Last Days of School

To refresh your memory, or make you feel old, this is the First Day(s) of School.

 

 

First one to finish!  Off to 8th grade after an AMAZING year first year at a new school.  She received an award in almost every single subject.  Which means that she had grades 95 or higher. Go Emma!  So proud.  She even entered an essay contest and came in the top 3 of the Junior High. 

 

Second finisher is the new 10th grader.  First honors, and a year full of first honors, and growth even noticed by his teachers.  I am so proud of his journey as a young man.  He has been attending a weekly prayer group, youth ministry, and even decided to go to Work Camp.

 

Award for the longest year ever, goes to these boys who finished 2 weeks after the big kids.  William is going to be in 5th grade next year. Finished the year with a very tough teacher with 2nd honors.  When asked what he liked the most, he said "sparkle was my favorite."  Why?  Because he knew the teacher's pattern for calling on the students.  And he used to position himself in a certain place so he could "always come in 2nd."  What an amazing kid. 

 

This boy!!  What a year!  2nd grade will be so great for him. He loved all the reading, and how much his teacher challenged him, and with each note she sent home thanking me for the work I do as his mom and "first reader" brought me to tears. He sprouted and grew this year in height as well! 

It's Musical Time!

Seton puts on a musical every spring.  I spent many years with my siblings in the plays, and always enjoyed the fun.  My kids decided to join the list of cast members for "7 Brides for 7 Brothers."

 

 

The play was SO good, so fun, and we are so proud of our Lumberjack and Chorus member!

 

Lucy enjoyed every minute, and has been quoting and singing all the songs.   I am so happy to see the kids get involved and spend time with such great kids. 

(I had to add this one.  My son isn't doing his "turtle" smile.  I actually got him to laugh.

Birthday for Me

 

I had a birthday.  I am very late in telling you about it, but it happened.  And I am now two-more-years-to-40 years old. 

 

My sweet husband tried satisfy my sweet tooth with a suuuuper chocolate cake and bought me a HUGE camping chair.  He's trying to give me a hint.  LOL  I'm not sure it will be used on an actual camping trip, but it is an awesome chair.  My kids made cards, and spent the day with me.  And my Emma. Oh my Emma.

 

She made this.  MADE this for me.  My patron saint and his prayer. Sweet girl has taught herself to write calligraphy.  Isn't this lovely?!?  The most precious gift this year!

 

 

Teen Number 2 In The House!

Emma turned 13 over our Christmas vacation!  We decided that this year was the year of just family,(as in no party with friends) and I was so proud that she never complained, or fussed.  She was even happy after everyone left, and thanked me for making it just family fun.

 

 

Happy birthday to our amazing young lady.  The flower, the independent, organizer and sweet sister. (William had a tumble on his face right before the family arrived)

Of course we had more photo fun.  :)

 

 

 

My Emma

My heart is just so full right now. I want to share some of my joy with you all.

 

I have this 12 year old daughter who is just amazing.  I am totally floored by her passion, attitude and achievements.  This young lady has enough confidence to sing at the microphone at Mass and volunteer to do it!  She is at her first year at a new school and has just done amazing.  In her first month, she received a Merit Award from the 7th grade girls at school, and it says that she demonstrates Christ-like qualities.   

 

 

I call this girl my flower.  She blooms where she is planted (grows taller than me), and loves her new school, makes friends easily, stays away from the drama and has amazing grades.  She helps around the house, can see the need of things to be done and often will step up to help with the small ones. Emma is in Squire Roses, sings in the choir, and the chamber choir.  Emma is always writing, drawing and planning the next thing to do.  Needless to say, but I am so proud of her!  The teachers at the school may say that she looks like me, but her personality is the definite opposite of mine.  It is a joy to watch her grow.  I am grateful for my Emma!

 

First day in the 8th, 6th, 3rd, and Kindergarten! (oh my)

School.  It has begun!  And I am still not sure I am ready, but here we go!

 

 

8th grade.  His tie has R2D2 on it.  He started last week, on a Wednesday.

 

He was up, and so ready to go!  My big boy is going to school!  These guys started on Monday.

 

Kindergarten!

 

I have another middle schooler in the house.  Emma is in 6th.  (whaaaa?)

 

And my ever casual, no big deal William is in 3rd.

 

Lucy knows the days will be different.  I think that is why she isn't the happiest in the pictures. 

 

God bless all the teachers, new and old friends, and keep them close to you, Jesus! 

School Year 2015-16

My kids have been in school a few weeks, and I just realized I never put a first day post!

 

 Patrick began at Seton for 7th grade on a Wednesday.  That afternoon, our van decided it needed a new alternator and broke down not even a block from school.  Quite the story to tell for the first day.  James kept saying, "And then Mommy's car got dead."  It was a busy afternoon!

William is a big 2nd grader this year! Big sacraments, and a whole new hallway with the bigger kids at school.  He has already found himself a new best friend, and only talks about the girls in his class.

James will be doing preschool at home with Mommy, and we will keep enjoying every second together, and his sweet smile and patience with all our driving and pickups and drop offs.

Emma is a 5th grader this year, almost as tall as Mommy.  She is almost too tall to be wearing a jumper, and her feet are bigger than mine.  I have to keep wearing some shoes with a little heel!

My kids at 2 schools means that some of them get to catch up on the news and fun of the others that they miss. 

God bless all the teachers, students and the parents who make so many sacrifices to get to this point every year.  We love you kids, so much.  Please, Lord, guide their steps, and keep them with you all year.

Last Day of the School Year 2015

 I think the kids were excited, as they were all up at 5:45! For the last day.  Here is the first day of school, which shows children that are a little smaller, no green glasses, and a missing little Lucy.

 On to a new year!  After outstanding report cards, we have a new 2nd grader, a new 7th grader (as well as a new school) and a new 5th grader. 

So proud of these kids and how hard they worked.  Emma and Patrick received Second Honors for the whole year.  They had one B that put them in that category.  The rest were A's!  William progressed very well under a really challenging teacher, and really excelled. We are so grateful for all the wonderful teachers and staff for this year.  SO much support during this year of adjustments, but especially with our health struggles with Lucy and the adjusting to middle school. 

Our Start To Holy Week

 When your Saturday starts with a breakfast with the Easter Bunny and a freezing egg hunt (like 25 degrees with wind chill freezing), you are never sure what the Lord has in store.

Tommy decided we should all join him to go back to his office in the City, since he forgot his wallet.  Kind of an important thing, so we all went.  The groanings, moanings, and grumblings from the back seat were just so frustrating.  I was feeling overwhelmed, thinking we had failed in our Lent.  It just wasn't feeling very "lent-ish."  Pizza picnic in a deserted office on a weekend, in DC, and Tommy says we should make some kind of pilgrimage.  You know, to help us in our journey to Easter.  I have to admit that I was not too keen.  He mentioned 2 options, and I was trying really hard to stay quiet and not complain about the one he chose.

We arrived at the John Paul II Institute, and Tommy asks the receptionist if there is a museum, etc.  I overhear her (as I am across the room, ready for flight since I am not sure this is the place to be with 5 kids) say that yes, there is, but you should go upstairs to see the Relics first. 

Um, what?

We get upstairs, and are late, sitting in the back of a long room, and they are in the middle of a meditation.  I look at the booklet and see that there are 8 relics - mostly FIRST class - all from the Passion of Jesus.  I start to melt, and just can't believe how the Lord has drawn us here.  I am thanking Tommy's angel who helped get us here, and my angel who nudged me not to fight.  It was unbelievable.  There aren't that many people, but we are able to sit in the back, I get my heavy zoom on the camera, and tell Tommy to help us out.

This lady has a stack of Holy Cards, and has given some to Patrick and told him (gave him a mission, more like) that if he touches the cards to the relics, his card would become a 3rd class relic.  He is ready and more focused on that than anything else, but I am so pleased that the kids are behaving.

 

The 8 relics were:

A piece of the table from the Last Supper

A piece from the pillar where He was scourged

A piece of the thorns from the crown of thorns

A piece of the True Cross

A bone of Saint Longinus

A piece of a cloth that touched the Shroud/burial cloth

A Picture that was touched to the St. Veronica Veil

A piece of one of the nails

 

Unbelievable.  They tell us it's time to venerate the relics, and I see a lady come all the way to the back, look at Tommy, and say, "Would you like to hold a relic?"  Just like Simon, pulled from the crowd to help.  He got to hold the thorn relic while everyone was venerating it, as well as the picture.  I was thrilled for him, but nervous how I would manage all the kids and the lines, but I look up and Patrick and WIlliam are on their mission with the holy cards, and I have the stroller and Lucy.  I start to worry a bit while I look for a way to get around the columns and chairs, and I pick a spot that I can do, and it turns out to be perfect. I get Emma and James in the line with me, and we are able to venerate the first 7, and go around to the True Cross in the middle.

I am a blubbering mess by this time, and James keep asking me why I am crying.  I am so overwhelmed with joy and gratefulness, and I just can't believe we are here.  God is so good!

 

We get to the middle, and James decides he wants to do what the big kids are doing, and put his holy card on the relic.  I just caught that moment, and then I told him to give Jesus a kiss.  He reached up and kissed it no hesitation.  I'm not sure any of my other kids kissed or touched the relics, but they had their mission with the holy cards. 

 

I still can't believe we were able to start our week on such a beautiful note.  Not only that, but we got to do a little exploring in the museum, which will need a trip back, definitely. 

 

And, the way home?  Questions about the Shroud of Turin, saints, miracles, and my heart just expanded so much the more.



Emma Is 10!

My Emma is double digits.  Or, if you ask her, she will say "Jazz hands!"  Daddy took her to the store to pick a cake, and this is what he came home with.  The two of them did it together.

 

 And, she picked the icing to go with it.  Quite a combination.

 Notice the hands blocking the boys.  Ah, family love and sharing.

 

 For her big One-Oh, we took a girls day and got her ears pierced!  Godmother Aunt Jessie came along, and Emma was so nervous and excited.  No tears, and no fainting either (I was secretly worried that she might!  She has gotten woozy over cutting her finger before.)

 She picked the "almost diamonds" for her earrings. 

 Ta-da!  All done. 

God bless my sweet Emma.  With her independence and strong will, she will be an amazing woman.  Her love of reading is incredible, and her joy with her siblings is just a joy to watch.  She is a little mommy and always willing to help. We are so proud of you, and love you lots and lots, our little Tax Baby!!