Monday, July 28, 2008

For Mom


Hi (Mom)-


Here is the belly......quite big ehh? Feeling good despite my "jello feet". Walking these days feels like jiggly bowls of jelly instead of feet. But I won't complain. This too shall pass!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Science Camp



While Luke is away the others need to play. Sarah wanted a camp experience also. She complained about dropping Luke at camp and not being able to stay herself. Then we hung out at camp for a bit.


Sarah: "I don't like to be this hot or sweaty. My hair is too long. I'm scratchy. I don't like bugs!"


It was then I was glad I signed her up for Science Camp at the science museum. She's been learning about dino's all week! And Sean took a parent/tot science class for two days as well. It was a blessing to be able to have this chance with him as he normally goes to the big kid activities, not his own.


Hurray for camp!

The first time they leave home.....


It is very hard. Luke is away this week at summer camp and we will happily pick him up on Saturday. Things just aren't the same here. Not as much action. Not as much noise. Not as much love. Not as much help.


Yesterday, I forgot to feed the dog. Yep....it's Luke's job. Today, I took out the garbage.....Luke's job. But it isn't just my helper, go to guy when I need a hand, that I miss.


I miss the incessant stories about obscure science facts....I never would have guessed I'd miss those. I miss the first kid awake in the morning and the last one to bed at night.


Best of all, his kids miss him. Sean asks when he'll return. Sarah asks multiple times a day when he is coming home, and she always adds that she misses him and can't wait for Saturday.


It was only a week. So far we have survived. Can we homeschool for college????

No Name

This baby may never have a name. Patrick and I just laugh at each other as we continue to bounce names at each other.

Today it went like this:

Jessica: "What about Colum? Like that priest we just met. Saint Columban was awesome and Irish. I like it."

Patrick: "You mean like Gollum (from Lord of the Rings)"?

And another name bites the dust.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Cold Hard Truth

When you realize you look huge....and you still have a month to go.

Wife: "Honey what color of toe nail polish should I wear?"
Husband: (Matter of fact) "No one is going to be looking at your toes!

At the grocery store
Butcher: "Is this your last shopping trip before the baby?"
Woman: "Ha!!!! I probably have at least 4 more!"

Doctor: "This baby just keeps getting bigger"
Woman thinking: "REALLY??! I had no idea!"

And from every single person passing by on the street.....
"When ARE you due?"

Weekend Getaway





Patrick had a meeting in Orlando at a Universal Theme Park hotel, and he took us all along. We had a great time in the pool (think a whole day long), we stayed up late watching movies, we ate lots of yummy desserts, we did the hula, we had swim races, and water balloon fights, we ate out....and then the highlights. Luke and Sarah "loved" making coffee for us in the room's coffee pot, and Patrick and I hung out eating desserts and drinking wine...in the BATHROOM, while we waited for the kids to fall asleep in bedroom. Nothing quite like a "bathroom date".

Our Family


For a few short weeks this will be current....and then baby will come and we'll need a new photo!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Learning happens here



We try to learn something everday. Today we were fortunate to have Patrick home for school time....(meaning Mom lets him do most of the teaching!). After dinner we all helped Luke with his science lab. We learned about the special types of bird beaks that birds have to help them catch their special food. My "little birds" enjoyed eating the mock food when we were done.


A few weeks ago the Catholic Church celebrated the feast day of St. Paul and St. Peter. I try to encorporate those special events into our days. We decided to read some books about the saints and make cookies with special symbols that would make us think of St. Paul and St. Peter. Now this would have worked better if I had a piping bag.....or ziploc baggies. Instead, Patrick had to lead the kids in decorating with royal icing (in the most bold of colors) with fingers and toothpicks. We had boats, fishes, eyes, tongues of fire, swords, upside down crosses, keys. Only it was more "abstract" in that Picasso sort of way. The kids needed to explain their cookies. And due to the color and quantity of icing, I can happily report I ate only one.

4th of July




We had such a nice and busy 4th of July. Living in "Mayberry" has many perks. One is our town has a parade in the morning and fireworks in the evening. The fireworks are shot off from the ball fields and everyone gathers on the country club holes to watch. We headed a few streets away with friends and watched from their pick-up (the kids loved the fireworks and riding in the BACK of the pick-up!)


Our street is a close-knit little community and after the parade we headed to a neighbor's house with the rest of the street for a block party. Miss Sally (a super-friendly, grandmotherly woman) provided the kids with entertainment.....fireworks. And then I realized Luke is very much like his dad in yet another way.....they are pyromaniacs....and so is Miss Sally! In Florida you can only purchase fireworks that don't leave the ground, so we had pop-its, little dynamites, smoke balls, a gem waterfall, some snake thingy and others. Thankfully Patrick supervised well, and Miss Sally is a nurse, so we only dealt with a few blisters. (Now on a side note, many people who live nearby had the "real fireworks"....apparently you just sign a waiver from the vendors on the street saying you are using the fireworks to rid your property of vermin, and it is suddenly legal. I realized many people have vermin the week of July 4th!)


Later in the afternoon we headed a few streets over for another block party with some homeschool friends. This one had a jump castle, a water slide, light sabers, tons of food, and a real snow cone machine operated by a Grandpa who knew NO limits on the amount of snow cones kids should ingest. When the evening rains started, the adults huddled under the live oaks to chat while the Grandpa made plain snow cones for the kids to use in a July snow ball fight.


We celebrated the day away.....and slept alot the next!

Smile pretty


Yet another realiziation that my babies are growing up! Sarah Clare lost her tooth yesterday. It had been wiggly for about a week, and everyday she let Daddy try and pull it out. At Busch Gardens, in the middle of a rainstorm, it fell out. She wasn't much interested in rides after that. She wanted to go home and get her picture taken. The toothfairy visited the house, and she was happy! It is cute to listen to her talk in a new lispy fashion, although by tomorrow I'm sure she will have figured that all out. Be on the lookout, another is loose!

The Swimmin' Hole


This summer, our mornings are spent at the pool. Sarah Clare and Sean are taking lessons, and Luke is on the swim team. Everyone is improving! Sarah is learning how to dive in from "the blocks" and proper stroke technique. Sean is learning how to "swim" which means he jumps in like a crazy man, and swims to whoever is near him to help him get air. He loves the waterslide, drinking pool water (and the many trips to the potty that entails), swimming with his eyes open, and his teachers. Luckily, the lifeguard/instructors are great with the kids and everyone is happy and worn out by the time we leave.


Luke is on the summer swim team, and he works hard! He is working on improving all his strokes and swims the 25m freestyle and 25 meter backstroke at meets. His practices involve daily 1 hour swims that I can't imagine. A few days ago they swam an 800meter swim of various strokes.....that same day I attempted a 100 meter swim, and nearly needed oxygen when I was done. The joys of being in shape!