So... This happened today!

Congratulations on your Drivers Permit, Captain!

Grant me, O Lord, a steady hand and watchful eye, 

That no one shall be hurt as I pass by. 

Thou gavest life, I pray no act of mine 

May take away or mar that gift of Thine. 

Shelter those, dear Lord, who bear my company 

From the evils of fire and all calamity. 

Teach me to use my car for others need; 

Nor miss through love of undue speed

The beauty of the world; that thus I may 

With joy and courtesy go on my way. 

St. Christopher, holy patron of travelers, 

protect me, and lead me safely to my destiny.

St. Christopher, pray for us! 

{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: Pi Day

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life with Like Mother, Like Daughter. ~

I'm going to be doing a little catch up today with some pictures from March starting with Pi Day!

{pretty}

March 10th - She was so excited that Grandpa was at his office and we were able to stop by for a visit after dropping the big kids off with their math tutor!

{happy}

March 10th - Our math tutor baked treats for all of her students this week! #PiDay2015

{funny}

"YES!!!" said our fourteen year old to our thirteen year old, "You HAVE to shave today so that someday you can tell your kids 'On Pi Day 2015 I shaved for the very first time!' Come on, I'll show you how!" #howourteenscelebratedpiday #stopgrowingupsofast 

{real}

March 14th, 2015 - He was determined to take the first bite of his piece of pie at exactly 9:26:53! #3point1415 #PiDay2015

Celebrating the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"Rejoice, O earth, because from the womb of Anna, as from a fertile vine, has sprung a sweet, ripe cluster. To the harvesting of this vineyard all are invited, none are excluded—it is the joy of all." 

~ St. John Damascene

{this moment}

Day 8: They are finally on their way home! I can't wait to hear all about the camp. 

It looks like they had a lot of fun from this picture my husband just sent.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life. ~

{pretty}

Here is a peek at one of the headboards for the older girls new bunk bed.  So pretty!  

{happy}

The girls were so excited to move into the bunk beds and Rose was also very happy to have her very own big girl bed!  We went to the store last weekend and she helped pick out a new quilt for Twinkle Toes' old bed.  Plenty of pink and covered with little roses, it is perfect for her!  

{funny}

I've never been very good at gardening...
This year our garden is doing much better than last, but we still have so much to learn.

I have a feeling that whatever this random plant that grew in one of our raised beds (from seeds in the compost?) probably didn't need the tomato cage despite the little curly things (tendrils, according to google) that seemed to want to climb... Do I leave it where it is and if so do those (melons? spaghetti squash!) need more support? 

... and check out our compost.  Whatever is growing there is doing better than the rest of the garden! 

{real}

Oh, how I am missing this oldest boy of ours!

Captain left for a boys camp on Monday morning and will be home again on Friday.  This is his first time attending a summer camp, other than camping with our whole family.   He has spent the night away from home a few times for various reasons, but always with at least a brother or two.

Actually, this week has been the hardest on Rascal, who has never been away from his older brother overnight.  (Except for one night when he was 9 months old, when we left Captain with my parents for  an overnight trip to the coast on our anniversary.  Actually, he didn't do well with the separation that night either.)  Rascal is definitely my hardest worker and on Monday he spent the day cleaning out the van, mopping the floors, doing dishes, and any other random job that he could think of to help me. He said that "If I stay really busy the week will go by faster." Awwww...  The afternoon at the Science Museum with friends yesterday helped, and the week is already more than half over!  Captain will be coming home tomorrow!  All his siblings are making cards and little handmade gifts to surprise him with when he gets home.  He has been missed!

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more pictures of contentment.

A Long Expected Party

"Bilbo Baggins called it a party, but it was really a variety of entertainments rolled into one.  Practically everybody living near was invited.  A very few were overlooked by accident, but as they turned up all the same, that did not matter." 

~ The Fellowship of the Ring

Our oldest son turned thirteen this past Saturday!  He is turning into such a wonderful young man and we all enjoyed celebrating his special day with a "Lord of the Rings" themed birthday party.  Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Brian, Aunt Meagan, and his little cousin all showed up to celebrate with us as well!  

.: Decorations :.

Gandalf Arrives Lego Set (which is being retired!) and Fireworks left over from the 4th of July

"The fireworks were by Gandalf: they were not only brought by him, but designed and made by him; and the special effects, set pieces, and flights of rockets were let off by him.  But there was also a generous distribution of squibs, crackers, back rappers, sparklers, torches, dwarf-candles, elf-fountains, goblin-barkers and thunder-claps.  They were all superb.  The art of Gandalf improved with age.” 

~ The Fellowship of the Ring

Folkmanis Enchanted Tree Puppet

"A queer look came into the old eyes, a kind of wariness; the deep wells were covered over. 'Hrum, now,' answered the voice; 'well, I am an Ent, or that's what they call me. Yes, Ent is the word. The Ent, I am, you might say, in your manner of speaking. Fangorn is my name according to some, Treebeard others make it. Treebeard will do.'"
~ The Two Towers 

Bud LOVES Treebeard! 

I also reused the Door Sign (You can download that document here.) I had made along with the Happy Birthday Banner (inspired by Charlotte's lovely Lord of the Rings Banner - you can download the banner document here.) from Rascal's Hobbit Birthday Party earlier this year.  I also had picked up a Middle Earth poster as well.  

All quick and easy! 

.: Lord of the Rings Monopoly :.

"The ring bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On him alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the Ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy nor indeed to let any handle it, save members of the Company and the Council, and only then in gravest need." 
~ The Fellowship of the Ring

We spent most of the afternoon playing Lord of the Rings Monopoly!

(I purchased this version back in 2004 but a newer Collector's Edition can be found here.)

"'Good... good luck!' cried Bilbo, stuttering from the cold."

~ The Fellowship of the Ring 

"Welcome to Gimli Land!" my husband enjoyed saying all afternoon!  

He was having a little too much fun when we all landed on his quickly developed monopoly.  ;)

Thankfully, with the LOTR options, once the ring arrived at Mount Doom the torture game ended.  

.:  Second Breakfast :. 

Golden Rings, Scones and Strawberries for during the Game

.:  Middle Earth Appetizers :.

“When every guest had been welcomed and was finally inside the gate, there were songs, dances, music, games, and, of course, food and drink." ~ The Fellowship of the Ring

Lembas Bread

'But we call it lembas or waybread, and it is more strengthening than any food made by Men, and it is more pleasant than cram, by all accounts.' ~ The Fellowship of the Ring 

Tandoori Naan Flatbread, cut in thirds, wrapped in green napkins, and tied with twine.  

Hobbit Hole Doors

(Same as these but made with Candy Buttons instead of Sixlets)

Wizard Hats 

Council of Elrond (Keebler E.L. Fudge Cookies)

Misty Mountain Trail Mix

The Ring (Peach O's)

Gollum's Goodies (Rainbow Fish Candies)

'Drink it, drink it, while we can! But what is it they've got precious? Is it crunchable? Is it tasty?'

~ Gollum in The Two Towers 

Prancing Pony Root Beer
Shire Garden Veggies with Hummus
Farmer Maggot's Mushrooms

Dead Marshes Dip (Chunky Spicy Guacamole) 

with Blue-Corn Chips

And for music: 

The Hobbit Party: Shire Folk Music

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

.: Birthday Gifts :.

We wrapped his birthday gifts in gold, dark brown and forest green paper, attaching gift tags and displaying a beautiful new Bookmark hand painted and ordered from The Fig and Thimble!  

There are definitely benefits to having a birthday following a yard sale and all of his younger siblings couldn't wait to give him the gifts they had purchased with some of their earnings.  :) 

Snuggles has said earlier in the day: "I just can't wait to give (Captain) his presents!  He is surely going to give me a BIG hug!" And Rose?  Well, she had been working hard earning tickets with Summer Bingo and purchased the Spoons game from the prize box, which she knew her older brother had been eyeing.  

Rascal had purchased the new Lego Wizard Battle for his brother, Twinkle Toes was so excited to give him the 3D Puzzle (we found for 75% off clearance!) at Barnes and Noble, and Chiquita gave him a Gold Minifigure Case she purchased for a few dollars at ToysRUs. 

He was blessed with such thoughtful gifts from all his grandparents as well!  Sean's parents sent him a Gettysburg 150th Anniversary Tribute by Time Magazine (having noticed that the boys had recently finished studying the Civil War) and the series of Tales of Foreign Lands which he can't wait to start reading!  My parents surprised him with The Council of Elrond Lego Set which was assembled before the evening was over! 

The gifts could have easily stopped there, but a thirteenth birthday is extra special, and Sean and I had quite a few for him too including a copy of his favorite movie on DVD (I had sold the VHS during our yard sale), Walk with the Saints Journal (to take to camp with him this summer), along with a hand illustrated Hobbit Notebook and Grey Hood from The Fig and Thimble!

He also received a WWII Bomber Puzzle (from Costco), The Lost Stories, Attack on Weathertop Lego Set (found locally on clearance!), and the biggest surprise of all was the brand new Pirate Ship Ambush (purchased with Amazon rewards and a complete surprise since he hadn't seen the new lego catalog)!!

The Pirate Ship Ambush has also already been assembled! 

.: One Ring To Rule Them All Birthday Cake :.

I posted all about our "One Ring To Rule Them All" cake here! 

I wasn't able to finish the cake the night before, and it cracked me up that the birthday boy didn't want to come out to the kitchen until I was finished for "the full surprise!"  It was worth the wait and he loved his cake! 

We topped the cake with 13 candles and 3 extra sparklers to go along with our theme.  

“But they were, all of them, deceived, for another Ring was made. In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged in secret a master Ring, to control all others. And into this Ring he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life. "One Ring to rule them all." One by one, the Free Lands of Middle Earth fell to the power of the Ring. But there were some who resisted. A Last Alliance of Men and Elves marched against the armies of Mordor and on the slopes of Mount Doom, they fought for the freedom of Middle Earth. Victory was near. But the power of the Ring could not be undone.”

I picked up this little cake at Trader Joes since it reminded me of a volcano - perfect for Mount Doom, right?  It's their "chocolate macaroon filled cake" and actually has a ring of coconut macaroon filling in the center!  (You can see a picture on this blog.)  I know... Sparklers aren't really a very good idea inside the house, but we a large glass of water nearby, they didn't quite set off our fire alarm, and we were able to get a pretty neat picture! ;) 

 

"And there was also one last surprise, in honour of Bilbo, and it startled the hobbits exceeding, as Gandalf intended." 

~ The Fellowship of the Ring

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." 

~ Gandalf the Grey in The Fellowship of the Ring 

Happy 13th Birthday Captain!