is that the scarce supply (having, as so many mothers like to point out, only two hands) for so much demand has led to most of my kids continuing to have a positive outlook towards hand-holding. The only exception to this is Katie, who at almost 11 has every right to walk around unassisted. Even Beth, though, will still grab my hand if it's free and the other girls all routinely argue over who gets to hold my hand and who has to be the caboose.

So I looked down in some surprise at Abbie when she pulled away. She looked calmly back up at me and just said, "I can walk by myself."

We came to her classroom door, and she walked right in without saying goodbye. Her teacher, taking pity on me as I stood in the doorway, pathetically, urged Abbie to say goodbye and she obeyed with a quick wave behind her back, no eye-contact, as she walked confidently over to her desk.

And that was that. Lucy and I left and went to a park, where we both felt weird spending so much one-on-one time together, and Abbie dominated her first day of Kindergarten. As, of course, I should have known she would.

You know your kids are awesome when....

...not one, not two, but THREE people at the museum approach you to gush about how well behaved they are, how sweetly they treat each other, and what an amazing family you have.

Then, as if that weren't enough, when you stop to take a video of a disturbing bunny in the "sculpture garden" they all, in unison and completely on their own volition, decide to act like a pack of zombies.

These girls are the best.

Fuel for the midnight oil

This weekend, I made a skateboard out of cake for a friend's son's birthday party. However, due to upheavals and various other drama in the bakery, I am working more hours (and the worst hours) this week than ever before and I am tired. Tie-red. Tahred. Taaahed.

So, naturally, I stayed up until midnight making the skateboard the night before working a 4am shift at the bakery. Around 10pm things were getting worrisome, as I was dragging and despairing as the fondant I was trying to color red remained a stubborn dark pink. Katie and Beth were still up, watching as I kneaded the ball of fondant over and over, adding more and more red dye (and drops of blue...and drops of black).

They had been quiet for a while, and I was wondering if the girls were beginning to despair - as I certainly was - that I would ever get it right. Just then, though, Beth leaned over and said, " I sometimes think that you are just about the best cook in the whole world, and I guess I'm pretty lucky that you are my mother."

!!!!

Should one be in need of motivation a statement like that does the trick, to put it simply .

I guess I'm pretty lucky to have daughters like this.


* I'll post of picture of the cake - which turned out pretty well (It wasn't perfect, but I was mostly pleased) if my laptop ever lets me upload the pictures.

Growing geeks

Meeting the X-Men (and Spiderman....and Captain America!)
Originally uploaded by moleshollow

Chris was playing Ultimate Alliance on his Xbox as the girls (as they always do) watched and (as they always do, to my glee) commented on his playing. At some point, Claire asked Chris to switch characters, and play as the Hulk. He did so, and Claire then asked if he could switch to Batman.

Beth scornfully turned to her and said, "What are you thinking? Hulk is Marvel, Batman is DC!"

We couldn't be more proud.

It's good to be 5!

Abbie turns 5 today! I will post pictures someday, when my laptop allows me to upload them from my camera. Hopefully it will be in the mood sooner rather than later.

Abbie had a good day, I think. This birthday feels like a real milestone, to us, for some reason. Chris and I are both just finding ourselves...extra grateful, I guess, to have this kid around.

The morning started off very sweetly. The two older girls (on their own, with their own money, and without my prior knowledge) bought birthday gifts for Abbie at the Holiday Shop they have in school. So they begged me to allow Abbie to open them before school. Claire, who doesn't yet have her own money, decided a few days ago to make Abbie a bracelet and she went first, shyly apologizing to Abbie for the homemade gift (which was also way too small) but Abbie gave her a big hug and said, "Oh, I love it, Claire! It's okay that I can't wear it, I'll just like to look at it."

Beth gave Abbie a Christmas-tree shaped etch-a-sketch, which was cool and well appreciated but soon eclipsed by Katie's gift, a talking bear that records your own messages. As the girls were all exclaiming excitedly over Katie's gift, Beth sat by herself and fiddled with the etch-a-sketch. Katie (who had very carefully picked out Abbie's gift, and who I know was secretly hoping to be the giver of the day's best present) saw Beth's face and then started loudly talking about how cool the etch-a-sketch was, drawing everyone's attention back to it.

I was so proud. So proud of all of them.

We ate our cinnamon rolls, and later Chris and I took Abbie and Lucy to Abbie's favorite library (which has a kid-sized town to explore, complete with grocery store, post office and fishing pond). We fired up Abbie's dinner of choice (Spaghetti-O's, Lord help me) and then the Grandparents and returning college hero, Uncle Andy, came over for some (terribly ugly - wait until you see the picture!) cake. Tomorrow we will all go to the aquarium, and Grandma Niccoli will come over to finish off our celebration. Abbie is having a great birthday.

That morning in the kitchen, though, is what I will remember forever. Five girls coming together so happily, so sweetly, so lovingly. We have plenty of mornings full of bickering and spilt milk and nasty attitudes, but it was good to see everyone pull together like that and just enjoy making their sister happy. That is one of Abbie's talents - she draws people to her, and draws out the best in them.

I thank God for the privilege of being her mother. I thank Him for giving us this time with her. I thank Him for the dynamic she brings to this family.

Happy Birthday, Bejabbers. We love you.

5 Star News

The girls occasionally put out their own paper, inspired by Little Women who were in turn inspired by Pickwick Papers. I love it, and today's edition was especially impressive. Enjoy!

A Reason to Celebrate
Turning 20
Today we are celebrating a most important 20th birthday, Andy Mlinek's. Katie: A man to look up to. Beth: Great uncle. Claire: He is a great jedi master. Abbie: He's the best godfather.

The woman of 5 children
August 24th is Becca Mlinek's birthday. As a mother and wife, 33 is a big step, a great one too. Katie: I could not love any other mother of mine. Beth: She's a very responsible mom and good hearted. Claire: I think mom's a very responsible mom of us and she loves us very much. Abbie: Mom is the best mom in the world, thank you.

Entertainment
Back to school
The three oldest Mlinek girls are going back to school. Katie: my new teacher, Mrs. Sharp, should be great. Beth: My teacher, Mrs. Turner, is going to be very nice. Katie had her. Claire: My teacher, Mrs. Little, Is going to be the nicest in the whole world.

A time for friends
Tomorrow, Katie is going to Morgan's house. Then next tuesday, Morgan will come here. Katie: I'm so excited!

Sports
The Brett Farve case
A long time ago, Brett Farve said he would not join the Vikings. But today we saw that he hadn't made up his mind fully. Today, Brett Farve said he would join them. Training camp already started! Katie: A man who can't make up his mind shouldn't play. He's ridiculous! Beth: Farve is so coo-coo in his head he should have a coo-coo bird in his head that makes up his mind. Claire: I think he's the worst ever, he drinks too much stuff that makes him crazy. Abbie: I think he should have a basket on his head full of laundry with 1,000 gallons of water. I'm serious.

Health
Claire's ear is hurting and going to the doctor tomorrow. Claire: It's painful, people!! It really hurts!!

Written by Katie Mlinek- president
Beth Mlinek: Reporter
Claire Mlinek: Suggestor
Abbie Mlinek: Apprentice

I am going to brag. You can't stop me.

Can you believe that these gorgeous creatures are related to me? I can't....

Her middle name is not Esther, but it should be

Take a look at my little fish!





And did you catch that "I'm so neglected, poor lil' ol' forsaken me, nobody takes my picture" drama going on in the background? Girls are so much fun.

I heartily recommend taking in a show with your morning coffee

Blood of my blood

We let Katie and Beth stay up late last night, and we all watched Stardust - a fantastic movie that you need to put in your Netflix queue right now.

We've had the book for years (it's a little too mature for the girls to read yet, but the movie is more family-friendly) and I have loved it for years, but this is one of those rare, rare cases where the movie is every bit as enjoyable. We all absolutely loved it (yes, including Chris. His surprising ability to locate quality films regardless of genre is one of the first things that attracted me to him. Still does.)

After the movie, Katie and Beth helped me clean up the pie plates and glasses before going to bed. As we rinsed the dishes, Katie made me very proud. She said, "I wish more girls my age would see that this (meaning Stardust) is what is really, really good. Not something like," with extreme disdain, "Hannah Montana."

Man, I love this kid.

My heart just about burst. I was, at that moment, the proudest mother in the world. Enjoy your millions Miley Cyrus, you spoiled rotten vacuous brat, but you haven't sunk your talons into the hearts of my children. They see right through you.

Katie brought her school journal home today

Here are my two favorite entries. This kid is the sweetest!

A role model for me is my Dad. My Dad is my role model because when I'm confused he shows me tricks to help me understand what I'm confused about. When I'm stressed and tired and sad my Dad shows me the bright side. Sometimes there is something a really want to accomplish and my Dad helps me get it done like my speech for an example. My Dad is always nice and never lets me feel left out. Dad is always doing nice things for us like I used to hate hamburgers but my Dad never gave up and now I love hamburgers. To me my Dad is the perfect role model.

Another one:

The greatest thing in my life is my family. I think my family is the greatest thing in my life because I can depend on them. My Mom always makes me dinner so I don't starve. My Dad makes sure I'm not confused with what I'm learning in school. My sisters always play with me. My dog (Jasper) makes me feel better just by his looks. I love my family.