First Confession For James!

The same day James was winning 2nd place in his den in the Pinewood Derby, he was also going to Confession for the very first time!  It was a very busy penance service, and I was super proud that James decided to go to a shorter line instead of trying to visit a certain priest.  He knew he would be going to Confession very often, so he knew he would have many more chances.

Clean soul!

James is 7!

And this boy could not have been any more excited to have a birthday, even during school!  They had a "reading celebration" on the same day, and the parents were invited to listen to the children read, instead of the opposite. 

 

Happy birthday to the boy who hugs with all his might, loves with all his heart, and thinks of others first.  Pokémon, Super Smash Bros Brawl, scooters, reading, and love of Jesus.  And whatever the big brother is doing makes you happy.  We love our sweet James!!!

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! 

August Birthday Boys, and An Incident

These boys will probably always have a shared post for their day(s) and especially this year after big family events and a party.  I am a bit partied out.

First: William is 9!  Mass, breakfast, rain, lots of rain, time with family, and cake and minions. Lots of minions.

 

And, the big 4-0 was my big brother Glenn!

 

(On a side note, I found this awesome banner maker, and I went a little crazy!)

 

Next is my big Freshman: Patrick is 14!

 

 

We had a quick visit from our priest friend, who gave us a beautiful Franciscan blessing and got us ready for the feast of the Annunciation, or Patrick's birthday. 

 

 By the way, do you see the bandaid on James' eyebrow?  He fell, while dressed as Batman, and hit his face.  The glasses broke the skin and he needed 3 stitches.  Poor thing was an amazing trooper!  After getting an expander this same week.  What a brave boy!

 

 



 

 

 

7 Quick Takes: Saint Michael, Lucy's Birthday and More Lucy

7 Quick Takes

 

Linking up with Kelly for this weeks 7 quick takes! 

 

 

1).  We had the Archangels feast day on September 29, and I had this desire to wear leggings.  Little did I realize that my longing for comfort was also liturgical in nature!  Apparently, Saint Michael is the patron of leggings.  We don't often celebrate feast days, but both Lucy and I were happy to participate.

 

 

2). The newest Reynolds grandbaby had a Baptism, and sweet Joanna is lucky enough to have Tommy as Godfather. 

 

 

3). I sent a text to my local family to let them know that we were doing cake on Sunday for Lucy.  I had a small cake, and some ice cream.  I am not one for big parties anymore for little kids.  It's more fun just getting family together if you can to let the grownups talk.  I didn't think more than a handful would come, but was TOTALLY thrilled that ALL of them came!  I have 5 siblings local, and they came with their kids and so much joy to celebrate Lucy.  It was a quick visit, but absolutely perfect. I was so touched that they wanted to come and be together, but especially for my little "Light."

 

 

These boys are soo sweet with her. 

 

We would ask Lucy if she was having a birthday, and her response would be "cake."  She was excited for the cake, but I think in all her joy of the day she wasn't even ready to eat it!  (Walmart was selling cake mixes for a $1!  I didn't stock up, but I should have!)

 

 

4).  Lucy loves Barbie.  We watch the Barbie Princess movies, (something I implemented as soon as the kids started to go to school.  Ninjago and Lego Batman were out while I was exercising.  It was time for some girly movies!) and she was so excited with her new gifts. 

 

 

This photo is one of my favorites. 

 

5).  Because it is still Lucy's birthday week, I will give you more Lucy love.

 

 

 

6).  Some James school quotes, which I love.

"I don't like coloring, but I know I have to do it, so I do."  (insert heart emoji!)

"I want to be on K2 Superstar so I don't do anything wrong during the day."

(His teacher told me that he doesn't say ANYTHING in school, so of course he can focus on his work, and is on K2 superstar.  Which will involve a prize so who wouldn't want that??)

He comes home and wants to do homework right away.  I love it.  I know it won't last forever, but that sweet boy has so much joy!

 

7).  We are back in our busy routine of meetings, camping and workout nights.  My handsome husband works so hard, and I know he could use a pick me up.  We did enjoy the shooting range, but that can get expensive.  I want to be able to do date nights, but it's tough to schedule them, as well as find a good babysitter.  Patrick is technically old enough to watch the little guys, but I don't think I am ready to leave all 5 of them for a few hours.  And, though the older ones are self-sufficient and don't need the sitting, it is still expensive for all 5.  I know.  We are in the trenches and will be for a while, but it's so hard to be sure that we are making time for "us" in this busy life.  

 







7QT: Ants go Marching, CWBN, Lucy and Honesty

Linking Up with Kelly for a 7 Quick Takes

1) We have survived the first weeks of school!  James has done really well, has come home talking about "my friend" in his class, and learning all the ins and outs of kindergarten.  I am especially excited that he wants to show me all his work!  He was the one I was worried about, since it was his first time in all day school. 

2) Lucy is the only child at home with Mommy and seems to get in more trouble when the kids come home.  She talks so much, complete sentences.  Runs to find exactly what you need her to find.  When you call her name, she says, "Yes?"

On the drive home from school, Lucy gets louder as she tries to make herself heard over all the kids.  So she says my name over and over and over again, and doesn't really have anything to say so she has a phrase: "Yogurt raisins all gone."  Sometimes drawn out, sometimes fast, but she knows it's nonsensical, but she smiles and says it anyways.

She is also THE most polite child. Her "thank yous" come after anyone does anything for her. Including change her diaper!  She says "'scoos me, Mommy!" when she interrupts and will say please more than I ever have to prompt her. Even when she is upset she will scream her polite "pleeeeeeeease!"

Her awesome curls are the talk of everywhere we go, and she has begun to notice what people say.  "Lucy's hair curly?  Lucy's hair curly."   I can't believe she is almost 2! 

3) At the beginning of September, I took a drive into Front Royal to meet some amazing Catholic bloggers at a Conference (CWBN mid Atlantic).  Some of my favorites were there, and kept me a bit tongue-tied.  The extrovert in me wanted to meet everyone, make connections and just be friends with as many as I could.  But the introvert in me won out.  I don't often take the time to do things for "me" including retreats, or even enough going out with Moms to make new friends.  I had an great time listening to the talks (by Elizabeth Foss, Mary Lenaburg, Jenny Ryan, and hosted by the sweet Rosie Hill and emceed by Kelly), but I think I wasn't prepared to learn so much, and all I could think of was that I don't fit in this group.  I struggled a lot that day, and wished I had been better prepared, and really ready to open up in groups, open my heart to new friends, and squelch that dreadful feeling of inferiority.

I have sat down to blog about it many times, but the words don't want to come.  Mary encouraged me to share exactly what I am feeling, and to be more vulnerable, and even share on Facebook.  Baby steps.



 4) Tommy and I celebrated our 14th anniversary on September 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  I went to Mass with my little kids' school, and I love hearing the same readings we heard all those years ago.  We didn't celebrate that day, but Tommy took of the next day.  We spent the day just being together, and actually went to a shooting range.  My first experience with a gun, and Tommy's first time shooting a pistol.  I was the flincher in the corner, when we first got into the room, jumping at the (really) loud guns going off.  I have to say once I got past the nervousness, I did okay.  And may even go back!  Who says you need a date night?  Date days are even better!  Especially when you have wonderful friends who will watch Lucy for the morning.

5) James has joined the boys in the house and become a Lion Scout!  The cutest little guy around is doing the pilot program in the local Pack, and he is so excited!  It's a very easy, once a month thing with the little boys, and we had the first meeting at our house.  I loved the joy of all the little boys and their parents who came for the meetings.  I teased Tommy that any parent that offers to help or lead gets first dibs in the small den.  :) 

6) Our ants have died.  They didn't last very long, but absolutely fascinating to see the progression of the ants building the tunnels.  I am still opposed to any more pets, as I can barely keep up with the humans I have in my home already.

7) The beautiful Rachel Cupps was so generous to offer new headshots of the ladies that attended the conference, and it took me some time to get up the noive to put myself in front of the camera.  But, I did, and I am so glad I have a photo that shows me my wrinkles, and the extra layers of age on my face, as well as the new dress and necklace that I just love. 

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! 

James is 5!

"I want to invite Father Lee to my birthday."

"Well, okay you have to invite him yourself."

"Okay!"

 

 

 

He marched right up to our pastor, and told him all about his big day coming.  It was about 2 weeks before the big day, so he had time to plan.  A Tuesday night, for a pastor of the largest parish in the diocese, we didn't think he would come, but I made sure he knew he was VERY welcome.  We were so excited when Father said he would join us!

 

We had a very full day on James' June 14 birthday.  We helped sing at the "Golden Agers" Mass (aka seniors Mass), and Father Lee said Mass then as well.  After Mass, he asked everyone to sing Happy Birthday to our sweet boy!  James was overwhelmed, but it was adorable.

 

 

Father asked if we could include the seminarian staying at our parish in our dinner as well, and after doing a quick mental calculation of how much meat we had to include another man's appetite, I said of course!  As a mom of boys, of course I want more interaction with seminarians.

 

We had a WONDERFUL time, though it was quick.  There was so much laughter, and we knew Father was from a large family, and we made sure the visitor Daniel was too. 

The light saber battles didn't phase our guests much, and the dinner and cake went over so well.

 

 

 

A special birthday blessing and they were off.  We hope they will come back soon!  James was floating through the day and loves being 5.