Winter Odds and Ends

The incorrupt heart of Saint John Vianney came to the John Paul II institute in DC, and we brought the 3 little guys to visit.  It was a true pilgrimage: Mass, confession, relics, and rosary.  I realized we don't often make a trip to such a wealth of tourism and fun in DC, and we will try to fix that over spring break.  But the best plans of mice and men.....

 We also visited National Arboretum, and will try to come back when there is more green on the trees. It was lovely!

 William prepared our home for the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  One of my favorite photos of their time together.

The day after my birthday turned out to be snow day (one of many this winter) for everyone in the family!  Tommy made a cake, we watched Henry V and spent a quiet day together.  Introverted me loves being home with all the family!

Since we live in Virginia, our seasons have such a variety, and sometimes the weatherman is spot on, and other times we are surprised with the result. Our superintendent of schools has been calling a holiday the night before, even when some of the area doesn't get "weather" that has been predicted.  It has made for some interesting "rain" days, but when it is cold and Flu season, there are some days that I think it's okay to keep the kids away from each other.  It has made each school re-evaluate their decision on how to call snow days, so we shall see.  I'm such a chicken that I don't think I would drive on bad days anyway, so we will have to see.

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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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. 

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! 

I have such a bad memory some days, that I am so grateful for the iPhone and it's camera  I can look back on my photos and remember that "oh yes, we had xyz on that day" and I wasn't as boring a mom as I make myself out to be.

We have entered the busy month of May (why is it always that way?  Some day, we will figure this out) and I have my running shoes on.  In addition to the last weeks of school for my older kids, we have First Holy Communions, confirmation, graduation, warmer weather which means dirtier clothes, and just more things on the calendar.

One of the events which came at a very special time this year is the annual pilgrimage that Seton makes to the Shrine/Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. 

We are blessed that it is so close, and it was a tradition for our family to go every year, for many years.  We used to tease the sisters that gave the tours that we could fill in for them, while they took a break.  This year our family decided at the last minute to attend, with my sister Jenn and her family.

 

One of the main reasons for our family to go on the pilgrimage was to visit the Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes that they have in the mountain nearby.  It just so happened to be the same time that my brother Joe and Melanie were IN Lourdes.  Despite the rain, and cold weather, it was a beautiful visit.  But I will say my heart wasn't there.  It was far across the ocean with him, praying and uniting our visit with his.

 

As I said, it was cold and rainy, and *some* of us brought appropriate jackets for the rain (I did think we had some Scouts in our family) so when it was time for the rosary outside, the kids scrounged in the car for whatever they could find jacket-wise. Some were more waterproof than others.   

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.