Meet the Family

Who exactly are we? Well, in a nutshell... Crazy. 7 kids in a 19th century farmhouse in Virginia, toddler twins, homeschooling, homesteading... This blog is a whole lot of everything and nothing all at the same time, and I'm so excited that you're here to share that with us!

Here's an introduction to the main cast of characters:




John Paul, born July 2009 (birth story Part I, Part II, and Part III - it's a doozy!).  Math whiz, cursive master, history buff, board game lover, top button-buttoner, and scooter fiend.

Current life goals: Cooking dinner for the whole family from scratch, winning at every board game possible, memorizing The Battle of Lepanto.



Cecilia, born January 2011. Voracious reader, creative artist, incredibly imaginative, nurturing but feisty.

Current life goals: Taking care of Edith, embroidering something beautiful enough to win a prize at the county fair, learning to do all the same things John Paul can do (particularly writing in cursive).

Oh, and did you know we have twins?  Their birth story is here.



 This is Elizabeth, the elder of the twins.  Born in November 2012, she's also the (very slightly) smaller of the two.  Her megawatt smile never fails to get a chuckle from us, and her dance moves are unsurpassed.  Seriously loves pink, but is willing to accessorize with other colors now.
 
Current life goals:  Learning to write, learning to sew, and riding a two-wheeler.


This is Mary Claire, the younger of the twins (by 11 minutes). Slightly larger than Elizabeth, slightly more whiney.  LOVES to read, particularly books that involve kids getting into mischief. Adores all plants, especially edible ones, and often reads through field guides and tells us what she learns.

Current life goals: Hugging Edith constantly, fighting with Peter constantly, reading everything she can get her hands on, making "concoctions" out of whatever edible plants she finds in the yard.


Peter (November 2014) is really, really four  yearsold. He loves being outside, REALLY loves playing with legos, and adores singing "Oh Susannah" at the top of his lungs.

Current life goals:  Learning to play the ukulele, identifying every tree he sees, collecting matchbox cars in every color, keeping his elaborate lego creations away from Edith.



Edith (November 2016) is quite the finicky toddler. She loves tackling her older siblings, hugging, and "reading" stack after stack of books.

Current life goals: Doing everything Peter does, having the cutest baby curls ever (check!), foraging in the yard, and eating whatever carbs she can find.


And our most recent addition, Lucy (February 2019). Made her entrance into this world in an impressively dramatic manner. Loves nursing, looking at fans, sucking on her fingers, and growing a lovely set of curly locks.

Current life goals: Rolling over, being held all day, kicking her legs as hard as she can, grabbing hair, and smiling and cooing at everyone she encounters.


And these are the parents!  Rosie (me) and Andrew (him) met in high school choir.  I thought I would never date him because he was a Baptist, and yet I found myself becoming more and more enamored of him during our long car rides home and hours of Instant Messaging (remember AIM?).  After a few months of dating, Andrew decided to convert to Catholicism and we realized that this relationship might work out in the long run!

6 years later (4 of which were long-distance), we were married!


Here we are on that fateful day in 2008

Now we're living in the DC area (an hour west of DC - want to hear the story of that time we bought a farm?) with our 7 kids.  Andrew's an attorney, and I'm a former music teacher, now staying home full-time with the kids as we try to navigate homeschooling and homesteading.

(If you're curious about our amazingly awkward love story, it's laid out in Part I, Part II, and Part III)

I started this blog so that my mom would stop bothering me for updates on the kids, but it has become a way to chronicle our craziness for myself as well.  And let's face it, it's fun to show the world how stinking cute these kids are!

24 comments:

  1. Wow, so glad I just found your blog through Jamie. what a beautiful family! We've had babies at very similar times, but you got an extra one the third time, you lucky girl!! I'm definitely following along with you now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ditto here - I'm loving your blog now that I found it through Jamie!

      Delete
  2. Hi Rosie! Greetings from Mary (nee Seale) Couch at CouchofRed.blogspot.com... a former St. Mark-ian! :) It's fun to see how you and your family are! Congrats on such a lovely bunch!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crazy, it's been years! Through blog stalking I see that you're in South Bend - you should totally hang out with my sister, she's there right now!

      Delete
    2. Oops! I missed your reply. :) I'll reach out to Meg- I hope she's still in town! Happy Friday to you and your family!

      Delete
  3. So glad to have found your blog through Jamie! My family just moved up to Northern VA this fall :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. My girls have my Care Bear blankie from when I was little too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, I just discovered your blog and wanted to say that your family is beautiful!! I'm jealous of your twin baby girls...I've always wanted twin girls.
    -Amelia

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Rosie,
    I have a boy born July 4, 2009, a girl born November 2010 and twin girls born May 2012. I saw your blog and thought you would understand the crazy days we have. The looks I get when I go to the store. Will be following you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No way, we are totally living the same lives! It's good to know we're not the only ones :)

      Delete
    2. We also have a boy (Jan 2009) a girl (Aug 2010) and twin girls (May 2013). Life is certainly crazy and full!

      Delete
  7. I just found your blog and I love it! Turns out I know Meg from ND ;)
    I have a boy born June 2009 who begs to be a Priest and chants in Latin on a daily basis- we get screams if he misses the Asperges Me at Mass and he has already requested an aspergillium! I also have a boy born March 2012 and another August 2013. So fun to have kids so close in age!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Small world! I'm so glad to hear that John Paul's not the only one his age who has these obsessions :) Raising future priests is tough work!

      Delete
  8. I found your blog through Kendra at Catholic All Year. I have a son born in jan 2009 (but he's my #4) and he loves to read. I'm afraid he is much more into becoming the best Jedi in the whole galaxy than with becoming a priest, but it takes all kinds, right?

    I love this introduction to your family. So great. will add you to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've only just hopped over and am already loving this blog - so sweet - and I started my blog this year for my mom, too! Well for the grandparents! I'll have to quote you on that, for sure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The only problem is if I go too long without posting, she starts to get cranky :P I've created a monster!

      Delete
  10. beautiful family :) Found your blog through Christine!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am happy to have found your blog though Bonnie! I am currently waiting on #6 to arrive and our oldest is 5...no twins. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Came back to learn more about you after meeting through the meal link-up this weekend.... What a beautiful family you have! {And rockstar mama for your delivery of your twins!!!} I went to school at Christendom so I have a feeling we might have some real-life mutual friends. :) Our family blog is actually at http://muffindome.com {did the link-up through my food blog}. Stop by and say hi sometime! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Didn't realize you live in the DC area! I was a tour guide in DC for a few months back in 2009 and have visited the district many times over the years. Also, my husband is Baptist and I originally had concerns about dating him but he has been nothing but supportive (and participatory) along the way so it works for us.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Why do all the coolest moms live on the east coast?!?! I'm sure we would be friends. Love everything you wrote! Keep on keepin' on mama. I'll add you to my prayer list of homeschooling moms!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi, I don't know Jamie or Meg. I found your blog through St Paul Center. You reviewed a book called Through the Year with Jesus. I'm happy to be here though.

    ReplyDelete

I *love* reading your kind comments and will always try my best to reply right here in the comment box so we can keep the conversation going! If you have a blog of your own, please do link to it so I can visit back :)

CopyRight © | Theme Designed By Hello Manhattan