BABY ON BOARD!!!

We are very excited to announce that God has blessed us with another baby, due to be born at Thanksgiving-time! I am newly pregnant (only 4 weeks), so I would like to ask for extra prayers to be sent my way. I tend to be a bit anxious these first few months because of my history of miscarriages, low progesterone, and the blood-clotting disorders that I have. Also, please help me to pray for wisdom in discerning the right OBGyn for me. The midwife I used to see can no longer see me because of my high risk factors, and I have been struggling with finding another doctor that I really trust. I know I need to place my trust in the Lord and remind myself that this child is ultimately His and that His will for our family is perfect and good, no matter what happens.

Mary, Queen of Peace,

St. Joseph, patron saint of families,

and St. Gianna, patron saint of pregnant women,
please pray for me!

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling...

...the whole world is smiling too (or at least this Irish Mommy is)!

The boys were allowed to wear a bit-o-green with their school uniforms today, and they were just too cute not to take a picture of. Their smiling eyes and their freckles are sure signs that they have a wee bit of Irish in their blood.

St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer:

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Happy and Holy St. Patrick's Day!!!

A Break for Everyone (well, almost everyone)

My apologies for my lapse in blogging over the past week. We were on our Spring Break vacation in South Dakota...well, all of us that is except my very hardworking and generous husband got a break. Paul kindly offered to drive the boys and me 12 long hours to SD, and then he continued on driving another 14 hours to Oklahoma City for a week of FAA classes---then he drove back to pick us up and take us home. God bless him...truly. So, while my sweet husband was dutifully getting educated, the rest of us were having so much fun in SD that it's going to be hard for me to limit the number of photos I put in this post :)

Because the weather was not quite "Springy" yet in "balmy" South Dakota, we spent most of our time indoors, but that didn't seem to damper any one's spirits. Our days were filled with playing board games and card games, building model airplanes, reading aloud, drawing masterpieces, indoor roller-skating, and swimming at a hotel on the way home. Technically, this was Spring Break for the boys, but I feel like I was the one who had the best "break" of all... With Grandma and Grandpa around to play with the kids, I was able to do some "unaccompanied" shopping, catch up on my photo albums, finish a sewing project, go out to dinner with dear old friends, and best of all, I got to enjoy a peaceful hour of adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament! My spirit was certainly recharged during Spring Break! But I have to admit I'm a bit depressed today surrounded by my everyday routine and overwhelmed by all that needs to get done now that the break is over. I am so thankful for the best parents in the world who spoil the boys and me with all their love and attention when we visit. It was hard for us to say goodbye, but knowing that we will be making another trip to SD this summer made it a little bit easier. I'm glad to have captured a few of these precious memories on my camera to remind me of how blessed I am...may they somehow bless you too!

Michael enjoying special reading time with Grandma Theresa

Michael reading out loud to his attentive Grandpa Pat

Grandma Theresa reading to Joseph, Michael, and cousin Elizabeth in their fort


The boys enjoying an intense game of air-hockey


Dominic and Grandpa Pat going for a crazy race car ride

Joseph quickly picked up the knack for in line skating

Dominic and Mommy don't quite have the knack

Michael was the King of Limbo

Joseph often was occupied with his artwork

Michael and Dominic kept themselves busy with Lego's

Grandpa Pat helped the boys make their first-ever model airplanes

I can't even count the number of "So Sorry" games that were played

The boys at a hotel waterpark on the way home

Joseph being a bit too brave in the pool

Michael also being brave in the pool

The Perfect Date

• Having the best, most affordable babysitters in the world (my parents)
• Going to Confession together to receive God's infinite mercy
• Receiving Jesus' Body and Blood at Mass and listening to His word without distraction
• Eating a perfect steak at my brother's restaurant, followed by a (free) triple-layered-cheesecake that was simply divine
• Coming home to happy kids who had played games all night with grandma and grandpa and were still awake reading books on the couch so that we could kiss them goodnight and tuck them into bed
• Tucking ourselves into bed and falling asleep in each other's arms

GOD IS GOOD.

End of Season Celebration!!!

This weekend was the final hockey tournament for Joseph and Michael. They did awesome! They won all but 1 game, and it was so neat to see how much the team improved since the start of the season. Many of the kids just learned how to skate this year, and by the end of the season they looked like little speed skaters! Joseph was so proud of himself because he scored 2 goals and had 2 assists during the tournament. Michael also had an assist and is proving to be excellent on defense--we've nicknamed him "The Rock." :) But the HIGHLIGHT of the entire tournament was the cool trophies they received at the end. Boy, you would think they were given the Stanley Cup by the thrilled expressions on their faces! I was looking pretty thrilled at the end of the tournament, as well---thrilled that the 6-month season of hockey was finally over!!! It sure was fun to see my boys skate so well and enjoy themselves so much, but I sure am ready to slow down the pace a bit. I am thoroughly looking forward to more relaxed evenings at home...no more rushing through meals, no more rushing through homework, no more rushing through rush-hour traffic, no more rushing through evening prayers and then rushing the kids to bed. Now we need to start praying about what to do next season...we may say goodbye to hockey and say hello to Boy Scouts and more family skiing trips instead. Hopefully, God will make it clear to us what the best choice is for our family. But until then, we will simply celebrate the fun season we had this year! GREAT JOB LITTLE BIGHORNS!!! :)

These faces look too darn cute to be tough hockey players! :)

This is a triumphant Joseph after scoring a goal!
Sorry the photo is blurry---I think the photographer was a bit ecstatic too! :)

Forts are for Everyone

Just a fun photo I thought I'd share. This morning when I looked over the balcony, this is what I saw...my toddler and my cat both enjoying the fort I had constructed the night before. The winters really do get long here, so I am constantly trying to think of fun ways to keep the kids entertained indoors. A fort never fails. But I was suprised to see that even my cat enjoyed the furniture rearrangement :)

If Cats Could Talk: Monday Edition

Ohhh, I hate Mondays!

I need more beauty sleep,

but the darn sun woke me up!

Since I'm awake,

I guess I'll just take a nice bath.
Beauty sure is exhausting!

Ahhh, much better.

Now I'll just take a cap nap,

and perhaps read a good book later.

I guess Mondays aren't so bad after all...

that is, if you're lucky enough to be a cat.