January-February 2026

 

2026 started out the same as the last several years...busy.  Mike has been hiking whenever the weather permits.

I took George, Becca, and Anna to see the Stranger Things finale in a theater.

Cecilia got braces.

Some sibling love.

The end of January means Pinewood Derby in our house.

Cecilia made her dad a name tag.

Mary won first place!

In February, Becca decide the University of Notre Dame was her college choice.  I am excited on multiple levels (family tradition, lots of family near by, Love Thee Notre Dame) but mostly I hope she loves it and gets all she can out of her time there.

With all the teenagers, it is common to walk into a room with a child sleeping in a weird position.

We also went ice skating for Cub Scouts.  And by we, they skating, I sat and watched as to not injure myself.

Becca asked that the Dante for Kids series be completed before she goes to college.

George just being George.

The Blue-Gold banquet wrapped up February.  Mary moved up to Arrow of Light, which means the end of Cub Scouts is not far off.

There was a dinosaur/Jurassic Park theme this year and Cecilia loved being the T-Rex!

I've made it into 2026 but spring is nuts so come back for more soon.

December 2025

 

we will begin with the Lego League competition.

We are a musical family but somehow Mike and I have never made it the the WCHS Madrigals before 2025.  Becca was the cutes of the bar winches!

St. Pat's had their annual Christmas concert.  Since I'm up in the balcony with the 4th grades, Mike took all the pictures.  Cecilia proudly sits in the trombone section.

Mary singing her heart out.

George and Mike enjoying the music.

The high school also had a concert.  Becca is one of the blond girls wearing black.

We had to pick out the tree.

Some day, the girls will be too big to climb up their father but I don't think they know that yet.

Patrick came home from KS just in time for us to leave for South Bend.

No one was happier to see him than Mary.

We made our annual pilgrimage to South Bend to see the Sullivan clan.  Becca saw Notre Campus a little differently this year after applying.  Mike had to show her the Hand of God tree.

The kids decided to decorate my aunt's dinning room.  I love how all this kids who only see each other once a year just hang out and have a blast.

Mary also joined a children's choir for Christmas Eve Mass.  She even was picked to cantor.

After having Christmas morning at home, we went south to see the Hattons.  Teenagers can fall asleep anywhere.

Cecilia and I accidently twined...again.

We were able to get a picture before Patrick had to leave to get back to work.

October-November 2025

Ok so it's been a long time since I posted anything on the blog.  But it has been crazy busy and I don't see that changing anytime soon.  In October, Cecilia once again participated as part of the girls XC team at State.  This is the whole team but only a few of the boys qualified as individuals for the race.  It was a great season and we looking forward to this Fall.

Becca also swam her last high school race that month, Conferences.  The team did not go on to compete at State but Becca worked her butt off and finished strong.

 

Mike and Mary did some hiking for Scouts.

I also wanted to share some pics of Becca all dressed up for Homecoming with her bestie!

And what would October be without some Jack-O-Lanterns.

November began with a double birthday, the last one with them both at home.  Becca turned 18 and Cecilia 13, making the total number of teenagers in the house 4 for just shy of 2 months.

Mary had a den meeting at the County Courthouse one night.  It was interesting but a little long for the kids after a full day of school.

Tilly giving Mike some love.

Middle school girls basketball was in full swing.  Cecilia, as expected, played big and kicked butt. No State title this year but still a decent year with a new coach.

George does his best to avoid having his picture taken but here he is teaching a group of Cub Scouts how to fold the flag.

Mary's den also did some service hours at Midwest Food Bank.

Mary and I also helped decorate the St. Pat Christmas tree at City Hall.

As I said, we are crazy busy.  I don't remember to take pictures most the time so this is just a glimps of our happenings.