Eli's 6th B-Day, Gabi's 13th B-Day, and a shot of some of the family this summer at Mi Mi and Paw Paw's home.
News From The North
This is my favorite season. I love the crisp cool air and the changing color of the leaves. I love wearing jeans and sweatshirts. I love the college football season; watching my Buckeyes on Saturday. I certainly don’t mind a good NFL game! The grass doesn’t grow as fast! There’s a smell in the air that just makes you want to breathe in deeply. I love fall, and wish it would go on and on. And when the reality of what’s to come starts to enter my mind – I quickly push it out … and pretend that the Minnesota winter is really not just around the corner. NO – this is fall, and I’m going to enjoy it. I choose to block out the truth and only focus on the beauty of autumn. Heck, we won’t see snow for at least a couple days!
Our family is getting adjusted to having Jake away at college and Eli in kindergarten. We are busy as school has begun. Jake started his freshman year of college, and is busy with classes and pre-season basketball. Isabella is doing some pre-season basketball stuff, while she works on weekends as a waitress in a local family-owned restaurant. She is also trying to get started modeling, and has a couple auditions. Sophia will turn 15 years old soon, and I am in denial. She will be old enough to start driving with a learners permit. Oh no! Gabi is playing volleyball, and intends to play JO volleyball in the winter. Luke just finished football season and will start basketball soon. Eli likes kindergarten, but he is currently struggling with reading and is getting special help. He has a much greater interest in the social aspects of school, and learning is just something that gets in the way of the fun.
This is my favorite season. I love the crisp cool air and the changing color of the leaves. I love wearing jeans and sweatshirts. I love the college football season; watching my Buckeyes on Saturday. I certainly don’t mind a good NFL game! The grass doesn’t grow as fast! There’s a smell in the air that just makes you want to breathe in deeply. I love fall, and wish it would go on and on. And when the reality of what’s to come starts to enter my mind – I quickly push it out … and pretend that the Minnesota winter is really not just around the corner. NO – this is fall, and I’m going to enjoy it. I choose to block out the truth and only focus on the beauty of autumn. Heck, we won’t see snow for at least a couple days!
Our family is getting adjusted to having Jake away at college and Eli in kindergarten. We are busy as school has begun. Jake started his freshman year of college, and is busy with classes and pre-season basketball. Isabella is doing some pre-season basketball stuff, while she works on weekends as a waitress in a local family-owned restaurant. She is also trying to get started modeling, and has a couple auditions. Sophia will turn 15 years old soon, and I am in denial. She will be old enough to start driving with a learners permit. Oh no! Gabi is playing volleyball, and intends to play JO volleyball in the winter. Luke just finished football season and will start basketball soon. Eli likes kindergarten, but he is currently struggling with reading and is getting special help. He has a much greater interest in the social aspects of school, and learning is just something that gets in the way of the fun.
My Lady! Now for the collection of funny and interesting things the children have said recently. I keep a running list on my phone, and when I hear something that strikes me as funny, I type it in so later it finds its way onto my Blog.
For reference, here are the ages: Jake 19, Isabella 17, Sophia 14 (15 on 11/25), Gabi 13, Luke 10 and Eli 6.
For reference, here are the ages: Jake 19, Isabella 17, Sophia 14 (15 on 11/25), Gabi 13, Luke 10 and Eli 6.
We were at a friend’s graduation party where we saw an adorable little girl. I made a comment, “I'd like to adopt a little girl like that.” Luke chimed in, “I want you to adopt a boy my age.” Luke tends to have trouble getting along with both Gabi and Eli. So Lisa says, “So you can fight with him?” Luke replies, “No - buy an athletic one so I can play with him.”
At another graduation party Luke had noticed some people drinking a beverage that he thought he would like to try, but was having trouble locating. He came up and asked me, “Where are those Mike's Hard Lemonade?”
Eli got in the car on a hot day and told me, "Turn the heat on cold!"
Luke overheard Lisa and I talking. One of us asked, “I wonder why they didn't have more children?” Luke looked surprised and asked, "You can just have more babies if you want to?"
We were at a baseball game and after Luke scored a run Eli proclaimed, “He got a home run!” For some unknown reason I corrected him and said, “No. He got a triple and then scored on a passed ball.” Eli said, “He still got a home run.” I insisted, “He got a run, but not a home run.” I heard Eli quietly say under his breath, "You don't know what you're talking about."
At another graduation party Luke had noticed some people drinking a beverage that he thought he would like to try, but was having trouble locating. He came up and asked me, “Where are those Mike's Hard Lemonade?”
Eli got in the car on a hot day and told me, "Turn the heat on cold!"
Luke overheard Lisa and I talking. One of us asked, “I wonder why they didn't have more children?” Luke looked surprised and asked, "You can just have more babies if you want to?"
We were at a baseball game and after Luke scored a run Eli proclaimed, “He got a home run!” For some unknown reason I corrected him and said, “No. He got a triple and then scored on a passed ball.” Eli said, “He still got a home run.” I insisted, “He got a run, but not a home run.” I heard Eli quietly say under his breath, "You don't know what you're talking about."
Luke & Cousin Claire Bella jumped in one day and gave her opinion of how Lisa and I should handle a parental issue. Then she stated, "I should be the parent of this house. I have a lot of good input."
We were having a wonderful desert of strawberry shortcake topped with whipped cream. Thinking that Eli would prefer just the strawberries and whipped cream, Lisa prepared his without the shortcake. Eli noticed and asked, “Why didn't I get one of those buns?”
Lisa was criticizing one of Isabella’s Tweets.
Bella – “Mom you don't even know what Twitter is.”
Lisa – “Well I know you don't twit stupid stuff.”
Bella – “My point exactly!”
Although this didn’t come from one of my children, it is worth mentioning. One of their friends was visiting. I overheard amongst the laughter that their friend thought a person from South Dakota would have a southern accent.
One evening after dark I asked Gabi to go out on the deck and bring something inside. She was afraid of the critters that lurk after dark and resisted. I insisted and she yells, “No, there's a crab on the window!” Bella, who is standing near says, “Gabi, we live in Minnesota! And it's a moth!”
We were having a wonderful desert of strawberry shortcake topped with whipped cream. Thinking that Eli would prefer just the strawberries and whipped cream, Lisa prepared his without the shortcake. Eli noticed and asked, “Why didn't I get one of those buns?”
Lisa was criticizing one of Isabella’s Tweets.
Bella – “Mom you don't even know what Twitter is.”
Lisa – “Well I know you don't twit stupid stuff.”
Bella – “My point exactly!”
Although this didn’t come from one of my children, it is worth mentioning. One of their friends was visiting. I overheard amongst the laughter that their friend thought a person from South Dakota would have a southern accent.
One evening after dark I asked Gabi to go out on the deck and bring something inside. She was afraid of the critters that lurk after dark and resisted. I insisted and she yells, “No, there's a crab on the window!” Bella, who is standing near says, “Gabi, we live in Minnesota! And it's a moth!”
Paw Paw fishing with cousin Fletcher and Luke (Summer 2013)
Luke was watching the older boys play 21 (basketball game). He turns to me and asks, "How many points do you need to win 21?" (For those of you who don't know ... it's 21.)
Lisa woke Eli in the morning to go to school. He was very tired and his first words, "I want to quit Kindergarten." It was only the start of week 3 for him! Later we asked him why he said he wanted to quit kindergarten and he told us, "I want to get up, when I want to get up."
Luke asked me, "Why do girl's legs grow so fast?"
The school district allocated some extra money to the over-crowded kindergarten situation and hired an additional teacher after school had been in session a month. They selected 3 kids from each class to fill this class, and Eli was one of the kids who were to be moved into the new class. When we told him that he was changing classes he was devastated. Now one of the ways I deal with sadness is to use humor. Sometimes my children don’t like this tactic, but I’m pretty sure I learned it from a couple of older Wilson men. I told Eli that his new teacher's name was Mrs. Thunder Bottom. After going to school the next day, Eli came home and notified us that he told his teacher, “My Daddy says my new teacher’s name is Mrs. Thunder Bottom.”
Luke was asking me questions such as, “How much do we pay for insurance?” “How much is the house payment?” “How much did we pay for our house?” He then asked why I was smiling. I told him it was because he was just like his big sister Lydia. She always asked those types of questions. Luke replied, “I don’t like not knowing things.”
The children were enjoying smoothies they had made. Eli heard me say “smoothie,” and he corrected me, “No Daddy, sm ooo ooo ooo vie.”
I love this big family of ours. There’s rarely a dull moment, and it is so amazing how seven children can be so different from one another. My children are a blessing, and I am thankful for each one of them. People often say something like, “I don’t know how you handle seven children, and I can barely handle my two.” The truth is - it is not a burden. Yes – there are challenging times, but I can’t imagine life without my bevy of Wilson’s.
Love,
JR
Lisa woke Eli in the morning to go to school. He was very tired and his first words, "I want to quit Kindergarten." It was only the start of week 3 for him! Later we asked him why he said he wanted to quit kindergarten and he told us, "I want to get up, when I want to get up."
Luke asked me, "Why do girl's legs grow so fast?"
The school district allocated some extra money to the over-crowded kindergarten situation and hired an additional teacher after school had been in session a month. They selected 3 kids from each class to fill this class, and Eli was one of the kids who were to be moved into the new class. When we told him that he was changing classes he was devastated. Now one of the ways I deal with sadness is to use humor. Sometimes my children don’t like this tactic, but I’m pretty sure I learned it from a couple of older Wilson men. I told Eli that his new teacher's name was Mrs. Thunder Bottom. After going to school the next day, Eli came home and notified us that he told his teacher, “My Daddy says my new teacher’s name is Mrs. Thunder Bottom.”
Luke was asking me questions such as, “How much do we pay for insurance?” “How much is the house payment?” “How much did we pay for our house?” He then asked why I was smiling. I told him it was because he was just like his big sister Lydia. She always asked those types of questions. Luke replied, “I don’t like not knowing things.”
The children were enjoying smoothies they had made. Eli heard me say “smoothie,” and he corrected me, “No Daddy, sm ooo ooo ooo vie.”
I love this big family of ours. There’s rarely a dull moment, and it is so amazing how seven children can be so different from one another. My children are a blessing, and I am thankful for each one of them. People often say something like, “I don’t know how you handle seven children, and I can barely handle my two.” The truth is - it is not a burden. Yes – there are challenging times, but I can’t imagine life without my bevy of Wilson’s.
Love,
JR
Jake and Timothy (my brother), the three girls (Gabi, Bella & Sophia) having fun, and Eli chill'n by the pool.
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