November and a Pinch of December

 

We begin November with 2 birthdays.  This year Becca is 17 and Cecilia is 12.  Sharing birthday can't be easy but the girls are great about taking turns.

Mary and I had the pleasure of watching the girls swim team win sections for the 2nd time in row.  Mary is sitting right next to the glass in the balcony.

Waiting for the announcement...

...and hearing that they won.

We need a selfie.

More middle school girls basketball for Cecilia.

I checked in on Mary one night to see that she had built a little pillow house for herself to sleep in.

Patrick got to enjoy some middle school basketball as well last week when he as home for Thanksgiving.  I asked if the place seems smaller and he said yes.

The big news this week is that Becca passed her Eagle Board of Review!  We don't have a date for the ceremony yet but we are extremely proud of her.

I'm sure the next post will be about the Christmas season.  We continue to pray for all of you and hope you do the same for us.

October 2024

Mike is still coaching soccer for the kids but only Mary is still playing. 

Fall also means XC and girls basketball overlap.  After a tournament at St. Vincent's we attended Mass.  I love the wood Stations of the Cross above the stained class windows.

Speaking of basketball...

Mary was missing Patrick so she made her own dorm room in the laundry basket.

Becca went to another high school Homecoming dance with her friend.

George also MC'ed a Court of Honor for Scouts as part of his Communication merit badge requirements.

Yes, he needs a hair cut.

Patrick got a long weekend off of college so he came home.  This picture was taken right after Mary flung herself across the room at him.

The 3rd grade does a biography project every year and Mary elected to be Susan B. Anthony.

What October would be complete without Halloween.  Mike went at the Dread Pirate McRoberts.

Mary is a zombie cheerleader and Becca and her friend are Perry the Platypus and Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

That's it for October.  I'll be back soon with November.

August and September

In late August we had to say good bye to the old swing set.  It had done more than its fair share of serves to the family.  The back yard still looks kinda weird. 

Patrick is exploring the wonderful world of college at Benedictine.  He was kind enough to send me a picture of him in his beanie.  He calls about once a week to chat and help Mary missing him a little less.

I turned 46 this September and got one of the best presents ever from Mary.  She wrote this on my classroom board.

Cecilia also started her 2nd XC season.  Here are some pictures of her running by.

Mary enjoys the meets because she gets to hang out with the other little siblings.

George is taking a welding class this semester and he brought this home after a few weeks.  Its not perfect but I think its pretty good for a beginner.

Last Friday, Cecilia made her cantor debut at St. Pat's school Mass.  She did great!

Mary also read a petition that morning.

Last Sunday, I was "attacked" by an inanimate sign at a Cub Scout meeting.  Despite the amount of blood, it wasn't too bad.

This is Homecoming week at WCHS and Becca was asked to go with a boy!

Cecilia also started her basketball season this week.  It was fun to see the 8th grade girls braiding each others hair while they watched the younger girls play.

I watched the parade on Friday .  This is the Junior float which Becca assured us was the best.

Three of the middle schools in town joined forces to make one "marching" band.  I used quotations because they were at best walking, no on the beat.  You can see Cecilia in the green shirt behind the other trombone in a green shirt.

Mike and Mary walked with the Cub Scouts again this year.

The St. Pat's band is small but mighty.

Tonight is the dance.  Becca was meeting her date and friends so I just took some pictures of her all dressed up.  And of course Mary wanted to join in.

A New Chapter for Patrick

We have one less kid in the house.  We drove him across Missouri to Atchison, Kansas.

 

We took most of the kids with us.

Here the back of St. Michael's Hall, his dorm for the year.

Here I am with the college kid in his room.

The obligatory college freshman by the school sign picture.

Mary is not be be left out.

After we moved his stuff in, which only took one trip thanks to the helpers, we explored the campus a bit.  I was very happy to see a small grotto with this beautiful waterfall.

My little Lourdes loving heart was happy to see St. Bernadette kneeling before our Mother.  They even have a stone from the original grotto in France.

After a late afternoon Mass, we said our good byes and headed home.  

I can easily see why Patrick chose Benedictine and know he will do well there.  We will miss him but know he is ready for this step. Love you Patrick!