Speaking of getting caught up. That's what Dennis and I feel like we have spent the last year doing. Getting caught up... or trying to. Any chance we ever had of keeping up with anything from household chores to lawn maintenance went out the window when Evelyn came along. But, in a way, that's one of the great things about having a lot of kids. It makes you weed out all of the unnecessary things that you don't really need to be doing. Dennis continues to stay busy playing bass and violin in his band, Clozur. They play one or two nights a month at local clubs and private parties and are getting a regular following. He also still plays weekly at church which we all enjoy watching him do. When he's home and not being Daddy or husband extraordinaire, he's usually fixing something or has a paintbrush in hand. I continue to stay busy planning lessons for school and keeping up with my book club. Much of this year was spent dealing with chronic migraines. After a some very long, unsuccessful medication trials I have recently had a six-week remission that I am hopeful will continue.
Evelyn has started walking around the house singing "me, me, me" which is so appropriate considering that it really has been all about her very much of the time this past year. Not so much in an indulgent way, more in a way that comes from the joy that radiates from this little person when she is in the room. I would be remiss in not mentioning how very much all of her big sisters dote on her each and every day. Of course, each of them has their own unique ways that she shares time with Evelyn, and Evelyn will belly laugh wholeheartedly at any one of their antics.
For a while we had to have a schedule to show who's turn it was to get her out of bed after naps and in the morning. We also have a schedule for which two sisters get to sit next to her at each meal. I wasn't kidding when I said that it would have been much easier if we had had twins!
They show her off at ballet, soccer, and whatever other activities they are participating in, wanting to walk her around and introduce her to their friends. Ellie and her friends take her off to play with them; what's more fun to play house with than a real live baby?
Ellie and Madeline both will fix Evelyn her meals, get her dressed, put her in her car seat properly, really do just about anything except dirty diapers.
I don't think Ellie's smile is ever bigger than when there is a baby in the house. That has been true each and every time. She was such a little mother even with Madeline when Ellie was the tender age of three. It really is quite lovely to watch her with Evelyn. They have such an exceptional relationship. I don't know which one is more smitten with the other.
Of course, the girls do venture out on their own as well. Ellie, 11, now sporting her eagerly anticipated braces, has continued to take ballet, modern dance, and jazz. She is dancing in the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker again this year, this time as the part of an Angel. She and Madeline are both taking piano and getting ready for a Christmas recital. All the girls are involved in a weekly homeschool co-op where they take classes such as drama, PE, choir, needleworks, and art. Although ASL wasn't available this time as a class, Ellie and Madeline are continuing to keep up with their sign language and periodically sign along with the Praise Team during church services. The congregation LOVES it, and they always get lots of positive feedback when they perform.
Ellie and all the girls spend hours outside every day riding bikes and scooters, climbing trees, walking Sadie and playing.
Madeline, 8, has fallen head over heels in love with soccer. She played on recreational teams last spring and this fall and loved every minute of it. She'll watch it on TV and loves to go to the UVa games with Dennis when she gets a chance. She has become quite a reader this year and can often be found with her head in a book. She loves to read outdoors, even in the cold she will bundle up from head to toe and go climb in a tree with her school books and read through her lessons for the day. Once school and chores are finished, Madeline's destination of choice is the nearby pond where she likes to head with her net to catch bull frogs, minnows, and look for snakes. We also had lots of fun late this summer watching our first crop of Monarch caterpillars turn into butterflies. Breathtaking.
Madeline, 8, has fallen head over heels in love with soccer. She played on recreational teams last spring and this fall and loved every minute of it. She'll watch it on TV and loves to go to the UVa games with Dennis when she gets a chance. She has become quite a reader this year and can often be found with her head in a book. She loves to read outdoors, even in the cold she will bundle up from head to toe and go climb in a tree with her school books and read through her lessons for the day. Once school and chores are finished, Madeline's destination of choice is the nearby pond where she likes to head with her net to catch bull frogs, minnows, and look for snakes. We also had lots of fun late this summer watching our first crop of Monarch caterpillars turn into butterflies. Breathtaking.
In our homeschool co-op the girls receive progress reports halfway through the year. Each of Lucy's teachers said the exact same thing, "Lucy is very lively and energetic!" They all love her can-do, try anything spirit. I'm just thankful that she's channeling her tremendous powers for good now that she's spreading her wings in this great world of ours.
Lucy,5, joined her big sisters in our happy homeschool adventure by starting kindergarten this fall. She has enthusiastically embraced learning to read which is always so exciting to watch for any parent as it opens their child's door to a whole new world.
We all know the day will come when this little angel will wreak havoc just as her predecessors have (some more than others!) But, for now, that seems so far away.
Evelyn, 17m, babbles constantly and wins the distinguished prize of being the most talkative of the baby Hutchins. Words like "Baby,""Thank You," "Ball," and "Hello" fill the air, and she says "Boo" for anything that goes on her feet. She still naps twice daily, loves playing peek-a-boo, dances to any tune she hears, and is very proud of her newly discovered belly button.
Our newest residents, partial albino corn snakes, Peaches (left) and Slithers (right). Madeline got Slithers for her birthday, fulfilling a long-awaited dream. When blowing out her candles, she waited and waited. Finally, she said, "I just can't think of anything I could wish for now--I have everything I ever wanted." My sentiments exactly!
Evelyn, 17m, babbles constantly and wins the distinguished prize of being the most talkative of the baby Hutchins. Words like "Baby,""Thank You," "Ball," and "Hello" fill the air, and she says "Boo" for anything that goes on her feet. She still naps twice daily, loves playing peek-a-boo, dances to any tune she hears, and is very proud of her newly discovered belly button.
Our newest residents, partial albino corn snakes, Peaches (left) and Slithers (right). Madeline got Slithers for her birthday, fulfilling a long-awaited dream. When blowing out her candles, she waited and waited. Finally, she said, "I just can't think of anything I could wish for now--I have everything I ever wanted." My sentiments exactly!
Ellie bought Peaches with her own money as a companion for Slithers as she though Slithers would like some company. Aren't sisters grand?
That's what the Hutchins have been up to in our very little corner of the world. Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. We certainly have enjoyed all of your letters and cards, both by mail and online. It's always such a treat to see the kids and hear about your families from year to year.
From our house to yours: Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!!!!
