Patrick is 15!

 

And when you have certain loves, you are old enough to plan and decide how you want to spend your day.  Shorter Christian Prayer book from his Godfather, and the t-shirt as a reminder for him as well. 

 

Classic Rock, good friends, food, and video games.

 

Best birthday for him in a long time!  Happy birthday to my Assumption Blessing, smart, sweet, and wealth of knowledge about Led Zeppelin. We hope this Sophomore year is the best ever.   

We love these boys!  It is a blessing to know them all.

Happy 10th William!

 

We had to say goodbye to our cousins visiting, and we braved the super hot day for a zoo visit!

 

 

The day included a picnic lunch, a visit to the Zoo and the Kimono dragon (most important visit for the birthday boy).  The evening had an Eagle scout ceremony for some amazing young men in the Troop, and an errand with Mommy when she locked her keys in the car and we had an adventure as we waited.  It was deemed "the best birthday ever" and he was so happy!  We love you, sweet William!

 

(It's Still) Summer Recap

Yes.  Technically it is still summer.  I think I need to add some odds and ends about the summer, and will just have to do a birthday post for the boys and first day of school posts.  I must, of course.  :)

• First and foremost, Tommy, Paul and my in-laws all made it home safely, just before the 4th of July.  The trip was almost 2 weeks, and  they enjoyed the great western states so much.  Yellowstone keeps calling Tommy's name, and he would love to get back there soon!  Mom Reynolds had a great recovery and we are so glad everyone is home.  That trip was once in a lifetime!  I just have a few highlights.  And only 1 blown tire.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

#PrayForJoe

• While Tommy was away, William and I had a visit to the White House with the Webelo scouts.  William had never experienced the amount of security involved in going to the President's house and wasn't sure we would ever make it inside.  We even met a Secret Service Agent who was an Eagle Scout, and very encouraging to the boys to keep going.  I loved spending the day with my boy.  I bummed a ride from some really amazing friends who took such great care of us, since I am not a fan of driving to DC. 
  
   
  
   
  
• My oldest both had some service weeks this summer, and both came home joyful and happy to do it again!  Patrick attended the Parish Work Camp in Richmond for a week, and the photos and videos I received were such gems.  I love technology for the instant check in on the kids.  Emma worked in the music room at the Vacation Bible School at our parish for her Confirmation hours, as well as Middle School Mission: local service jobs with kids of her own age.  There is nothing more joyful than helping others and giving.  I need to find those kinds of things all year to keep up that feeling.
• The biggest event of the summer was the 10 day visit from my brother and his family of 6 girls!  We were able to enjoy 2 of the girls full time in our home and it was wonderful. Celebrating our summer birthdays, including my brother Joe.  We were missing about 9 from the big family photo.  Not bad though.  Even with some yellow jacket stings, we still had smiles.  The visit was filled with love and much giggles, and it was a blessing to be together as my Sister-in-Law, Melanie, was having surgery. It went well, thanks be to God. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  My in-laws celebrated  their 49th wedding anniversary!  It was lovely to be with family, even some from out of town arrived to be with them.  We heard some fun stories from my Mother-in-law's 2 brothers who came.  Family is such a blessing!  (Side Note: I realized at this event that my camera is a bit older than I would like, and I found that the iPhone X was taking better pictures than me.  The shutterbug in me is so frustrated with this piece of information, and didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked.  But I do love taking pictures, and having the memories.  Though I need to get better about albums so the kids can sit and look at them.)
  
  
  
   
• We celebrated 2 birthdays, dubbed "The best birthday ever!" More to come on those.  Apparently when Mommy doesn't plan, they go better.  

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.

All About Lucy: Birthday, Big News, and Sparkles

My, my, how time does fly when you spend your days scrolling the book of faces and try, very unsuccessfully to keep house.  My days are full, but not really as full of what I hoped would be going on this year.  It's funny how so many people say that with one child at home I should be able to do so much.  I am not nearly as busy as I am when the kids are home.  And though this is not my first year with just one at home, I still have this response:

Bwahahahaha!!! 

Well, in theory that would be amazing.  But, have you met any 2 year old who lets you do anything, uninterrupted?  Or, if you decide to potty train (oh my goodness I always forget how hard that is) and you feel like a helicopter pilot/mom.  That.  That ALONE fills the days.  Can I have a nickel for every time I say the word "potty"?

 

(Don't worry.  It was clean.  Never been used)

 

She's done really well!  I'm super proud of her, though some days I wonder if I started her too early.  But, we persevere!  And I love not worrying about diapers.  

Lucy had her very first dentist appointment, and though I told her she would be going after Mommy, so she could watch, she very seriously informs me that "I am going first."  Well okay then. 

 

She did uh-mazing.  And, when she was all done, she says, "I have sparkly teeth!" 

Love this girl.

 

Next up in this awesome girl's adventures is Lucy turning 3!

We had princess stuff everywhere, and are still enjoying the balloon daddy bought for his Princess.  I sent him to a fun store called Party Co for a cake topper.  I couldn't even fit it in the photo!

 

 

In not so exciting news, I tried to get to a local Bible study again.  Lucy must have had some serious bad memories as she started crying as soon as we entered the building.  I could hear her crying all the way down the hall again, and it broke my heart.  For a little one with so much energy and spunk, she is not a fan of "daycare" scenarios.  I was really hoping that she would feel comfortable, as I wanted to try to join a gym (though I doubt I will get my tush in the door of one)

 

Lucy understands so much, will help me remember things in the grocery store and keep the boys in line.  Her hair and curls are the talk of everyone wherever we go, and I just hope that they will stay!  I love that she is all about dresses, girly shoes, princesses, and purses, tea parties and fancy clothes.  It's adorable!



 

Solar Eclipse!

The excitement was everywhere.  But especially online with all the things you were supposed to do, not supposed to do,  where to find the eclipse glasses, and how to use them.  Keep your eyes safe!  We were in the path of the partial eclipse, and chose not to drive to "totality" (which sounds eerily like an occult).  But, we were able to get glasses from a NASA visitor to the scout Pack meeting (score!), and we made some viewing boxes.

August 21, 2017!  We got excited, ran to have our teeth cleaned, and came home ready for the fun!

 

We tried really hard to view the eclipse, and see as much as we could, but the clouds were not cooperative.  The view in the box was the best, as I couldn't figure out hot to take a pic through my glasses.  It was an adventure!

 My husband was able to see it all, even the cool half moon shadows on the ground through the trees.  But, we had rain.

 

And though we kept trying, it was not really as exciting as we had hoped.

 

But, we will have another in 2024, and we will save our boxes and glasses for the next one!