This Family

I love this family SOOO much and a single blog post will never come close to expressing my feelings for them. In fact, this session was done a couple of months ago and I am just now getting around to blogging it because there were so many things I wanted to say, I couldn’t possibly narrow it down. I know I won’t be able to express to you ALL of the ways that this family is so wonderful, but maybe I can show you a few.

I babysat for the three older girls starting when the oldest, Kathleen, was just a baby. Then along came Genevieve and finally Margaret Ann. These three girls taught me so much about kids. They were so seriously adorable with their blond hair and funny, prissy little girl ways. Collin and I were still dating when Margaret Ann was born and I remember watching her for Nancy and Peter when she was just a couple of days old. Nancy had to go back to the hospital for some observations and I remember being in awe that they would trust us with their BRAND NEW baby girl. I also remember (and I hope this doesn’t embarrass you, MA!) Collin saying that he never knew such a pretty, tiny, delicate little baby girl could make such a large and disgusting sound in her diaper! She was by far the youngest baby he had ever been around up to this point in his life, and I think he was pretty impressed at the noises that were coming out of that sweet little girl! I also remember another time that we watched them when we lived in Columbia. Nancy and Peter came to do some Christmas shopping, and Collin and I watched the girls for a few hours. They were wild and crazy, giggly little things and we had so much FUN! I remember sitting back and thinking “maybe one day we will have nights like this with our own kids”. And now we do. And Kathleen, Genevieve and Margaret Ann have each babysat for them. 🙂

Kathleen, Genevieve, and Margaret Ann were our flower girls when we got married. Margaret Ann was only 18 months old. She never made it down the aisle with her sisters, but she sure did look cute! All three of them were just beautiful…I LOVE those girls!!

Remember a few months back when I wrote the article about homeschooling for She Magazine? And I mentioned that when Mak was little someone asked me if I would ever consider homeschooling and I politely responded that it wasn’t for us? Well, that was Nancy! I’m sure she doesn’t even remember that conversation! But here we are, five years later and I am starting to homeschool that sweet boy. And earlier this week when I received my first curriculum SHE is the one I called in an all out PANIC mode because I was so overwhelmed at the information in front of me. And she talked me out of my freaked out state of mind. Kinda funny, huh?

And speaking of homeschooling, that’s all that these kids have ever known after they came out of Calvary pre-school. They are all some of the nicest, brightest, most respectful kids you will ever meet. And they LOVE their Savior. They are extremely well-rounded and have kind of become my “poster children” for homeschool. Every time I let the remarks start getting to me and I start to think that maybe I’m doing Mak a disservice by homeschooling him, I think of them. And how seriously GREAT they are.

And now onto the reason for this session…Miss Rosalie. Over the years this family has been added to in the form of adoption. Sam came along as a newborn six years ago. He is ALL BOY and adds so much energy to this family! And just last December Peter and Nancy travelled to China to retrieve their new little girl, Rosalie. Rosalie was five and actually only a few weeks apart in age from Sam! They jokingly call them twins. Can you imagine Sam as a 7 foot tall (the kid is already TALL!) black man introducing people to his 5 foot tall Chinese twin?! I LOVE it!! No, not every member of this family looks alike. But they all fit together PERFECTLY. I love them all like crazy!!!