In Her Own Words

Sweet Sixteen


by guest blogger Madeleine Doyle (age 16)

Do you remember your sixteenth birthday? Sixteen has always been a big deal unless you’re Hispanic and then your big birthday is fifteen.  Ahhh, sixteen, the age where you are no longer a kid. Years after, people might rave about their sixteenth birthdays and the presents they received. If you’re a Beverly Hills type, a car or two might be on your top ten. My birthday was not a grand affair, nothing like the ones you read about in books or see those spoiled girls experience on TV. But it was my own and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

                   I share a birthday week with two of my sisters and the week after Christmas always seems so hectic and long.  Ella, the youngest, is the first to grace us with her aging. Next is me so I am always very happy for Ella but at the same time anxious to see what my day will bring.

          On this particular fateful, chilly, and rather gray morning, I was sleeping late as usual in my top bunk bed. As I was waking, I heard whispers outside our door. Mia, being a rather early riser, was already up and gone. I sat up, blearily rubbed my eyes and was just about to jump down when the door burst open. Coming in and carrying a cake like a blazing banner was my dad and behind him were my giggling sisters and my mom. With her camera. Yikes! They all started singing and my sisters all climbed into my bed.  I clumsily blew out my candles from my prone position and grimaced for the pictures. My excited sisters promptly dragged me downstairs where the breakfast banquet was all set up. As I sat down in a royal princess chair, I smelled the beautiful roses standing in a vase at my elbow. We all had a wonderful breakfast of French toast and bacon and reminisced about my earlier years. After cake, I opened my cards and presents. Mia had given me a beautiful little bear figurine and then my mom handed me TMNT slippers! It was definitely a pleasantly surprising morning.

          Next, it was off to see a movie, a rare treat for us.  Ever since it came out, my sisters and dad have been waiting to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. As it is too scary for the two younger girls, my mom took them to see Tangled instead.  TVOFDT was very good (though it hardly followed the original story line) and it was a fun family activity to do on my birthday.

          When we came home I changed at least six times until I had found the perfect outfit. Then, for the next two hours my mom did a photo shoot with me. It was so spectacular because even if only for a little while, I got to feel like a model. And changing clothes four times was just half the fun! We ended our shoot at the mall and finished up the outing with a little shopping, to which I had no objection at all.

           I thought that this had been a truly fun and surprising day when again SURPRISE! It still wasn’t over! My dad took me out on a “date” and I got to enjoy an evening out. As I am usually babysitting for dates not going on them, this was a real treat. We stopped by the chapel to pray as an opener and stumbled in just as evening Mass was starting. We stayed and afterward, Father Linh gave me an awesome birthday blessing. My birthday is the feast of the holy innocents and I was able to experience prayer and communion on the day when so many innocent lives were shed for our Lord. It was truly remarkable.

          Ooooh was I excited when our next stop was the parking lot of The Olive Garden. I had a scrumptious dinner of calamari and fettuccine alffredo. Yum! During the dinner I received my main and best gift--a promise ring! I had wanted one for awhile and the ring went with the night’s themes and conversations on dating and marriage. It is a beautiful little thing. Simple but elegant--a little gold heart outlined in silver on a silver band. It ended up being too big and we had to exchange it but I didn’t mind. I was just happy to have received such a wonderful present.

           Next, we did something I never expected my dad to do. We saw a movie in theaters for the second time that day! And not just any movie--Harry Potter Seven Part One!!!!! Whoo! It was such a great movie and we didn’t get home until after midnight.  I was tired but very happy as I went to sleep on December 29.

So, my birthday may not sound like anything too special to you, but it was perfect as far as I am concerned.  Mom and Dad, words can’t describe how thankful I am for you and how much I love you. Thanks for making this birthday the best sweet sixteen EVER!!!!!

Xoxoxoxo,

Madeleine

 Shhh....

(Ever since reading The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood, I have wanted to have a cake-in-bed for breakfast party.  We didn't go as far as eating the cake in bed--maybe next time--but Madeleine loved having her flaming pastry brought to her.  Sophie apparently liked the idea too because three days later on her birthday, she sat at the top of the stairs and announced that she would wait there until we had her surprise cake and party ready.)

When Mia gave this little figurine to her big sis', she told her that it's the two of them.

Madeleine is the bear and Mia, the snowman.  I found it incredibly sweet that Mia could see herself that way.

Gift from Aunt Tara that arrived in a light blue box a few days after the big day.  Quote from Madeleine, "I appreciate it so much, Aunt Tara.  I love you and your family and think you are so cool.  I wish I loved running as much as you do."

 Very cute party guest

We highly recommend Tangled.  I loved it.  My favorite movie since Enchanted.

 Primping

Madeleine's date rang the bell...

 ....and Grace promptly shut the door in his face.  I have a feeling there will be more of that in Madeleine's future.

 One last shot of the birthday babe doing what she loves best.

Next up:  give me FIVE!

          

Madeleine Exposed

Meet our brand new sixteen year old daughter, Madeleine, named most likely to be a supermodel.  We both enjoyed the two hour plus photo session we did on her birthday.  And, as her mama, these photos break my heart.  Where did the time go?  Sometime tomorrow or the next day, a wonderful boy will win her heart.  And it will be a goodbye of sorts.  And a hello to a whole new life for all of us.  Happy Birthday, Min!!  I hope you know by now how much I love you.  We are so proud of you!

 Favorite novel of the year

Favorite store ever!

Mañana:  Madeleine on turning sixteen...see you back here.

The Darndest Things

So, before I continue with the next of the monster posts from our holiday week, I have to pause to record some recent kid quotes.  Sometimes the things the girls say stop my heart in wonder for a second or two.  Other times, they make me laugh.  Nearly every day, I notice things about them that I want to freeze and keep forever.  I am very aware that as time goes by, I am losing the babies and then, little girls we are raising as they become older and older and older.  C.S. Lewis observed that because the passage of time bothers us, we must be meant for eternity.  I imagine that on the other side of this life, in eternity, I will be able to hold each of my girls at every age and remember all of the precious little things that I have already forgotten down here.
Below, a few moments I'd like to remember from the last week or so:

By Chris:
*A few of the kids were sitting with Daddy at the kitchen table playing a game when a fire broke out at a house on the street behind ours.  The large smoke plumes billowed over the trees.  The kids watched for a while and once the excitement settled down a bit (no one was injured in the fire), Grace said wistfully, "I wish I could have been there when the fire started.  Then I could have rushed into the fire and saved someone.  You want me to go to heaven, right Dad?"

*We have a really neat manger set handed down by Alice's parents.  We always hide baby Jesus during advent, finally placing him in his crib late on Christmas Eve.  The next day, Ella was examining baby Jesus.  Since this is an older nativity set, there are a few nicks and dings on the figures including the small blot of dried glue on the back of baby Jesus' head.  Ella asked me, "Daddy, what's this on his head?"  I said, "Oh, it's just some old dried glue.  Someone must have glued him to his crib once so he'd stay put."  Ella looked at baby Jesus with an understanding expression and said, "Yeah, it was Mary.  She did it."

By Alice:
*On school days, I always read to the girls from our children's bible at breakfast.  This particular version has questions following every section so it lends itself well to teaching the bible as history.  A recent lesson was about the presentation of Jesus in the temple and one of the questions was "how do you think Anna and Simeon recognized baby Jesus as the Messiah?"  Good question.  None of the girls offered an answer so I turned to Mia and she said, "He did this" and flashed what looked like a peace sign to me.  I couldn't help it--I laughed.  Mia was not happy.  And who knows, she could be right.  I've wondered about that before and the book didn't give the answer but something let Simeon know that he could finally die in peace.

*Grace didn't want to make a list for Santa because she wanted him to surprise her.  Sophie put off her list-making and finally wanted to do it Christmas Day.  We never got around to it and I'm kind of sorry.  I wonder if she would have listed the things she's opened or the things her sisters opened or something completely different.

*And finally--Grace's New Year's resolutions:
#1 Watch more TV
#2  Play on Mom's IPOD Touch
#3  Eat more fast food

Oh--and she wants me to start calling her Margaret.

Ella Day

Look, I'm THREE!

So, I think December 26th has to be the worst day to have a birthday.  Really.  With all the preparation leading up to Christmas, who has any energy left?  That said, Ella is worth celebrating.  

For her birthday this year, I made her a very small two layer cake--with her help.  I also did a little photo shoot to capture her newly three-year-old self.  Ella took a birthday call from Father Peffley about halfway through the day (we've heard from him a lot this week) and later, we hosted G and G Doyle for chili and Ella's favorite, mac and cheese.  Chaucer came as honored party guest.

We're planning a joint Minnie and Mickey party for her and Sophie for February when her best friend and cousin Anya is here.  For now, she's happy with her new doll.  When Sophie admired her, Ella told her, "You can have her if you want" and melted her Mama's heart.  

We love you, dear one!

Super Ella

(cape from K and A Doyle--gracias!)

 Helping with the cake

 Birthday photos

(I normally take the girls to The Picture People for their birthday photos but figured with my new knowledge, I should save the money and make them more personal.  I'm happy with the result.)

 Little queen and friends

 I love you so much!

 Ella and her Elizabeth "Lizzy"

 Ella and Chaucie

 With número uno Mickey Mouse

 Posing with one of the threes

 Take a good look at this birthday princess chair.  You will see it again.

 Sophie enjoys the party

 I think Chaucer had fun.  He is the best dog ever.

Ella is a great mama right off the bat.

Coming up--the rest of the birthday marathon and a fun New Year's Eve celebration.

Don't miss it!