Your Big Day

Dear Thomas, Today was a big day for you.  Life changing.  Today you were privileged to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation.  The last sacrament you received was baptism, eight years ago.  I will never be able to put the words together to describe just how proud of you I am.  I was watching you get ready, all spiffed up in the new suit that you and pop went out to buy together, and my heart just welled up with such emotion.  For some reason, my mind jumped to years from now, watching you put your tux on before your wedding, or watching you put on your vestments before saying your first mass, should God call you to the priesthood.  And I got really sad.  Sad knowing that truly before I know it, that day will be here.  Then I practically shouted to myself out loud reminding me to savor the present moment.  You dress yourself exactly like pop does.  It amazes me to watch you.  You like to put on his cologne, you gel your hair exactly like he does (when you have hair), you even fixed your tie just like him and your hands look the same. 

 



I've had many friends tell me that I should be ready with my camera to take a picture of you when you come out of the Confessional.  They told me the pictures are some of their most treasured ones.  To see your face the moment after your first confession....You can bet I didn't want to miss that.  So, here you are.  After your confession, you went straight to the altar, knelt down and prayed your penance.  I was in the pews right behind you and just watched you, tears welling up in my eyes for you.  I was so happy.  I was so proud.  I couldn't believe how fast we got here.  To you being eight years old and making your first Confession.  Then, instead of going straight over to the table to get your clay heart, you came and knelt with me.  You gave me the one arm hug and the smile on your face was absolutely priceless.  You were so happy.  The first words from your mouth were, That was awesome!  Can I go again tomorrow?  Why do we lose that excitement as grown ups?  I want to learn from you. 

You chose to go out to Panera for lunch afterwards.  Good choice.  We were all so excited to celebrate with you!

Luke 2: 19  But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.

I often think of this passage.  I think of it as I am carrying around my camera and my video camera, trying to record and capture every moment of life.  Mary had no camera, no video camera, no phone with a camera in it.  NOTHING.  She kept everything in her heart and pondered it.  Often, I 'm sure.  How could she not?  She was raising the son of God.  Surly His life was worth documenting with pictures, blog posts, and videos.  But no, instead Mary watched Him, raised Him and was present with Him.....thinking and pondering all things in her heart.

But I am grateful for capturing this day for you in pictures, in hopes that you will remember what a special day it was!  I will try to imitate Mary and ponder all these beautiful moments I get with you, in my heart.

Congratulations Thomas! 

Oh Dear...Look What We Found This Morning

Dear Evelyn, aka Bev

Come on.  Why are you not sleeping anymore?  Why do you think it's a good idea to scream in your crib during nap time instead of sleeping?  Don't you want to sleep?  Why are you thinking that getting up at 5 am is for you?  Yes, it was fun to go to the grocery store last Friday with you all bundled up and seeing your feet jammied legs dangle from the cart, but let's not make a habit of grocery shopping together at 5 am.  Please go back to your lovely predicted sleeping schedule of waking up at 8:00 in the morning, napping from 12:00-2:00 and then going to bed at 7:30.  It was good and it worked.

Learning About the Presidents

I made a President's Bingo game last year.  I just used a couple president place mats that I had gotten from Walmart, that were probably a dollar or two, cut them up, and voila!  Bingo.  I was so happy that I remembered to get it out and play it with Thomas and Annie today.  They had a ball and kept asking to play again and again.  When I was little I remember one of my cousins could name every president.  I always thought that was super cool.  I know my sister knows a song about them that once you get the tune down, you can remember their names and in the right order.  I want to learn it.

We had cherry pie for dessert in honor of George Washington!

"S" Week Snacks

Smoothies

Cake Pop "Suckers"

                                                              String Cheese and Strawberries

Be My Valentine

Cake Pops

My friend Jillian gave me this book for my birthday.

THANK YOU!!  Awesome.  I love it.  One could have too much fun with these.

From My Camera

"R" Week Snacks

Red Rose cookies

Rosary (made out of muffins)

                                     And for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes we had blueberry bread.  We also had Rice cakes too!!

A Weekend Outside.



This weekend, the weather was SO BEAUTIFUL.  It was a little present to us from God, coming after a week that had single digit degrees.  You know it's nice outside when everyone talks about the weather and it seems to be the topic of every conversation, even with strangers.   It's everyone's small talk.  You find yourself talking about the weather with the cashier at the grocery store, the gentleman who pumps gas, the waiter at the restaurant, and the people walking outside by your house.  After spending a few months inside, it's so nice to get out.

  

We are trying to recognize and appreciate this time in our life when we have small children and don't really have go anywhere.  We know that one day soon, we will be running children to this practice and that, but for now, we are enjoying the weekends where we have nothing we have to do.  Instead, we look forward to making ordinary weekend nights....a little extraordinary in the little things.  Like making really good dinners....

And staying up late wrapping wreaths in yarn and roses, while watching Father Corapi on EWTN.

Sunday morning was a beautiful, bright, sunny day.

My Sunday pie this week was a Chicken Pot Pie....never made one before, but OH MY, I must say it was scrumptious!!!

We spent Sunday afternoon just soaking up as much sun as we possibly could.  TJ washed cars, the boys played some football, they wandered around BAREFOOT, I ran a good five mile run around the boulevard accompanied off and on by children.

TJ and Tom even managed to put a little project together.  He spray painted chair rail black and hung it in the garage.

                               It was a lovely weekend indeed.