birthday – Page 2 – everything He gives

so this is nine

December 27, 2019 MarthaKimballLeave a comment

Oh, all the big feelings over this girl. Each of my children’s birthdays are special and emotional in their own ways, but this girl is and always will be the one to do things “first.” God is so wise in placing her as the firstborn in our family, she has paved the way beautifully for the other children in her kindness, joy, helpfulness, love, and exuberance. To know Phoebe is to love her, there’s just no argument there. People tell me all the time that she makes others feel special, and I think that’s just exactly right. It isn’t hard to celebrate this girl, but for this momma who just wants to slow this whole thing down a wee bit and hang on just a little longer to these sweet days, it comes with a tinge of sadness. Phoebe has grown up so much over the past year and there’s just no stopping this girl. She can’t wait to be all grown up.

She’s traded in her love for dress-up with a deep abiding love for horses. It’s her dream to own one, but she’s happy just to see them. To touch one or ride one is pretty epic. She has slowly been collecting Breyer’s horses and plays so sweetly with them. She has read the entire history of horses curriculum many times over, has memorized her horse handbook, and lately has been enjoying the Horse Diaries series immensely. We purchased a few of them for her for Christmas, but also got her A Horse for Kate for her birthday, as well as a horse calendar. She is becoming quite addicted to reading and devours her books in a day or two. Every week I scour the library for more books on horses for her to read.

Her birthday sweater is called the Ghost Horse sweater and she really loves it, which makes it all worthwhile (it was quite a lot of feverish knitting). She also got a pair of roller blades and she is so into them. Anything we can do to keep motivating our children to be outside and moving!

I made creme brûlée for her, and she requested spaghetti for dinner (though she only eats the noodles plain). Phoebe loves a good party, so we joined with all her local aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents for a celebration. It was really sweet to celebrate her together with them. They gave her sweet and meaningful presents too, and she really treasures it all. She hopes to use some of the gift money she received to take some horseback riding lessons.

Phoebe girl, I adore you with all my heart. Happy 9th birthday! Last year to be in the single digits. Let’s savor it.

seven so soon

December 22, 2019December 22, 2019 MarthaKimball2 Comments

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My sweet, sweet boy. In a house full of girls, it can be hard to be the one boy but he handles it so well. Sometimes he needs some boy time for sure, but he plays well with his sisters. It has been such a neat year watching him grow and develop and to see more of his personality shine through. He has come a bit more out of his shell and often surprises me with his strength and bravery. He loves to move, laugh, wiggle, and play and his energy is truly boundless. All of my children are active and full of energy, but Noah’s boyishness shines through so often in his dire need for time to just run and jump and play wild outside. On rainy days, he truly starts climbing walls and bouncing around like a ball. He is such a delight to teach and flies through his school work, eager to learn and hungry always for more. It is a true joy to watch, and I so desire to spur him on! His hunger to learn has made him a voracious reader. This year he really took off in his mountain biking, flipping on the trampoline, and in fishing. He lost his first two bottom teeth this year too, and it has so changed his little appearance. He treasures time alone with daddy and loves to help work in the garage, mow the lawn, and build things. He loves music and began piano lessons this year, really enjoying learning and having time with his piano teacher. He loves drawing and coloring. Lately he’s really gotten into writing letters and he checks the mailbox daily to see if any of his pen-pals have sent him anything. I see him growing spiritually, too, which blesses me endlessly. I love to hear him laugh, it truly is the best.

Brandon built him a see-saw for his bike, as they’ve enjoyed some mountain biking together this past year and Noah really loves the sport, especially a see-saw feature at a local mountain biking area. He actually had been helping Brandon build it over the last few weeks but didn’t know what it was. It was so neat to see him be so surprised! He played on it all day, in and out of the house either on the see-saw or riding his new roller blades around the house (I think I got a size too small so we will be exchanging them for a size up, so until then he is only wearing them inside).

We also gifted him his first real bible. This is so special and he was pretty excited. He has really excelled in reading this year and when we had family bible reading, it would be nice for him to have his own scripture to become familiar with.

I knit him a sweater of course, but this time he specified the design and the colors. He really loves my sweaters and wears them constantly at home, which makes it always worthwhile to knit for him. He had also asked this year for a doll, and Brandon and I felt a little uncertain about it and tried to persuade him otherwise. But when I saw this waldorf-style doll called a “boy’s big friend” I felt like it would be a good choice for him. I knit a little sweater for the doll (which he named James) with yarn leftover from Noah’s sweater. Is it weird for him to have a doll? I don’t know. I think he just wants a little buddy to take care of and cart around, and he is a very nurturing boy. But he also loves cars and trucks, biking and sword play like all boys. I think it’s sweet that he wants a little someone to take care of and love.

He really developed a love for fishing this year, though we haven’t gotten to take him often. I was inspired at the last moment to make his cake a little more fun and fancy by adding a few fishing details. He really loved it.

Happy seventh birthday, my sweet treasured boy. You are a delight and bring such joy to your parents!

❤

sick for her 5th

November 27, 2019December 10, 2019 MarthaKimball3 Comments

My giggly, happy, bright little Philippa turned 5 last Friday. We were supposed to have grandparents, aunts and uncles over, and Philippa’s cousin BFF was going to stay for a sleepover. But as we approached her birthday, Wren and Philippa became so sick. Phoebe, Noah, and myself had already had some sort of sickness for about a week and I thought we were in the clear, but everyone seemed to decline so we had to cancel the birthday festivities. Philippa was disappointed at first but she was just happy there would still be cake and presents. We promised her we would make up the sleepover soon.

I love the children at this stage of life, how they wake up and can’t wait to dig into their presents. Phoebe’s getting older and she’s starting to want to save presents for later in the day to make it last longer, but Philippa is young enough to feel like she’s waited long enough for presents to open. She’s sort of a hard one to buy for because she rarely asks for anything and happily plays along with whatever everyone else has. In the weeks leading up to her birthday she randomly asked Brandon to make her a sword, as well as asking for a slinky. Brandon made her a beautiful sword and she just loved it. He made the grip to look like dragon scales and inscribed her initials near the bottom of it. She was truly delighted. I knit her a sweater, which she still hasn’t worn exactly, but she’s not a huge fan of sweaters. She was still excited to see it, and I think she’ll wear it eventually. 🙂 This was the first year Phoebe and Noah wanted to give their own gifts to Philippa which was so sweet. Noah wrote her a book and illustrated it all, what a treasure. It’s quite originally called, The Gingerbread Man. Phoebe bought her a new journal from the dollar spot at Target. Paper of any sort is always on high demand at our house. We bought her a “toothless dragon” as that has long been on her wish list. We took a gamble and bought her a pair of rollerblades and she isn’t super into them yet, but I think with more practice she will love them. Last year we purchased a scooter for her for Christmas and it took her a long time to really enjoy it but now she has completely worn the tires off of it.

My mom came by on her birthday morning to drop off her gifts since they wouldn’t be coming for a party, which was a fun treat for Philippa.

As the day went on, Philippa seemed to feel worse. When Wren got up from afternoon nap she was hot and listless, and I strapped her into the ergo so I could try to frost Philippa’s cake. But as I held her I realized her breathing was shallow and she was wheezing, so I loaded everyone up and we hurried to the doctor for help. I felt so bad for Philippa, but she was easy going about it. Brandon hurried home from work to pick up the other kids from the doctor, while I waited with Wren for her to respond to breathing treatments and fever reduces or the doctor said we would be admitting her. She finally recovered enough for the doctor to feel safe sending us home. By the time I got back a couple of hours later, Philippa also had a raging fever. We sang her happy birthday at 9 pm and she had a little bit of cake but certainly not with much gusto. Within a few hours she was also wheezing and needing a breathing treatment.

All in all, it was still a fun day but its hard not to be disappointed with all of the sickness and the distraction from celebrating like we usually do. However, it’s just life with kids. She didn’t mind as much as I did, and in the end, we’ll always remember being all so very sick for her 5th.

wren is one

March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 MarthaKimball3 Comments

Our wren wren. How can it be? This year with you has been so sweet. Also, spicy. As you grow you are learning to exert yourself, learning what you like and what you don’t. One thing you became very attached to early on in your life was your bunny, a gift from a family friend. Nothing comforts you like bunny. So we thought your first birthday should be a bunny themed day. We can’t believe you are one and we’ve said so a million times. You are a joy to us all, everybody’s baby, and you make us all laugh with your silly faces, grumpy eyebrows, bunny love, toddling walk, and excitement for life. Happy first birthday, sweet little very.

❤

A little bit about her day:

Friends (and my mom) came over the day before her birthday (Saturday) for a cookout, bonfire and play time. We didn’t make it about her day persay, but we did have carrot cake in her honor and a couple of gifts. On her birthday, it was just us. After church I wanted to take photos of our girl in her special birthday dress + crown, just as she is now — walking, exploring, loving being outside, chasing our kitty Rose, and keeping up with her siblings. It was good that we did because shortly thereafter it began to rain and pour for the rest of the day. When she woke up from her nap and saw her presents by the fireplace, she picked them up and started right in on them, knowing just what to do. Each of the children helped her open a gift. She opened her birthday sweater that I knit for her and she immediately bit it, as she does whenever something is soft and snuggly. She held onto it and didn’t protest a bit when I put it on her. It’s so sweet because whenever she saw me working on it she would grab the yarn (and generally she is very into my yarn anyway). We got her a bunny book and her cousin-twin Silas sent her the sweetest book about a bird named wren which made me tear up to read. Its perfect. We also bought her a pair of boiled wool overalls which will be so nice for her to wear on all her adventures outside, with the reinforced knees and bottom. They are very big on her but they will fit her throughout next winter as well! My mom bought her her first baby doll (wren can’t say her “b’s” yet so she calls it her “day-dee” instead of baby). Her big gift from us was a little piano of her very own. She is obsessed with our piano but can’t reach it or play it unless someone helps her up and then sits and makes sure she doesn’t fall off the bench, so this little piano is just her size. She has loved it so much, which is always a delight.

For her cake, I made a vegan + gluten free carrot cake which was literally maybe the best carrot cake I’ve ever had, and I topped it with new little bunnies in honor of her bunny day. 🙂 She has never had anything like cake before and she’s our first child to absolutely dig in and love her first birthday cake. It was a very special first birthday, just perfect in so many ways. And I tried not to cry and be sad about her growing so big so fast, or the fact that it might be the last first birthday we celebrate, and instead just enjoy all that is now and all that will come.

happy birthday to daddy

February 5, 2019 MarthaKimballLeave a comment

His birthday always comes quietly amongst all the hubbub of the Super Bowl. Not that we are sports people (we’re not) and we don’t watch a single other game all year long (unless olympics are on or occasionally the world cup), but he likes to watch the Super Bowl. We went to church as usual on Sunday, and I encouraged him to go do something fun that afternoon — go fly fishing, mountain biking, running, or whatever would be refreshing to him. He decided to take the older two kids mountain biking, while I stayed home so the younger two girls could nap. It ended up being perfect as he ran into a few friends on the trail, including phoebe’s best friend, which made her day. She also got to pet a horse that was at the trail head too. They came home just before dinner and I forgot to snap a photo of them.

I made his favorite dessert, cherry pie (using this crust recipe and the filling recipe from this one) with homemade ice cream, and his favorite food ever, pizza + caesar salad for dinner. I always use this recipe for our favorite pizza crust and topped this one with spinach, pepperoni, and local grass-fed chorizo and it was amazing. We watched the game while eating dinner and intermittently taking care of kids, singing happy birthday + blowing out candles before wren went to bed, and opening his gifts. I got him this book on fly fishing, always trying to stoke the flames of his passions for the sports he loves and has so little time for. The children wrapped up paintings they had made for him, and their handmade cards were the highlight of the evening. I also gave him money toward a tool he’s had his eye on.

I think it was simple and fun day, and we really enjoyed being home together. It’s hitting me that he’s getting closer to turning 40 and that just seems so odd. I still feel like we are in our 20s. Maybe that never really changes. We are really thankful for this guy who works very hard to take care of us and pour his love out on us. He loves fiercely, steadily, and often quietly, and we love spoiling him when we can!

horses for her eighth

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 MarthaKimballLeave a comment

Just after winter solstice eight years ago, a bright and shining light was born into this world. You, our sweet Phoebe girl. Our horse crazy girl. Vivacious, energetic to no end, singing and talking and dancing all the day long. We knew we would love our little baby girl but we had no idea how everything would change the moment we laid eyes on you. You came so quickly I was still in shock when I was staring into your dark eyes and wrinkly forehead. Were you really here? Were you really real? You stole our hearts then and you still have them now. It’s not easy being first, being the oldest, but I can’t think of someone more well-suited for the task. You are a leader if ever there was one, never shy or unfriendly. You are brave and bold, my girl, facing your own set of challenges with a cheerful spirit.

Eight years old feels grown up in ways that make my momma heart ache a bit raw. Normally on your birthdays you are up before the sun and can’t wait to open all of your presents at once. You have grown up this year, I suppose, and instead you spread the opening all throughout the day even until just before bed. You received a horse for your Kaya doll that we found at our favorite consignment store as well as a barn and corral for your other horses. You and I have so enjoyed the Misty of Chincoteague book series so we gifted you this Album of Horses book by the same author. Your birthday sweater was still damp on the blocking boards but you couldn’t wait to wear it and your sparkly purple skirt as well. You have worn your sweater literally every day since your birthday and truly you are the most knit worthy person I know! It’s a joy making things for you.

Your daddy and I are so very proud of you Phoebe, thankful to know you and humbled to raise you. We hope you grow this year in your love for God and for His Word, that you continue to seek Him and rest in His favor over you, His love that can’t be measured or lost. We hope its a year full of growth, adventure, learning, and laughing. Happy 8th birthday!

Love,
mom

Ps. Phoebe’s cake is the Chocolate Layer Cake made from the Paleo Kids Cookbook (highly recommend if you’re looking for ways to recreate children’s favorite foods and snacks) and I found organic and naturally dyed sprinkles from our local food co-op (very pricey though!). My children haven’t really ever had sprinkles on anything so they were so enamored and excited, which made the cost worthwhile. The cake seemed like it was going to be a big flop and it wasn’t pretty but it was delicious!

pps. Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. (That just means if you click through and happen to also purchase the same item through my permalink I get a very small payment from amazon without any cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog and our family!)

december birthday boy

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 MarthaKimballLeave a comment

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My sweet Noah man

You are everything kind, tenderhearted, sweet, and brave. You have a quiet strength, and it’s a good thing with all these sisters around to take care of. I love the way you love others and care for others, seeing and noticing especially those on the fringes. It’s a sensitivity I hope you hold onto in this abrasive world. You love trucks and cars and its all you asked for for your birthday, besides green hand knit socks and a sweater. (You are so sweet to your momma, loving the things I make for you and wearing them happily, treasuring them. I don’t know how long that will last so I’m enjoying it while I can!) You love pouring over books with beautiful illustrations so we bought for you the Nature Anatomy book, and you have been carrying it around with you outside, identifying all sorts of treasures in our yard. Your birthday was spent first with pancakes, then opening presents with daddy before he had to go to work. We planned to go the fire station but it was pouring rain and mommy made the rash decision to do a “quick” stop to the walk-in bone and joint clinic to check on phoebe’s foot (which she injured jumping off the stage at church barefoot). That took far longer than anticipated and we had no time for the fire station and no where to park in all the rain, so we opted for hot cocoa and movie at home instead. It’s just like you, to sacrifice your plans for others, but we will make it up to you and visit the fire station soon! I think you still had a fun and happy day. I love you so much my one and only little man, now six years old and so tall and grown. It is a joy to see you growing especially in your reading and art skills, as well as in your faith. You are so quick to remind me that you love me very much but “not as much as I love God.” May He always have first place in your heart. I’m so very proud of you.

Love,
mom

a Thanksgiving birthday

November 24, 2018 MarthaKimball1 Comment

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Sorry for the overload of photos, but I just can’t resist their sleepy head hair and puffy sleepy faces on their birthday mornings. They wake each other up at the crack of dawn on each of their birthdays and run out to open presents. Philippa likes to take things just a *bit* slower than the other two usually, so we hid a few of her presents around the living room for fun and also to help slow down the gift opening just a bit. It worked and she thought it was a blast to find presents! For a while she’s been asking for these two dragons she saw in a magazine, and every time we asked her what she wanted for her birthday she would mention only the dragons. Philippa is my girl who loves girly things but also scary monsters and dragons. 🙂 For a while her favorite color was black. She’s just her own little person. We also gave her a book, the sweater I had knit for her (which wasn’t much of a hit but I am happy with it, at least 🙂 ), and a magic sketch boogie board. Simple little things, but she seemed happy with it all and especially happy to have family come over later for Thanksgiving dinner.

We hosted my parents and my brother and his family at our house, my parents made the turkey and we made the rest but with many hands helping. It was really sweet and fun and my favorite moments were the final frenzy in the kitchen, all of us bumping into one another and divvying out tasks left and right as we got everything onto the table. Later we sang happy birthday to Philippa over chocolate cake, homemade ice cream + berries. What a sweet, full happy day. I hope that it was a happy Thanksgiving for all of you as well, gathered with family, friends, loved ones over full plates that represent how well our God provides and cares for us and our daily needs.

Dear Philippa Ruth, my little sweet snuggly baby who is getting so tall and grown and lanky now. I was the most afraid going into labor with you after having such a traumatic birth with Noah. But you came so easily and you were born as I was laughing. We’ve called you “the boss lady” from the start because you are determined and you know what you want. That being said, you are such an easy-going and happy spirit in our home, usually the one to share the most easily and to play happily with whomever is around. This year you grew from a toddling little girl to a big girl, it seems. You learned how to go potty and now you’re giving up night time diapers. You learned how to ride a bike and became a big sister. You love doing school with Noah and often are learning right alongside him, even though you don’t need to be yet. You love to laugh and you bring a lot of laughter to us all. We all adore you and I’m thankful to God for your life and the unique gifts and joy you bring to our family! Happy 4th birthday sweet girl.

all together

July 2, 2018 MarthaKimball2 Comments

How can June already be over? It was a blur of busyness and family, celebrating and feasting. I didn’t get many photos on my birthday, but it was a happy day. I forgot how eager the kids are on anyone’s birthday to open presents, so I was barely out of my bedroom to get coffee that morning before a gaggle of little ones with tousled hair were pulling me to the kitchen table to see their gifts. I wanted to wait and maybe do gifts later, but they would have none of it. Brandon had taken them for a walk the night before to a grocery store nearby (while I was out with a girlfriend for coffee) where they picked out small gifts for me and cards. Philippa had picked some natural handmade lavender soap, noah had picked a charcoal infused loofah. Phoebe had been working on a handmade gift for me for a little while, a small wooden bird that she added stitching to. She had named it “Louis,” though it’s supposed to be a girl bird, and she was really quite tempted to keep it herself. She keeps asking me where Louis is and if I’m taking care of ~~him~~ her. Brandon gifted me a couple of books I had on my wishlist, as well as a set of chiaogoo interchangeable needles. I cast on with them right away for a birthday shawl of sorts for myself with yarn I purchased with some birthday money, and it has been such a treat knitting with them! One of my brothers treated me to a 3-month coffee subscription to Counter Culture coffee and it has been one of my favorite gifts of all time! Later that day we went over to my parents house, as my mom and I share a birthday and we try to get together on it when we can. Mom treated me to a manicure/pedicure and then a dinner out to the only restaurant we can really go to with Phoebe (with a dedicated gluten free kitchen). It was a fun and busy day! I felt so very loved and spoiled and blessed and full.

The next day, family began streaming in. My brother from Canada and his wife were surprising mom for her 60th birthday, and my other siblings and their families were all arriving in the next day or so. Father’s day (Sunday) we gathered to celebrate mom’s 60th together, and it was truly unforgettable. It was the first time ever that we have *all* been together. We celebrated, ate, gave her a couple of special gifts, and ended the evening with singing together. I think we will all look back on these recent days we had together with joy and fondness. So much has happened in our family story, so many stories that aren’t mine to share–but when I look out across the landscape of our family, I see so much redemption that has come out of so much brokenness. We have an enemy who has tried to dismantle, break, ruin, and destroy our family in very painful ways, and we have seen hard years together. But here we are, still standing. Still together, by God’s grace alone. Still going forward in love and forgiveness and hope secure in a God who is able to hold us fast.

Ps. I actually did pretty horribly at taking photos with my camera while everyone was here. I really only brought it to the picnic, and got a random smattering. But here’s a special video clip that I’m thankful I captured.

her seventh

January 11, 2018January 11, 2018 MarthaKimballLeave a comment

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Dear sweet phoebe girl

Seven years with you has both flown by and also seemed like a lifetime. I can barely remember what our world was like without you in it. You came and you brought so much light and joy to our home, you made us a family. You were so small, wrinkly, and frail and we thought there was no way we should be entrusted to care for such a precious little bundle.

Year after year you have delighted and surprised us. You have gone through so very much in this last year, probably one of your hardest years yet. Watching you undergo your second and third endoscopy and colonoscopy, as well as doing the hardest elimination diet I’ve ever known for 3 full months–so tough that none of us even felt we could do it with you. It was painful to watch, to walk through with you, the tears, the questions you would ask, hearing your sweet prayers asking God to heal your body. And then finally, a glimmer of hope. A clear endoscopy, but still elevated antibody levels in your blood. By this year’s end, we finally got those numbers under control–so much work and so much “going without” for you, and I’m so proud of what you’ve had to endure. It’s going to be a long road ahead for you, but you are the strongest, bravest, most positive little girl I know. I think you’re going to do just fine.

In the process of all of that, we moved from our rental in with Grandpa and Rainey while we waited to find and then close on our house, then finally into our new home. Lots of change and busyness, us trying to keep up with your schooling in the midst of it. Summer came and we found out a new baby was on its way to us, and momma was pretty wiped out with sickness for the next few months. Then, in the fall you began first grade! You were so proud, telling everyone everywhere we went about it and how grown up you are now.

Its sort of ironic that you are the firstborn, and yet your birthday comes last in our string of holiday birthdays. It’s so hard for you to wait until it’s finally your turn. In the barely-there hints of morning light you came stumbling out of bed to see the house decorated for a day just for you, pink wrapping and homemade birthday banners strung up around all the christmas decorations. We gave you the option to open all your gifts right away, knowing how hard it is for you to wait, but you wanted to do what Philippa and Noah did and open a few at breakfast and save the rest for later. You opened the bonnet I knit for you, which you’ve been asking for for a long time. It just fits, but maybe after a good blocking it’ll fit a bit better. We also gave you a new dress for your Kaya doll (American girl doll) and some of her trading accessories for when she would go to trade her wares. What fun it was last year to read through all the Kaya books with you, and we need to reread them! You immediately had to dress her in her new things and you were so excited to have her with you all day long.

It was a rainy, gray day so we decided to go into town for a little walk. It was the first time we’ve walked around in our little hometown and gone into all the shops that interest us. It was really fun! You pushed Kaya around everywhere and were so careful to keep her dry in the rain. Later in the afternoon, you opened the rest of your gifts. Your dresses and new pjs from grandparents. We gave you your first real bible, now that you’re reading. What a fun time your daddy and I had picking out just the right one for you at the bookstore. I gave you the sweater I had knit for you, and you threw it on right away. I love knitting for you because you enjoy it so. I had also put together a little sewing kit for you–your own little scissors, needles, pack of floss, embroidery hoops and aida cloth. You were so excited, as I thought you might be, and wanted to get started on it right away.

You wanted pizza for dinner and of course chocolate cake with strawberries. What a sweet and joy-filled day, simple cozy and full. It never feels adequate to sum up how we feel, but we love you so very much. So very proud of you and excited to walk with you into this new year, wondering what it will hold. How I treasure our morning snuggles, our tea and knitting time, reading together, cooking together. Grow strong and true, my little girl. Let go of what you can’t hold onto anyway. Lean the full weight of who you are and your desires on your Savior. He loves you more than we can imagine, He has a good plan, He is busy working it all out for your good and for His glory. Run your race with joy, with hope, with faith, and keep those little eyes fixed on Him all the way. We’re right here, cheering you on in every step.

Love you always and forever
xo
Mama

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