Nana Lunch and Scott Dopp Dinner

 Monday morning, I had a bunch of Chirstmas-related errands, some of which were pretty darn fun.  For lunch, all seven kids and I packed a picnic and took it to Nana's.  She supplemented our sandwiches and veggies with apple juice and stories from Christmas past.  I remember recording this same story last year or the year before, but I can't find it.  Nana is so happy and loving all the time, and fun and funny.  She admits that she can't remember things, and she is right.  I feel a sense of urgency to spend time with her.  I'm so lucky to live close by!

After Nana's lunch, we decided to have a party with just our family.  Following a discussion in which we clarified who "just our family" is, we named the party "The Scott Dopp Family Party."  In the car, the kids drew names out of a paper bag and I turned them loose at the dollar store to find a gift for their person.  At home, we got everything ready for the big party!  And by "big party," I mean what most families do together every night: have dinner.  We don't usually sit down all together; we just mill about the kitchen foraging around the dinner hour.  The family that forages together stays together...even if their dinners are not choreographed affairs complete with food prep, roundtable discussion and shared dishes duty.  Standing around the toaster, fridge and microwave is just as good, I say.

 Jingles is everywhere.  He loves all the parties.

 This is the dumbest picture of me, but it's fun that all the kids are in the background.  We used the 'wideangle selfie" mode on my new phone.

 Sweet little Araceli!

 There is nothing better than holiday party leftovers.  Nothing!

 Golda and Xanthe like to exchange notes.

Tziporah's arabesque cracked us up.

And here they are, the Magnificent Seven.  They are great kids, and Scott and I love being with them.  As Golda prepares to leave the nest, the fact that they are growing up is brought into sharp relief.  It used to be an abstract concept that yes, these children who are taking up all of our time, energy and resources, will in fact, grow up and leave.  Now that it's a reality, every minute seems too short, every day seems to fly too quickly.  Every trial, every frustration, every challenge, is mitigated by the overpowering reality that it's all too temporary.  I am grateful to have tiny kids at the same time as we're experiencing the next phase.  Honestly, I can tell you that the little kids are SO easy.  And I think it's because I have far more perspective than I used to.  Not that it was ever drudgery; I'm wired to love being a mom.  But when people say things like "I don't know how you do it," I do feel a twinge of guilt because it's so very do-able, and I love having a family so very much.  That said, I certainly remember days of exhaustion, loneliness and boredom, living away from family and having little girls.  And moments of despair regarding parenting decisions and the kids' well-being are still frequent and at times overwhelming.  That will never change, I'm afraid.  But all in all, it's a journey that I am thankful for and happy with, and one that I hope never ends.  As tired as the concept of eternity makes Scott, I'm sure he's as grateful as I am that families are forever.  As long as there are naps in heaven!