Beginning 2019

January has been said to the be the most depressing month of all the year: after Christmas, long holidays, furlough, cold weather, etc.

Oh, did you catch that?  Yep.  My husband was furloughed from work for 5 weeks.  The longest government (partial) shutdown in history.  It began on December 22, right before Christmas, and the same time that our family had another piece of news.  I shall start at the beginning.

(Yes, readers, I know I am very behind in my posts.  My brother mentioned that it was time to update my blog, and with the many snow days we have had, I decided I would give it a try.)

Christmas Eve we decided to go to an early vigil Mass.  4:15 to be exact.  Emma sang with my Mom, and I was super proud of her poise and joy in singing for God.  Our family brought up the gifts and Lucy was able to hold a ciborium and did it SO well!

Because Daddy was furloughed (ahem, or shall we say, my freak out of spending too much at a sit down meal with my parents and other family), we decided to pick up an easy dinner and go home, on a route that we don't normally take.  We are in our van and just down the road a bit, and we have to stop completely, because there is a man in the road. Whatever he is doing, he never sees us, and keeps doing whatever is so important.  As we wait with our hazards on, we feel a big bump/crash.  Lucy and Emma start crying immediately, and it takes me a moment to realize we have been rear-ended. With ALL of my children in the car.  All the boys in the back seat, and please Lord let us all be safe.  

We got creamed.  Called family nearby, who came to get the kids out of the car (Emma was leading the rosary as we waited for the police and my sweet brother-in-law and nephew to come and help) and took us home as Tommy and his dad, who arrived later, came to help.  No injuries at the scene meant no ambulance would come, thankfully.

We came home, made a quick taco dinner, and decided to go to the ER to make sure we are all okay.  I was so pleased to be told that we had a wonderful family and that we are all okay.  Tommy tried to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" on the phone between check ups to make it feel like Christmas Eve.  

Tommy's car has enough seats to fit all of us, very close together, and we found out the van was a total loss.  We only had that Odessey for a short time (this was my most favorite van ever!), and thankfully both insurances helped us during the furlough with 2 paychecks not coming. (We won't talk about the fact that it may happen again...)

The family was able to get through this month of craziness, and Tommy stayed home re-organizing, purging and keeping busy.  The Lord provided for us greatly during those 5 weeks.  Tommy has been driving his Dad's Duallie (truck with big hips).  We hope to get a new car when the tax rebates come through.  Saint Anthony will help us find a new set of wheels.

Tommy went back to work this week, in the middle of judging science fairs at both schools, a polar vortex and snow storms. Lucy asked for Daddy every day.  The kids never got tired of seeing Daddy at pick up and drop off, and he started to get into the groove of the routine.  I miss the help (I hate driving), and the perspective he has on life.  As he told me, sometimes he doesn't realize things are a stress until I tell him it is stressful.  He just sees it, solves it, and moves on.  So, when I say I stress enough for both of us, it's not far from the truth.  LOL

First Days of School 2018

Seton kids go first. 

 

8th grade for Emma!  I don't think she slept the night before school started.  The excitement of new friends and school work makes her happy!

 

Sophomore year for Patrick.  (Oh my goodness)  He wasn't quite as excited, but has the desire to do every single club, play and movie the school is offering.  Schoolwork will be a challenge this year, with a full schedule. 

 

When the big kids have to go, the little ones get up too! 

 

Then, the next First Day of School came!

5th grade!  His teacher is full of energy, and quite an impressive resume.  We are happy to have new friends to choose and help feel welcome.

2nd grade!  2 sacrament this year, a growth spurt over summer, and the joys of old friends. 

 

God bless all the teachers, students, and the parents.  We are so blessed to have this community, both schools, and God has been so good to us. 

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.