Eckenrode Family

DDP: Day 5

One of the things I love most about parenting is these unexpected glimpses we get inside our kids heads and hearts. I was buzzing around the house tidying up and was just about to shut this book when I noticed the stuffed dog above it.  I realized that Ben had identified his stuffed animal in this dog book. I'm so glad I took the time to notice and appreciate this.

DDP: Day 4

I went out last night with some girlfriends and when I came home well past their bedtime I found this little banner that he'd made. It made me feel so loved and so encouraged. Like I could do anything.

DDP: Day 3

From the time they get up until they go to bed (with only a break to go to school in between) they have been gathered under this tree playing with the train. They wait all year to get this train out and this year they can get it back on the track all by themselves.

DPP: Day 2

Pumpkins

This year Miles did the whole process almost all by himself. He drew the face, and tried to cut most of it. I don't think he touched any of the pulp though.
I have to be as quick as the paparazzi around this one. Lately he has refused to get his picture taken.
Striking the match to light the tea candle was their favorite part.


I sent these off yesterday to stormy New Jersey. I have a nephew timing his arrival to coincide with this devestating storm.

We are headed out to trick or treat tomorrow night. Hopefully the weather won't ruin our fun.

Six

Ben was more excited about this birthday than any before. He had a countdown going about a month in advance. He was all smiles all day and even cooperated in front of the camera. He picked out the fabric for his birthday shirt, wore it all day and even wore his birthday crown on and off throughout the day.
One of my favorite of our family traditions is getting the table and the birthday banners ready the night before. In the morning we light the candles of the birthday ring, sing to him and let him make a wish before he blows them out.



In the morning before school we celebrated his birthday with his 4 best buddies at Pigeon Roost Farm. We were there as soon as they opened up and had the entire fun center to ourselves. No waiting in line made a good time even better.

Christmas

Cousins on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Morn

December Photo Project: Day 5

December Photo Project: Day 3

Today it was too hard to choose one photo. These photos are from our town's annual Candlelight Walk.

November - A Month of Gratitude

Although I feel like I do a pretty good job of counting and noticing my blessings on a daily basis, I love that there is a holiday devoted to recognizing and voicing aloud those things and moments which make a life worth living. We hosted our first Thanksgiving and so I got the chance to try an idea I'd seen on the web where we passed around a bowl of prompts such as "I appreciate (insert name of fmaily member) especially when he/she ____." or "One of the best moments from the last year for me was when ____." It gave us a chance to recount small moments and blessing that would have otherwise gone unnoticed or forgotten. It was lovely.

Just after Thanksgiving we made our annual trip to the tree farm to get our Christmas tree and to visit Santa.

Just as we got to the front of the line my camera jammed and I missed taking pictures of the kids on his lap and of the beautiful tree farm. But, we had a great time and ended up with the most perfect tree which was tagged a "Charlie Brown Tree" but I love it and think it's perfect.

Just a few days after Thanksgiving we celebrated Miles' 7th birthday. I can't believe he's seven. He lost his first tooth a few days before his birthday, another milestone that he just seems to be bounding over these days. He decided to decorate his own cake to look like a ice hockey rink.

He has matured so much lately that I hardly recognize the toddler that I still envision. He is becoming such a kind and mature kid. He is concientious, creative, loving, attentive and when he is passionate about something that passion is intense. He wanted hockey gear and after receiving it on Sunday, he's worn it almost constantly since. He even fell asleep in it on his birthday night. The box that all of the hockey gear came in has been a constant source of entertainment for Ben. He will spend long amounts of time in it. After one long episode of complete silence from the box I opened it up to find this:
Blessings. They are everywhere.