Boys

A few weeks ago Eric and Joshie had a cousin over.  I always keep a sharp ear for what is going on and after silence for 10-15 minutes thought they warranted a check-up.

This is what I found ~ the two olders tying Joshie up to see how long it would take him to get out.

Is this normal?  I certainly hope so!

Snow, Snow Go Away

Alrighty, so I am not complaining about the moisture, but the snow needs to go away!  This past week has brought many a morning of fresh fluffy white stuff.  We try to focus on the fact that with each dump the summer fire hazard is less of a threat, but it's getting kinda hard to see the positive.  Hopefully, the sun will bring with it some warmth today and we will be treated to some green grass hiding beneath this blanket of white.

Annika's First Communion

Last Sunday we celebrated Annika's First Communion.  She was so excited to receive Jesus, but possibly just as excited to wear a beautiful dress!  And curl her hair. And feel special all day.

But at the end of the day she knew that Jesus had come to visit her in an amazing way.

This past Friday when we attended daily Mass she bounced out of bed quicker than a wink at 5:45 a.m. so she could receive her 2nd Communion...and, this morning, same thing to receive her 3rd Communion.  I tried to remember back to that long ago day, when did I stop counting?  

She was blessed with her godfather, grandparents and a very special "old" lady coming to Mass to celebrate with us.  Kathy, I wish we had snapped a picture of you two!

Annika, remember Jesus is in you each and every time you receive Him!     

Preparing for Mass ~

I am so excited, I just can't stop smiling!!

All lined up with fellow 2nd graders

I love watching the chaos while preparing for a group picture,

next time I should video just to watch later!

Everyone looking perfectly angelic...

except what happened in the back right corner?

Annika and our parish priest and friend, Monsignor O'neill~

Annika and her godfather, Uncle Joey ~ 

We missed you Auntie Margaret, but Stacy was a great proxy!

Then after brunch, presents ~

What a beautiful day! 

Daddy of the Year

Last night Shannon earned the Daddy of the Year Award.  All day I had been feeling a bit off, but I just chalked it up to eating something that didn't totally agree with me.  After dinner and sending our old piano to a new home, we settled in with the kids, talking about the day's events in Boston.  Times like that bring up a lot of questions in a kid's mind.  So after chatting about the evils in the world we were ready to head for bed.

Then Annika got sick.

Then I got sick.

During the span of the next six hours most everyone else followed suit.  Daddy, being the only one not sick and me worthless in those situations anyway, cleaned up beds, bathrooms, and sick bowls.  I couldn't help but feel indebted to him.  What a servant all through the night, then early this morning he headed for work to continue serving.  Although, maybe that was a way to escape the chaos at home!

Anyway, if there was ever an evening that made me realize what that man sacrifices for us, it was last night!

Thank you, Shannon!

"Tattooing" his kiddos for their pirate play

Dom & Nickles

I have two sons....actually I have four....but the younger set is who this is about.  In so many ways they are complete opposites.  One is just fine with everyone doing absolutely everything for him.  The other, well, he would prefer to do everything himself.  I believe he would drive himself to town given the opportunity.
The other day was a glaring example of their differences.  All day, Dom had been begging for something sweet.

"Can I have some chocwat milk?  It's not Went anymore, so we can have sweets now."

He received a "No" answer enough so he changed his tactic.

"Mom, Daddy weally wikes bwownies and he would weally wike some in his wunch tomorrow, so can I make bwownies?"

How can a mother wife argue with that?

We made brownies and frosted them with...hold on, hold on......we frosted them with Jet Puff, then drizzled them with melted peanut butter.  They were very tasty, as Dom said.

Now that I'm thinking about it, the chocolate milk probably would have been the healthier choice.

Fast forward to dinner ~ Nickles loves green beans, asparagus, avocado, spinach, apples...healthy stuff.  He is not the one I find in the kitchen stirring sugar into his glass of water, maybe sneaking strawberries or carrots, but he is not a sugar baby.  

Nicholas kept asking for more "beans" so he and Daddy could have bean-eating contests.  It was actually roasted asparagus, but who cares, he gobbled through a pile of it!  

A person would never catch Dom consuming veggies in such amounts.  

I am often asked if they're twins (apparently the askers must be blind) but the question always makes me laugh, they are just so very different in so many ways!

More beans please ~

Ready, Set, Go!

Yum, Yum, Yum!

Springtime in Montana

Spring is one of those seasons, you either love it or hate it in our house. For me, it depends on the day, and sometimes even the moment.  I love the smell of wet earth, but sometimes the cleaning up after my kiddos have played in it all afternoon is overwhelming.  The return of the meadowlarks and sandhill cranes is magnificent.  There is something about the meadowlark's song that lifts my soul, summer is just around the corner.  Trading winter coats for lighter jackets is another springtime bonus.  But the new life that abounds is the absolute best thing about spring.  The calves in the fields, the chicks that we hatch, and this year, the baby lambs at our neighbor's!

The first one was born on Holy Thursday and Annika was given the task of naming him.  She named him Paschal and our friends thought that was such a perfect name that Annika was told to name all the rest.  Since then, Almond and Joy, Cookies and Cream, Hansel and Gretel, Margaret and Joey have arrived.  The first one was the only singleton, the rest were twins, making the naming process so very fun. 

Just so you know, Margaret, your namesake is a boy and Joey's is a girl!

We did have a day of spring skiing, but after a person has been wearing shorts around, skiing just doesn't hold the same allure.  It was a fun day with Grandma and we were able to get a peek at Anya and Colette skiing.  Bluebird skies made for a beautiful day! 

Today it is snowing again, typical Montana, so we will hunker down and wait for better weather that should arrive in a day or so.  We could always crank up the Christmas music, pretend that it's December again, and bake cookies!  Mmmmm, that sounds like a grand idea ~

Eating outside is a sure sign of spring ~

Poor Eric, I only snapped one picture, 

he was so disappointed his eyes were closed!

Riding the tram down ~

talk about an uncomfortable ride UP! 

We were packed in...a person could have went through their neighbor's 

pockets without being noticed!

~ My current view from the kitchen window ~

A baking day indeed!

Easter!

When we were kids we would travel to Beach, ND at Easter to celebrate with our grandparents.  I vaguely recall it being less than wonderful weather sometimes, but in my memory Easter always seemed glorious.  We would go to early Mass, then have to run some vague errand or take some random detour on our way home from church.  I now realize that we had to give the Easter bunny time to do his business back at Grandma's.  Dad would typically spot a random bunny hopping down the road and threaten to run the Easter bunny over with our big red van.  No wonder we all have a slightly sadistic streak.  

My absolute favorite part of the morning was arriving at Mass.  It must be why I just cannot give up going to early Mass still into my adult life.  It just wouldn't be Easter.  The church is quiet, blissfully so.  It always feels like we are the first ones at the tomb.  The sun is only beginning to light the sky, the birds are just waking up and I can almost feel how the women must have felt as they walked along the path, preparing to anoint Our Savior's body just to discover that He was gone....He had RISEN! 

The peace, the excitement, the joy of the morning fills me up.  

Now, Shannon and I try to create memories with our cherubs.  Their excitement brings back the wonderful childhood memories of going to Grandma's, the long walks in the afternoon, the mad dash for eggs and baskets, the beauty of singing, "Jesus Christ is Risen Today", celebrating new life.  How a bunny was ever incorporated into the Easter festivities I don't know, but as long as our day is Christ-centered I frankly don't care!

Waiting for the starting gate to open

Almost all the cousins...

Sweet Louis...someone put a chickie on his highchair

Eric looking suave ~

Dom, running for the next egg ~

We thanked God for the sunshine ~

And for cousins ~

And for plenty of eggs to search for ~

And for sweet little Kelton ~

And for Grandma & Grandpa's fantastic yard ~
Good thing Dad never ran over the Easter bunny, otherwise he wouldn't be still getting a basket!

And beautiful eggs ~

Most of all, the precious gift of FAMILY ~