Fantastic four

The temps are dropping, it's dark by dinner, and I am finally back to my blog... winter must be in the air (although today was more of an Indian summer kind of day) I hope to post more this week-end but for now here are the "fantastic four" the day we loaded up the van and took Michelle back to school.

The License

Colleen managed to pass the Driver's Test one day before her temps expired!
Way to go Colleen!

The Car

The Road

Guardian angels watch over her!

Mystery Solved!

Apparently when you have an excessive amount of pictures on your media card and you try to look at them on the computer they come up in seperate folders. This discovery solved the mystery of the missing Easter/Art Museum pictures. Here is Granny and the kids after touring the Kimono As Art exhibit. Even if we were allowed to take pictures of the Kimonos it would have been impossible to capture the beauty of them. The kimonos and this special day will have to be kept together in that special treasure box in my memory.

Egg Fun!

Coloring Eggs

Catching up....Spring!

We celebrated Michelle's birthday a week early when she was home on Spring Break. We actually celebrated on the day I was due with her (she was exactly one week late). We were going to go down for her birthday but she had a chance to go on a little Retreat at a farm near the school and went and had a great time. We were thrilled that she made it home again for Easter week-end. She got a ride to Columbus on Holy Thursday which worked out great because Colleen had an eye appt. in Columbus that afternoon and the timing was just about perfect. The girls had alot of sister time and Sunday we had Easter dinner at Aunt Maureen's house. On Easter Monday Michelle, Colleen, John, Thomas and I had lunch with Granny and cousin Hannah and then went to the Art Museum to see "Kimono As Art: The Landscapes of Itchiku Kubota". Wow it was beautiful. We left from there to take Michelle back to school. I am a bit puzzled as I took pictures on Easter and at the Art Museum and they are not on my SD card? I do however have a number of pictures of both Michelle and Colleen taking pictures of themselves. I am wondering if at some point Michelle and I accidentally switched cameras (we have the same camera)?

This past week-end Michelle and friends went camping. I got to see some pictures on Facebook and now all afternoon/evening I have been saying "I want to go camping". In addition I have been telling Gary this evening I want to start a small garden. It must be spring!

Hey Mom Quick Get the Camera!

I was downstairs last week and I heard Thomas yelling "hey mom quick get the camera". I came up to find him with a "bubble beard". I had been at the store the day before and saw the bubbles and realized it had been along time since I had purchased bubbles. Thomas has had a great time and it has me thinking what other fun things have I forgotten that a 9 year would enjoy?

How You Can Tell When There Are Boys in the House!

The Family Room floor!

A Little Bit of Spring

Do Distractions Affect Driving Video Game Scores?

For homeschooling this year John is doing public school at home through Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA) which uses the K12 curriculum. It has been great for John. One of the advantages is the extra activities. Last week OHVA had a Learning Fair and as part of that students could display some of their school projects and/or participate in a Science Fair. John chose "Do Distractions Affect Driving Video Game Scores?" as his science fair project. As part of the project he ran trials with Thomas, Colleen, and Dad driving the Mario Kart on the Wii with no distractions, while talking, eating and using the cell phone. The picture is him explaining his project to one of the judges. Great Job John!

Science Fair Picture #2

At The End of The Day

At the end of the day the boys enjoy a little more reading time. If the furnace is running and they can put the blanket over the register and read well that is even better yet!

What are they reading?

John: The Book of Saints and Heroes

Thomas: The Usbourne Book of World History

What to do?

What do you do when you start the dish water and get distracted and when you turn around you find a sink full of bubbles?

For Today!

I have seen "The Simple Woman's Daybook" on a number of blogs and decided to see if I can figure out how it works. I ask patience and advice from any fellow bloggers as I try my hand at this. I have no clue as to how to add a "button" or a "permalink" and in my post my picture ended up at the beginning instead of the end. Oh well my blogging time is up so this will have to do for today.

God bless,

Theresa

FOR TODAY

Sunday February 15

Outside my window...

a light dusting of snow and gray skies but the sun did peek through for a bit earlier this afternoon.

I am thinking...

of how much I enjoy Sundays and a chance to have some down time.

I am thankful for...

safe travels over the past couple of days.

From the learning rooms...

piles that need organizing after the mid year review.

From the kitchen...

leftovers!

I am wearing...

black pants and a sweater that I wore to church earlier today.

I am creating...

peace of mind.

I am going...

to take the boys to watch Evan Almighty and eat pizza and ice cream at our church this afternoon.

I am reading...

Karen Kingsbury's "Ever After" (at the library recently I glanced through the "Inspiration" section and one of her books caught my eye. I read it and really enjoyed it so now I am reading the sequel)

I am hoping...

for Spring

I am hearing...

the noisy clock ticking beside me...otherwise the house is quiet which is a rarity

Around the house...

everyone is taking time to do something they enjoy my husband is working on a car project, the boys are playing the wii and my daughter is playing the guitar and making plans to get together with friends this evening since there is no school tomorrow.

One of my favorite things...

reading.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

lessons for the boys, basketball practice on Monday, take Mon afternoon off lessons and get the house in order, get caught up on laundry, get birthday cards in the mail, relish being a wife and mom!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

How Do I Love Thee?

Sonnets from the Portuguese
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,

--I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!

--and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

You Should See the Other Guy!

Thomas took an elbow in basketball today and ended up with a semi black slighty swollen eye. He is one tough little guy! Both boys are having a great time playing Upward Basketball. We are so impressed with how the program is run and how many people volunteer their time.

In today's game Thomas had a few baskets and made a foul shot. He is amazing on defense. The look on his face is pure determination. John also had a good game. He made an incredible 3 point shot at the buzzer right before halftime. It's one we wish we had captured on video.

Dinner Before the Dance

Colleen and a group of her friends have chosen to have dinner in homes before the dance. Last year we had it at our house and this year her friend Elyse's parents hosted. There were about 2o teens, 2 guitars, 2 wee little ones (Elyse's siblings Ruthie and Michael) and lots of food! I was able to stay and be part of the fun too! In the picture are Colleen, Elyse, Pai, Lizzie and Erin. Aren't they all beautiful?

Homecoming Dance

Michelle and Patrick (in the blue) with friend Billy and his date. They went to Applebees for dinner and then to another friend's house to play Guitar Hero before the dance. It sounds like they had a fun evening.

Sisters

I did not get any pictures of the girls together before the dance but here is one of them at the dance. Love those smiles!

Homecoming 2009

Here is Colleen and Chris at the Basketball Homecoming ceremony which took place prior to the game Friday night. They were chosen along with Emily and Ben to represent the Junior class. .

Coming home for Homecoming...w/ laundry

I went down to pick Michelle (and her dirty laundry!) up on Friday. I stopped half way and the boys spent a few hours with Granny and Papa and enjoyed a trip to Heggy's for ice cream cones. YUM! I went the rest of the way and then Michelle and I stopped on the way back to pick up the boys and get home in time for the Homecoming game and ceremony. What a special week-end!

LITTLE SNOWMAN

BIGGER SNOWMAN

BIGGEST

I Object!

Do you think she looks like a lawyer?

Colleen is taking a Practical Law class this year and as a part of the class she has the opportunity to participate in a Mock Trial competition. The competition is today at the County Courthouse. Hopefully all those years of pleading your case with your parents and examining and cross examining your siblings will come in handy today. Good luck Colleen!

God bless,

Theresa

Colleen

Notice anything different about Colleen?

No more braces!

Top of The Hill

I Didn't Realize Our Driveway Was This Long!

Here are my helpers as we tried to get at least enough snow off the driveway so that Gary could get off the road. We got about 1/2 way up when our neighbor with a snowblower came and rescued us. The title is a quote from Colleen as we were shoveling.

That Four Letter Word

I went to bed thinking about this last night. I heard this word at least a dozen times this week. Obama said it, the Pope wrote it in his letter to Obama, a number of senators and representatives and others at the March for life emphasized it, and I heard it at Mass last night. Have you guessed what it is? HOPE!
Want to read more about it? Pope Benedict has written an encyclical "On Christian Hope" (Spe Salvi). Sometimes the Pope’s writings can be a little challenging but they are definitely worth the time and effort.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

God bless,
Theresa

"Hey mom guess where I am going?"

I got a phone call last night from Michelle. She said something like "hey mom guess where I am going?" and of course I didn't have a single clue. I sensed excitement in her voice and so I was pretty sure she wasn't talking about a trip to Walmart. I gave up and she said "I am going to the March for Life!" Well in the next few minutes I discovered she was actually in a car on her way to Washington DC to stand up for life. I am proud, excited, and ok a little nervous. I did recieve a text at 3am saying they made it. I have not heard from her today but my guess is they are probably heading home as we speak. May God bless all the travelers with a safe journey.

Theresa

PS The poster is one Michelle made when she was about 12 to hold up when we joined in the annual Respect Life Chain. The baby in the little picture is days old Colleen and of course the 2 year old squeezing her is proud sister Michelle.

1st Little Bird Flies the Nest

The last week has been a little crazy with snow days and delays and so finally today I will take a few minutes during our lunch break to blog. Yesterday we went to visit Michelle after her first week at Franciscan. Last week I took her down on Thursday expecting to spend the night with a friend that lives about 50 minutes from the college and then come home on Friday and go back again with the family on Saturday but the winter weather threw a wrench in that plan and I ended up staying Fri and Sat in a hotel by myself in Stuebenville. That was weird. I don't know that I have ever stayed in a hotel by myself before. I did have a chance to see afew TV shows I have never seen namely "What Not to Wear" and "John and Kate Plus Eight". I was reminded how easy it is to get sucked in by the television and hours to go by. I did also manage to get some reading/paperwork done I had brought along and was able to attend some parent sessions at the orientation that I hadn't planned on.
Leaving Michelle on Sunday was one of the hardest things I have ever done. She stayed in the parking lot and waved until I was out of sight. There were lots of tears especailly that first hour driving home. I miss her like crazy but am grateful she is doing well and I know this is part of "my job". I love being a mom and I am soooooooooo grateful for the 18 years I had with her in the nest. Now that said, even though she has left the nest I am hopeful she will come back often and even when the time comes that she starts her own nest or whatever God calls her to do I will always be her mom!
I was talking to my mom the other day about how different it is than when I went away to college. My father died when I was 12 and I was the oldest so needless to say it was traumatic for my mom when I left especially since she turned 40 that same month. Now with cell phones, texting(yes I have learned how to text), and email we can stay in touch. When I went to college there was one phone in the lobby of the dorm and it wasn't likely somebody would answer it and then come up 3 flights of stairs to get you!
Oops lunch is way over, time to get the boys back to lessons.
God bless,
Theresa