The Year That Was: March 2014

I'm really liking this quick approach to blogging! It's a bit like ripping the band-aid off the guilt.
Let's roll right on to March...

 Kolbe found his toes at 5 months.

 Quinton turned 14 and played lots and lots Risk!

Dominic and Xavier learned to cock their own bb guns and even hit the target once in awhile.

Quinton is Thirteen!

My dear Quinton has been waiting for quite some time for his birthday pictures. For boy of thirteen, he is patient and kind, only reminding every once in awhile. So, for my big boy...

Quinton Right Now

He's almost as tall as me and his feet are bigger

He loves to read fantasy novels about dragons and magic

He serves at Mass every Sunday with absolute devotion

He was promoted to incense swinger for Easter (The Thurifer)

He builds elaborate Lego space ships and lets the little boys join in

He climbs to the top of ridiculously tall trees and gives his mother a heart attack

He has decided to give Boy Scouts another try

He flies through math with ease and loves to read, but could really care less about the rest of it

He'd play video games and watch movies far more than permitted

His heart is big and his soul is sensitive

Yet he finds it endlessly amusing to poke his sisters

He loves to run and play with the other big boys and needs more time to do it

He loves to snuggle with me and box with Stephen

He loves to eat casseroles

He can't wait for baby #8 to arrive in the Autumn

For his birthday, we headed off to the Safari Park in San Diego. 

His favorite part? The tram ride, of course!

Happy Birthday, Quinton

Thirteen is a whole new world!

We love you!

Happy Birthday, Quinton!

Gracie knows that 12 is an important birthday and in her sweet loving way, she created a little masterpiece for Quinton: Love Grows.

Yes, it does, especially in this boy who loves fiercely and feels deeply.

Twelve is on the cusp, isn't it? It's right at the end of childhood but not yet launching into young adulthood. It is a year of change and I think my sweet boy is feeling the tug of two worlds already.

Maybe, my dear, you can stay young just a bit longer. Play freely, smile broadly, and romp carefree for just a bit longer. I am not quite ready yet to let go so you'll have to grab my hand and pull me along into this new time of change.

 What adventure awaits you this year, I do not know, but I pray that it is a joyful one.

Happy, Happy Birthday

My Love

May the Good Lord bless you and keep you close!

Happy Birthday Quinton!

Well, my little apple cheeked boy has turned 11.  He is growing up so fast.  Everyday he inches up a little higher, grows a little more confident, and exudes a little more charm. He is my dreamer and my gentleman.

For his birthday, Grandpa arrived with the cousins and a grand gift in tow.

A go-cart!

Yes, Grandpa has just the knack for arriving with unexpected gifts that are sure to delight.

After an afternoon speeding around in the freezing rain, the cousins packed up and headed home with Grandpa. We cleaned, schooled, and baked to prepare for another small family gathering in the evening with Nanna, Papa, and Grandma Ricky.

Quinton and company dined on chicken pot pie (his favorite) and cinnamon coffee cake. Did you know that pie crust can be prepared with one whole stick of butter in each half of the shell? That's two sticks of butter per pie! And, yes, it was wonderful!

Here are a few photos to celebrate all things Quinton:

This past February, he bridged from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts.

Arrow of Light plaque with Daddy

The official bridging.

My Boy Scout at attention with Mathew B. at his side.

What Xavier thought of the long bridging ceremony.

Pinewood Derby 2011

A fast and fierce car designed and built exclusively by Quinton.

Hammering at a blacksmith shop.

Happy Birthday!

I love you!

Many more!

7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 3)

Our Week in Review

1. We spent a beautiful Tuesday afternoon at the park playing, swinging, climbing, and creating flower sculptures with our favorite family, the Murphys. Xavier did not like the sand. His little toes would curl up and he'd start dancing and squeaking until I picked him up.

2. On Wednesday, Grace and Dominic played joyous music together on our new bell set. I have great plans for these bells. They are perfect for my non-musical family to belt out such classics as Mary had a Little Lamb and Old MacDonald.

3. Thursday had my boys hanging out on Roxaboxen. Quinton was carrying Dominic around after the snake appearance. Not because Dominic was afraid, oh no, because Dominic was going hunting for that snake. He wanted a closer look!

4. Collette is reviewing the concept of odd and even in math. Since I am eclectic in my approach to teaching, I used a little Montessori, a little Miquon, and a little gnome to cement her understanding.

5.  Thursday gifts: hair ribbons for my girls locks.

6. A Little Quote (or two)

Grace on the merits of bathtubs vs showers:
"Well, you know, bathtubs are oval and the drain is way off in the corner. So, the water rises up and stays. But the shower is square and has that drain in the middle, so the water just sprinkles right down. How am I supposed to bath in that?"

Collette on wishes:
"My first wish from the leprechaun would be to pay off the mortgage so Daddy could stay home. Then my second wish would be for landscaping for Mommy. And my third wish would be for Olivia and Quinton to go to school at Hogwarts. That third wish might take up all the leprechauns power, though."

7. Friday's Haircut: Dominic before and after.

Oh my, so much better. This haircut was accomplished with ingenious combination of lollipops, the movie Cars, and a super quick mom. We only repeat this performance once every 4 months or so.

HT: Conversion Diary

Eek!

When children start yelling and everyone congregates around the chicken coup like this:

Then you know something is up. When my squealing children finally managed to speak, the only words I got were "snake" and "eggs."

Do you see the egg in it's mouth? Or our precious eggs under the coils? Quinton assured me that it is a gopher snake. Harmless. Length: 5 feet! That is not so reassuring.

Stephen grabbed the remaining eggs and tried to remove our visitor from the coop. The snake won on that account. After crushing the egg and spitting out the shells, he slithered off for a nap by our front porch. I think this counts as science for the day.

Quinton protecting the chicks.

Our saved eggs.

In other news, we have three bats making a home on the back porch.

This is a lot of wildlife living at my home!

Easter Sunday 2010

Quinton headed to Mass early Sunday morning to practice processing and holding a very large candle during communion. We hustled down the mountain afterwards and managed to find seats for 4 out of 8 of us in the tiny Serra Chapel, SJC. The TLM drew many new faces to Mass Easter morning, with the chapel overflowing inside and out. I hope many were touched by the beauty of the TLM. I deeply love its quiet beauty, reverence, and intensity. This was evident all the more so on a busy holiday morning. The TLM draws and quiets all those present. The Confiteor was stunning, with 6 altar servers bowing profoundly and reciting together. Quinton held his heavy candle throughout the long communion line admirably. I don't have pictures of Quinton serving but will try to take one soon.

After Mass, we headed to Nanna and Papa's home for an egg hunt and Easter dinner.

All my beautiful blessings Easter Morning 2010

The egg hunt started as soon as we stepped out of the car. This was our first hunt at Nanna and Papa's home and it was great fun. The bunny left little hints just like at our house.

Looking, Looking...

Daddy directing and Olivia helping the little one.

Dominic checking out his finds.

I didn't get a chance to cut his hair before Easter. I guess the plus side of this is that it hides the awful bruise on his forehead from the fall.

Xavier hanging out with Daddy again. 

Olivia making sure that none of the eggs escaped. Actually, in the end, one is still hiding out in the backyard. It could not be found by anyone!

Counting and counting again. Yes, one is still missing.

Collette, Grace, and Xavier 

Quinton is turning into such a young man.

Collette, all smiles and joy.

Olivia, my beautiful young lady.

One last one of Dominic. Oh, how he loved Easter!

He is Risen! He is risen indeed!