1st Birthday...take two

Remember how I said that my sweet husband threw a party for our big one year old while I was away at a retreat and how I needed to have another party so that I could be there? Well, here's a collage of photos from Nathanael's 2nd "1st" birthday :) It was a great party, and I was very happy to be there this time to share in all the smiles of my big 1 year old!

Nathanael was smitten with his train cake...he loves trains right now, which makes living a block from the train tracks a big bonus right now. The "choo choo" sound of a train was one of the first sounds he learned how to make.

The knew what to do with the cake a bit faster the second time around...

Yes, he demolished his first piece in a hurry, then he wanted more (of course)...

Nathanael had no idea how to open his presents, so thankfully there were lots of little helpers more than happy to show him how...

He received lots of books, which are his favorite "toy" in the world, especially the "lift-the-flap" or "touch-and-feel" kind...

His grandparents bought him this fun interactive train, which he adores...

...and they also bought him this Thomas tent/tunnel/ball-pit toy which Nathanael was mesmerized by...

His brothers loved it too, and we later found our cat playing in it too, so I guess it's fun for the WHOLE family :)

Overdue Thanksgiving List

On this day of Thanksgiving, I am reminded how long overdue I am with sharing my gratitude list. My goal is to post a list each Thursday of things that I am thankful for in order to train myself to constantly be looking for God's graces all around me. I have failed miserably at posting a list each week, but here is the list that I've been working on the past couple of months:

• boys looking handsome and happy in their blue and khaki school uniforms


• the jibberjabbering of babies...the sweetest language on earth


• rainbows in the soapy suds as I do dishes, reminding me that even chores can be beautiful with the right perspective


• one-on-one bonding at breakfast with whichever child wakes first in the morning


• Nathanael learning to balance on 2 chubby legs


• hiding Scripture memory verses in my heart with my prayer partner


• slipping love notes and Scripture verses in lunch boxes


• dimpled chins and baby grins


• praying at Planned Parenthood in the falling snow, feeling God's grace fall upon me


• Dominic pretending to be a new ocean animal each week


• the delight in my boys' eyes as they watch MLB games on the computer


• a surprise gift of chocolate from my friend Beth on a day I needed a boost


• crunchy carrots from our garden that somehow taste better than the ones at the store


• hunter husband returning early from hunting camp = huge deposit in my love bank


• hunting season nearing its end (3 more days, but who's counting) :)


• singing the name of Jesus at a Cursillo retreat


• unexpected polanca (love letters) from those I love most, including sweet drawings from my boys


• the gentle flicker of the sanctuary candle, silently beckoning that God is near


• my kind friend Alyssa who brought ginger ale and bread when our house had the flu


• learning Mother Teresa's secret: thirsting for Christ and trusting that He thirsts for me


• times spent reading or sewing


• finding a new babysitter and piano teacher for the boys


• women sharing their "mountains moved" by faith and trust in Jesus

the big ONE

Our baby turned ONE on November 10th, and although his mommy was away at a Cursillo Women's Retreat getting her soul refueled, his daddy and brothers made is day very special. Paul bought the chocolaty-est cupcake he could find at the grocery store, found a candle somewhere in our cupboard, serenaded Nathanael with help from the big brothers, and then let Nathanael dive right in. Paul even remembered to take pictures (my 11 years of nagging him is finally paying off!) The only thing he forgot was a bib...but who needs bibs on their birthday, right?

It was very special for me to see photos of the celebration and to know that Paul and boys had fun while I was away having a different kind of fun of my own. I think it was so healthy for Paul to have that special bonding time with his boys without my interference too, and boy did they bond. When Paul and the boys came to pick me up from my retreat, Nathanael clung to daddy and wouldn't even come to me!!! At first I was a bit saddened by that, but then I realized how much it must warm Paul's heart to know that he was the "favored one" this time :) I think part of the reason Nathanael wouldn't come to me was because as soon as I saw the boys, I basically turned into a puddle of tears because I missed them so much and was so happy to see them. I don't think Nathanael has ever seen his mommy cry before, so when he saw my tear-stained face he was like, "Who is this crazy woman...there is no way I'm going to let her hold me!" Thankfully, once I pulled myself together and wiped my running mascara off my face, he quickly changed his mind and let me love on him :)

Here's the play-by-play in pictures from Nathanael's real birthday... We are going to have another celebration this weekend so that mommy can celebrate her baby's birthday too (my husband doesn't understand why we need to celebrate again, but I'm sure all you mothers out there understand) :)

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe daddy gave me a cupcake!"

"Now, what exactly do I do with it?"

"Hmmm, it tastes pretty good!"

"Oh ya, it tastes great and it's fun to play with too!"

"Nuts, it's a bit sticky though..."

"I'll just try to flick it on the floor to get it off my hands."

"This was the BEST BIRTHDAY OF MY LIFE!!!"

Whale of a Good Time

On Halloween each year, we do our best to turn the secular holiday into one that glorifies God by focusing on the holy saints instead of ghouls, witches or make-believe superheroes. Why not focus on the "real" superheroes instead--those who loved Christ, served Him, and often died for His sake!? My husband and I became convicted about 8 years ago that we didn't want to be a part of the dark roots of Halloween. Plus, the fact that Halloween is still celebrated by Satanic groups and those in the Wicca religion really bothered us. So we decided to scrap trick-or-treating altogether for some good, holy fun instead. We always invite a group of Christian friends over for some heavenly food, some saintly games, some intercessory prayer asking the saints to help us grow in holiness, and then we share stories of our favorite saint or the saint we dressed up as for the party. Here is this year's rundown of who we chose as our saints:

• Paul: St. John Bosco


• Maria: St. Maria Goretti


• Joseph: St. Juan Diego


• Michael: St. Damien


• Dominic: St. Brendan


• Nathanael: St. George

We always end the celebration with letting the kids break open a homemade pinata. This year's pinata was a whale in honor of the saint Dominic chose to dress up as: St. Brendan the Navigator who is the patron saint of whales and sailors. All in all, it was a whale of a good time had by all!

This year was extra special because my mom was able to celebrate with us and help us prepare for the party. She helped the boys make their "Saint-O-Lanterns," in which they carved a symbol that represents the saint they chose to dress up as this year. She also helped me make Dominic's costume, clean my house, make the meal, and a million other things...THANKS, MOM! She didn't need to dress up as a saint for the party because she truly is a living saint! (Anyone who knows her would agree!)

This year's Saint-O-Lanterns: The pumpkin for St. Bosco and St. Maria Goretti has a cross symbol, St. Juan Diego has a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe on it (Joseph drew the picture and did an incredible job!), St. Brendan has a whale, St. George has a spear, and St. Damien has a big "D" carved out to represent his name.

Joseph as Juan Diego, Maria as St. Maria Goretti, Nathanael as St. George, Dominic as St. Brendan, Paul as St. Bosco, and Michael as St. Damien.

Our saintly friends: Glen as St. Paul of the Cross, Lisa as St. Jacinta, Brian and Maria as their saintly selves, Jennifer as St. Esther, Beth as St. Elizabeth, Scott as St. Zachariah, Maria as St. Maria Goretti, and Paul as St. John Bosco.

All our saintly kids ready to eat their candy from the pinata!

St. George looks way too adorable and gentle to slay a dragon!

St. Brendan is ready to set sail and be a missionary for Christ!

Dominic dancing at his school costume parade where the class sang a few songs.

Michael as St. Damien and Joseph as St. Juan Diego at their school party. They had a blast playing games at all the different booths and winning lots of candy for prizes.

Michael and Joseph playing the "Halo Toss" game.

St. Michael covered in halos at the "Halo Toss" game.

Michael playing "Pin the Halo on the Saint" game.

Joseph ready to drop a rose from our balcony for our "St. Therese's Roses from Heaven" game.

A view from the balcony after the roses have been "showered from heaven." Whichever child dropped their rose closest to the picture of St. Therese was the winner. This game is always a big hit; the kids wanted to play this game over and over again.

Little Audrey ready to give the whale pinata a smack.

Michael's mighty batting skills sure payed off this year!