Tooth Trauma {Take Two}

If you've been reading along for awhile, you might remember the Tooth Trauma we had way back in 2012... Well, this past week, as we were getting started on the first experiments for Zoology 2 (the first time we've revisited the topic since 2012-2013... So ironic!) I joked with the children saying "Let's not break any teeth this time!" On Wednesday night, after I was tagged a couple times in a Christendom post featuring one of our boys, I also joked in a comment saying "Such good looking students!" ;) 

Sigh... I know better than to joke around like that! 

Thursday night, after soccer practice, I received a text message with the following photo... 

"Soccer practice" 

It was bound to happen eventually... and honestly I'm glad it held together for 8 years and survived braces before breaking again... but it would have been nice if he wasn't 2500 miles away from home and our family dentist! He popped it in some milk, put it in the fridge and headed to his evening classes. 

(Note: He did give me permission to share pictures with you all.) 

"A true Christendom intellectual" 

So proud! Toilet seat and all... I think he was having way too much fun! He did have me laughing with the photos and stories of cheesy grins to friends in passing on his way to class. 

Meanwhile older brother was making plans for this year's Costume Dance...

Friday morning I started trying to find a dentist. I reached out to an online friend in Front Royal for recommendations, but all the dentists I called were either closed on Fridays, not accepting new patients, or didn't have the best reviews online.  At 9:45 my time (which was 12:45 Eastern) I finally found a young dentist, a preferred provider with our insurance, who could see him. However, she was a little over an hour away and scheduled to close shortly at 1PM, but offered to wait for the boys to arrive. I had to have our oldest son skip his 1:00 literature class, but thankfully they at least have a car with them this year. Whew!

She did an amazing job putting the tooth back together! It actually looks better than it did before. Eventually he will need a crown, but hopefully this will hold for another 8 years... 

And no more soccer without a mouth guard! 

Christendom Bound :: A Cross-Country Road Trip

I was fine until I hugged them both goodbye... then the tears started falling! The last five months, despite all the craziness, has been such a gift and a wish come true to have all our children at home "just a little longer." We had so much fun together!

We went back and forth all summer on whether or not to send the boys back to Christendom College again this year, and then whether to have them fly or drive... We had flights, booked but on Wednesday (Aug 12th) we changed plans and decided to send them with a vehicle at the last minute. Our little ones all woke up extra early Friday morning (Aug 14th) so they could say goodbye just before the boys hit the road to travel from the West Coast all the way over to the East Coast. We already miss them so much! 

2700+ miles, 16 states, and approximately 42 hours plus stops = four days on the road! 

I kept a close eye on "find my phone" all day every day and they were also great about staying in touch and sending pictures to all of us back here at home... 

 

They said I could share some of the pictures with you all!

.: Day One - Aug 14th :.

Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

"This was a nice spontaneous little stop! Had NO clue that we would be passing this on our route and when John and I saw the signs we HAD to stop by!!"

.: Day Two - Aug 15th :. 

South Dakota, Nebraska

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

.: Sunday Break - Aug 16th :. 

Holy Mass and Spending the Day with Friends

Catholic Church in the Middle of a Corn Field

Sure love seeing these "kids" together again! When they were all younger we had so many great adventures together: Crater Lake, many trips to the Oregon Coast, Grand Tetons, and more! 

.: Day Three - Aug 17th :. 

Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky

Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

... and a picture of THE DOOR!

From Deep in the Archives: *Almost* Excommunicated

The Gateway Arch

 

.: Day Four - Aug 18th :. 

Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia

They made it!!

John was supposed to arrive at Christendom last Sunday night for soccer camp starting this pst Monday (his flight was supposed to be the 16th and James was going to follow on the 22nd) tomorrow and James’ was next Saturday) but the coaches said it was fine if he arrived a day or two late... James however was not allowed to stay on campus until Saturday, so after dropping John off he headed back to Maryland to spend four nights with his cousins. 

The boys are now both settled in their new dorm rooms. Classes begin on Tuesday!📚 

Holy Mother Mary, 

Who by virtue of your divine motherhood, 

Hast become mother of us all, 

I place the charge which God has given me, 

under your loving protection. 

Be a Protecting Mother to my children. 

Guard their bodies and 

keep them in health and strength. 

Guard their minds and keep their thoughts 

ever holy in the sight of their Creator and God. 

Guard their hearts and keep them pure 

and strong and happy in the love of God. 

Guard always their souls and ever preserve in them, 

faithfully, the glorious image of God 

whom they received in Holy Baptism. 

Always Mother, protect them 

and keep them under your Mothering care. 

Supply in your all-wise motherhood, 

for my poor human deficiencies 

and protect them from all evil. 

Amen. 

Queen of the Most Holy Family, pray for us!

High School Graduation Party {Class of 2019}

This past Saturday we hosted a graduation party for our two high school graduates! They actually graduated Kolbe Academy at the beginning of May, but we just didn't have an opportunity to celebrate until now...

 

One morning in June, when I was looking at the calendar for July, trying to figure out a date, our eldest son said "Why don't you just have it on the 20th?" as he was heading out the door to work. With my sister's wedding in Oregon on July 6th, I didn't think I'd be able to pull it together for either the previous or following weekend, and I didn't want to push it out any further than the weekend of the 20th due to my approaching due date... I went with the 20th and mailed out all the invitations. He got home from work, saw the invitations, and said "MOM!!! I was kidding!" Apparently a huge graduation party isn't our (introverted/melancholic) son's idea of the best way to spend his 19th birthday... Whoops!

I planned the party as an afternoon BBQ Open House in our backyard from 1:00-4:00. Some guests came for the whole party and others popped in for a little while depending on their schedules. We grilled hot dogs and sausages, plus we had lots of drinks (including IPAs and Peach Sangria for the adults), snacks and desserts. To make it a little easier I asked everyone to "please bring a side dish to share if you are able" and we ended up with more than enough food. 

Knowing that I would be nearing full term (almost 36 weeks pregnant, I delivered our last baby at 37 weeks) I did my best to keep the party "small" but we still ended up with around 80 guests! I spent the previous weekend creating decorations and shopping lists, and it all came together somehow. It was such a lovely day with a wonderful group of friends and family! 

The boys Diplomas and Tassels from Kolbe Academy had arrived awhile back, but I saved them to give them at the party. I love that Kolbe's Tassels have a St. Maximilian Kolbe medal attached to them. (He is our oldest son's confirmation saint!)

{download my Black Board Graduation Banner here}

One of the girls updated the letter board with a quote we used on their Graduation Announcements. 

(Costco did a great job on the announcements!) 

 

I also printed out all of their End-of-School Interviews from over the years to use as decorations!

We only had a couple benches and folding tables, but a nearby friend kindly loaned us a bunch more. I also picked up table cloths at Party City during a one-day sale when they were priced just 4 for $1!

The boys were introduced to Kan Jam during Experience Christendom Summer Camp last year and we picked up a couple sets during a Buy-1-Get-1 sale to pull out for the party, along with Spikeball.

My parents also gifted the graduates with a Cornhole set for the Graduation party! 

(Thanks, Dad and Mom!!) 

Graduation Cap Cupcakes

Graduation Candy Buffet

(You can download my free printable at the above link with all the signs.) 

The birthday boy and my dad

Me with my mom, Father Gordon (my husband's youngest brother and our oldest son's Godfather),
and my Uncle Tom (mom's oldest brother) and Aunt Toni

We definitely need a larger grill the next time we host a big BBQ!

Father Rapoport, Father Terra and Father Flick (below) also were able to come to the party!

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Kan Jam! #andthatshowitsdone #graduationpartygames #goteamgordon #fssp

A post shared by Jessica Gordon (@showerofroses) on Jul 25, 2019 at 4:09pm PDT

The little kids version of Kan Jam!

"Most loving Lord, Grant me a steadfast heart which no unworthy desire may drag downwards; an unconquered heart which no hardship may wear out; an upright heart which no worthless purpose my ensnare. 

Impart to me also, O God, the understanding to know you, the diligence to seek you, a way of life to please you, and a faithfulness that may embrace you, through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen."