Time To Catch Up

No, I didn't take time off to catch up.  Heavens, I don't think I will ever feel caught up.  No, I think I need to do a quick catch up on the blog.  And, because I am about chronology, I will try to put things in order.  Mostly pictures which are harder now, as my nice camera officially broke. Very very sad day.

• Lucy is up first, and she began a new adventure: Atrium!  One day a week, and this girl has loved every minute of it.  Don't call it school, just call it Atrium.  My sister teaches the older grades and has poked her head in to watch (Lucy says, "Aunt Jenn sat in the chair and did not talk") and says Lucy has great concentration.  My most favorite thing of all is hearing that sweet voice sing all the songs. 
  
• Tommy turned the big 4-0 in October, and I will do a blog post about that. :)
• Lucy turned 4!  We went all out with her love of unicorns, and I made her a special cake.  I think she liked it.  
  
  
  
  
• Halloween was fun with friends and good creative costumes.  As the kids get older, we have found that going out trick-or-treating is more fun in a group and Emma has found the sweetest girls and we are more than happy when she is able to have some outings with them.  Lucy spent the whole day in her costume.
  
   Emma is Cordelia Biddle from the movie "The Happiest Millionaire", William is a Pokémon trainer, James is Harry Potter, and Lucy is Violet from "The Incredibles."  
• Patrick had his first Homecoming/Enthronement Dance.  He went stag, though he had tried to ask a young lady, but it didn't work out.
  
  
  
  
• James  lost a front tooth!  Even pulled it himself.                                                                          
• Our family celebrated Thanksgiving at our home with all the locals on the Gregory side.    I was so happy we could accommodate Joe and his wheels, and everyone else.  :)       
  
• William is officially an altar server, and had been doing an amazing job.  It is a joy to see all the boys serving together some days.
  
•  December brings Saint Nicholas cookie making.  I need to remember to double to batch next year.  I never make enough for all of us to enjoy.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Our family went into DC for a very cold, and muddy ALS walk for my brother and his family.  It was a very different feel this year, as you see the progression of the disease.  It was a joy to see all the love and support of Joe and his family.  Please keep praying for him! 
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May. Again.

So, when I said May was a bit crazy, I wasn't kidding. 

My in-laws have a big RV, and decided to make a trip around the US to visit some of the amazing sights and all of their kids and grandkids.  On the stop with Mary and Ryan in Oregon, the week of Mother's Day, my MIL fell and broke her hip and femur.  Surgery, rehab, and a much longer stay in Oregon, and lots of uncertainty made for a very long month.  But Mary is a nurse, and the fact that they were near her and able to be with my in-laws during all this made all of us this far away much happier. 

Exactly one month later, on June 18, she was given the A-OK from her surgeon to return home in the RV.  Their trip home also includes 2 extra passengers: Tommy and Paul. 

 

These amazing men hopped on a plane to help drive the RV and help with the long trip back.

 

It might have looked a little like this:

 

 

 

Of course they will make the best out of this trip, as my sweet husband always does. He will get to go through some states he has never seen, and even some Wal-Marts in some never before traveled states. Even a tough situation. We aren't sure how long this trip will last, and we are praying they make it home safely! 

 

7 Quick Takes: Birthday, Halloween, and When The Saints Go Marching In

 

Linking up with Kelly for my sporadic blogging of 7 quick takes.

 

1).  Tommy's birthday was a busy day, but we managed to have cake and sing to him about 7:45 at night.  Great time for extra dose of sugar.  We love our Daddy so much!  

 

 

2). Halloween at school gives the kids a Penny Bazaar.  It's an hour of games, cupcakes, prizes (win or lose the game) and fun.  James went around with his 4th grade "buddy" to help him navigate the games, and I had only Lucy, and helped run the game for James' class, being one of the room liaisons.

 



 

3). Halloween was an extra special event this year.  Emma invited a new girl from school to come out with us along with her cousin.  One of them had never been Trick or Treating before, so it was a treat for us to be part of the excitement that the girls had.

 

 

 

We had Captain America, a sweet Bumble Bee, Linus and Charlie Brown and 3 cowgirls. We got a little bit of a late start since I always insist on taking pictures.  I decided to go around the neighborhood until the little guys got tired (and I got too cold).

 

 

Lucy was fully aware of the joys of candy in the bucket, and held on tightly to the pink bucket she got from her favorite Miss Marjorie.  She is still holding the bucket.  And, when she took a break in the stroller her sweet William kept putting candy in her pumpkin to be sure she had some as well.

 

 

4).  The next day was one of my favorite traditions at All Saints: the Parade of Saints by the 3rd grade at Mass.  Though all through the school are presentations on saints. 

 

William was Saint Stephen, the first martyr.  He chose the Deacon garb, and my talented mother made the costume.  Really, the whole group had some amazing costumes, and it was so impressive to see the details that each child focused on for their saint.  Most were immediately identifiable!

  

 

 

5).  As we have begun the month of the poor souls ("Pray for the dead, and the dead will pray for you" sung to the tune of the funeral march) we have taken time to go visit our big cemetery nearby.  This is the Confederate Cemetery, though I have been visiting it for 30 years and never realized that it had this in the back.  I love the peace of a graveyard, and I love sharing the traditions of the All Saints, All Souls feasts. 

 

My sister Jenn has a great post to help us remember why and what to do, because I forget every year.

 

 

6). We try very hard to say a daily rosary.  Some days are easier than others, but I love the phase that we have begun.  We have 5 children and I couldn't wait until all the kids could lead a decade on their own.  I was one of 7, but one of the younger ones, so I was always more willing to lead and did quite often as I was young.  It's a silly milestone, but one I was eager to reach.

 

All the kids can pray a decade alone.  Lucy volunteers (Me! ME! Me!!!) each time I announce a new mystery and she can say all the prayers.  It's adorable, and just makes my heart melt. 

 

7). I am going to admit something, of which you probably could already figure out because I am not a patient person.  I don't like museums.  They are not fun to go to with a gaggle of kids.  All of the kids are at different stages, all enjoy different things, and all seem to go in all different directions when we get there.  It's the stress of stopping, hurrying, counting, and when we leave, I often feel like I haven't seen anything except the backs of my kid's heads, so when Tommy suggests a museum, I usually put up a bit of a fight.

 

But I think this one changed my views.

 

We stopped at the Marine Corps Museum the other day, all dressed up after going to Mass.  I wasn't sure how it would go, but I just want to say that this place is AWESOME.  Each kid had fun, and each section had something that would capture each child's attention. 

 

I don't often say this, but I would like to go back to that museum. 

7 Quick Takes Friday: Otherwise known as the Push to Blog

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I have blogged.  I have so many pictures and events that I need to blog about, especially as the  school year is crawling, um coming to a close. 

7QT:

1. All the children are in the last quarter of school.  Officially.  We are in the final stretch, and will have a Kindergarten (whaaaa?) screening for James in the next week.  The kids are really having a great year, and I am very proud of their grades and hard work. 

2. My Patrick did a project on Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy.  His teacher told my sister that he was a "genius" when he did his presentation.  This project has launched a beautiful devotion to this prayer and he has eaten up all the books and cd's he can find.  He even discovered an organization that has the mission to spread the message of Divine Mercy and he has made his plans to be part of them someday.  God willing, maybe as a priest.  But wow!  Grace is abounding in my young man.

3. William has just reached his next rank in scouts, officially.  He is now a Wolf scout. 

Next step for him is First Communion on Mother's Day weekend.  We will do it with his cousin, so the family will all be able to do all of it together.  Now, if I could just take care of his gifts to be sure they come in time. 

4. My days are very busy chasing Lucy, who has decided to climb on everything.  All chairs, tables, and couches are fair game.  She climbs and says, "Gee down!"  As she nods her head.  She is also at the take everything out, drop and keep going.  I am exhausted!  She repeats so many words, understands so much, and is just an all around stinker.  So cute.

5. I want to take a moment to draw your attention to my awesome husband in the photo above.  Notice anything?  My man has been dropping some serious weight.  He is doing incredible in his journey charting in over 50 pounds lost!  That scout shirt used to be much tighter.  He has been working out with my same trainer, and loves it.  It originally began with the 21 day fix, and he has just continued with that lifestyle of salads, fruits and veggies.  Lots of them!  (not to mention the money saved from packing his lunch every day)  To see the difference, at least from badge to badge, take a look at Tommy last March.

This is TRX and it is so much harder than it looks!  Look at that pike!  Lucy loves to join us when go, even though I go in the morning and Tommy goes at night, she is so good.  I don't usually let her roam around, but Tommy did and she loved being part of it all!  Um, but she will go back in her johnny jumper when I am at class. 

6. On a more personal note, April has not been an easy month.  Our family (my own, and my siblings) have had our share of some big crosses to handle.  Some health, financial, emotional, and some maybe they haven't even shared.  At Mass today, I felt the Gospel was aimed directly at me, from John 14: 1-6.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled."
"Master.....how can we know the way?"
"I am the way, the truth and the life."
I need to stop worrying.  I have to trust.  Even when I am going through a darker time when I feel alone, or "put upon" by my family, or overwhelmed in worry, I need to remember who is in charge and who has prepared a place for me in Heaven.  God has given me this life, with 5 children.  He will provide and take care of each one.  His Way.  The Way.

7. Last Saturday, I got the decorating bug.  Now, hold your horses, it wasn't a BIG bug, especially because this lady doesn't like bugs of ANY kind, but the big ones, **shudder**.  I decided to do some picture hanging, changing, and going through some boxes in the basement.  You know, boxes that have artwork in them from the last house that just haven't come out since we moved in, oh,  2 1/2 years ago. 

This is a wall sticker that I found at Target, and thought it was about time I put this up SOMEplace where we would have a good reminder.  The kitchen area above the light switch looked like one of the best places, as we are always there.  It's not super eloquent, but it is a great reminder for me each day.  I moved some other items to different walls, and hung a quote that I was SURE was by Saint Francis of Assisi.  Darn it all if I hung it, and my sister said it is NOT one of his.  Bummer though it is, I still like the quote.  "Preach the gospel always, and when necessary use words."  I found an article about this and I wasn't too keen on the writers take on the quote, even though we don't know who said it.  That's another post, not for a "quick take."

Linking up with Kelly for more SQT.

Our Best Daddy

Tommy celebrated his 37th birthday this week, though if you asked him, he would tell you he's 34.  That's what happens when you get old.  You forget things.

 I love this picture with all the kids, but especially Lucy's bed head in this shot.  We had to wake her to celebrate with all of us. 

 We tried to use the trick candles on the cake to surprise him, but he knew as soon as they were lit and began sparking.  I made his favorite, usually made by my Mom, carrot cake!  But, I need to whip the cream cheese icing longer and add more powdered sugar to make it thicker.  Next year!

The kids got a kick out of how many breaths it took, and this isn't his first time blowing out those candles!

Our best Daddy.  He sacrifices every day, waking up early to catch a train for about an hour to get to work.  He works in DC, where the pressure is high and sometimes the people are not the nicest.  He takes a train home, to come to a house full of little people - full of noise, full of love, and sometimes (very often times) not so clean.  It's usually a quick dinner, then off to an activity: exercise class, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts (usually bringing one or more children along).  He has added an extra item to help out at Patrick's school.  His evenings are busy, but he always finds time to give each child a slice of himself.  He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Eucharistic Minister, and Jail visitor.

And, if 5 children to love isn't a big job by itself, he has me.  I call with crazy questions, text him incessantly, cry for ridiculous reasons and am always worried.  About everything.  He will answer my calls, laugh at my jokes, hug me when I am at my craziest and help get me on the right path to Heaven.  He has so much love for God and keeps our family together with his love.

My husband works so hard, gives with all of himself, and keeps all of us together.  We love you so much, our Best Daddy, and we thank you for all you do!!!!

September! When did you sneak in?

With the start of school, a new school, and an always worried momma, the computer, pictures, and the blog have sadly been neglected.  It seems like I spend most of my days in the car, driving to and from the 2 drop offs, 2 pick ups and the frequent drive through of the many fast food places nearby.  James starts giving me his order when we pass the golden arches much sooner than I care to admit. 

On that busy note, I keep thinking that I will have more time after this, or this, or just a minute here and I can blog.  Oh, and I should blog about that!  I will definitely have a good post about that.  Maybe even current events?  Hahahaha.  Who am I kidding?!?!  We don't watch TV.  My "current" events seem to come from my blips on Facebook, Instagram, and the occasional conversation with the husband.  I am so not up on the things happening. And I so often forget things even after I write it down. 

But, in overview, we have had a busy month.  Tommy and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary!  We had a quiet evening out, very cheaply, and just talked together.  We don't get to do that much, though we should.  Our anniversary is the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross.  We have learned that marriage is the cross, as Father Mosimann told us those years ago. We had the readings of the day, and have tried to live and love our cross as best as we can.  We have been very blessed in our years together, and I know that the Lord has great things in store for us.

Patrick is really enjoying his time at Seton.  My eyes see fruits in his love of God, and his joy in small things from school.  Dodge ball is his favorite thing right now, and he has already prepared his high school classes and what he wants to take!  He asked me if he could take Chemistry next year!  He has the brain for sciences and math, and this makes me so happy.  He has signed up for clubs, and made some new friends, and continued with old ones.  It is so special to feel like we are home, a place where I spent so many years growing up.

There have also been some camping, and Tommy took the 3 oldest to a family camp.  Once again, the hothouse plant that is also known as his wife stayed home with the baby and James.  They always have a great time, even though Patrick's allergies always act up dreadfully in his eyes when he camps.  Next trip, William and James should be able to go! 

I should add that there have been some lows this month to go along with the highs.  With the van, it made the beginning of school a bit more stressful.  Car trouble is never fun, and when it has a big price tag it hurts a little more.  With a new school comes new stresses, new expenses, and new schedules.  To tell one child "yes" and another "no" to balance the family life is tough.  This momma doesn't do well spending my days in the car, shuttling kids to and fro activities.  It goes well with my mommy-guilt that is in full swing this time of year, when the kids are so thrilled to be where they are and want to do more! more! more!  and I am screaming no!no!No! inside. 

We are excited to start a new month of October, with a birthday for Lucy (!) and feasts galore! 

Father's Day Goodness

Mark the calendars, kids.  Your mom was READY this year!  Father's Day did NOT sneak up on me.  I decided that we needed to do some updated photos of the kids for Daddy's work (since Lucy has not made it in photo form yet) and for the Grandpas.  Originality, thy name is not Fuzzy, but, I don't care.  Our wonderful friend who helped us at Christmas and for Lucy's 6 month was more than happy to help us again! 

I know, for a fact, that it is very difficult to get 5 kids all looking, smiling, and paying attention at once.  Especially when there is one particular child that, no matter how many times you prep that child, will always be moving, giving a baby a kiss, giving some silly face, and just not cooperating.  That child, bless their heart, is the one that we just struggle with when we try to do this.  Though you can't tell from this shot. 

And, this was his ONLY bad one.  But, I love this stinker.  Bless him, he was not the culprit.  But, despite these comedy of errors, we had a cute photo and even a chalkboard for Grandpa.  We used my favorite go-to for family photos, calendars and gifts, Snapfish.com, for some table top panels and a wall panel for the photos.  They turned out Uh-MAZING, and I love that there is no glass to worry about, and the quality was perfect.  My FIL was extra happy because it could go in his new RV.  :)

I am determined to put photos on the walls, and promise some bloggy photos to show my progress.  Perhaps you could help me?  Oh, that is an idea!  Future blog post of some walls to fill!!!!  Tell me how!  Send me ideas!  Let's conquer it together!