A Back Yard War Film

 

A couple summers ago, while our three oldest were working their summer jobs and I was just trying to survive the third trimester of my last pregnancy by napping with the toddler nearly every day, I woke up one afternoon to see our remaining four children lying on the grass in the back yard editing a dramatic war film they had just created.

I was impressed. So were their older siblings when they got home from work!

I've been meaning to share it with you all ever since and finally uploaded it to YouTube. Enjoy!

June of 2019 

Starring Snuggles (11), Rose (9), Bud (7)

Photography by Chiquita (14) 

In remembrance of those who gave the ultimate price for our freedom!

{this moment}

She is so loved ❤ Favorite Blankets from Lulujo and Sweet Sequels (these were Christmas gifts and a huge hit!)

Morning Prayer 

by St. Therese

O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.

O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity. Amen.

{this moment}

Late Wednesday night I saw a light coming from the boys' room and peeked inside.
I quietly took this photo with my iPhone, shared it over on Instagram, and went back to bed. ❤

It's been a little overwhelming around here lately and I have been fighting burnout... Long hours at work for both my husband and I, writing deadlines, doctors/dentist/orthodontist appointments and bills, way too many assignments due for the children (especially our high schoolers who have been working non-stop to catch back up following golf season), the final week of school along with required state testing (including a question we were not happy to hear about on one of our 9th grade sons tests), the resignation of our amazing tutor from the local home-based charter we have used the past five years (we have lots to pray about and some decisions/changes to make for next year), a big rattlesnake right outside the front door, and a slow moving stomach bug which has been working it's way through our family the past two weeks and has claimed another two three this weekend. Sometimes it all seems like too much, but moments like this make it all worth it. God is Good!

Reading Aloud at the Rink

One of the other hockey moms sent me a text message with this photo, taken in the fireside room at 8:45 last night, telling me that my little guy was "reading out loud to the boys" in between their practices. So cute!  I was asleep by the time they all got home (Monday nights are crazy!) but the boys filled me in on the rest of the details this morning.

"Hey, your little brother is so cool!" said one of the other high school hockey players to our two high schoolers just before their practice, "Yeah, he was reading to us!" 

{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: Rose's First Lost Tooth

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

{real} Last Sunday, while I was wrapping Christmas books for Advent, I heard Rose crying. I ran out of my bedroom to the hallway to find two of her brothers trying to comfort her and reassure her that losing a tooth really isn't such a horrible thing... The look on Snuggles face! He is such a loving big brother! 

{happy} That tooth has been close to falling out for months now, and was even closer Sunday night hanging on by a thread, but she was very happy when she was able to prop it back up... She did not want to lose that first tooth!

{pretty} Today, on the traditional feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, our little Rose lost her first tooth! I'm surprised it hung on for so long - she has been carefully eating her food all week, cutting everything into tiny pieces - but it finally fell out this afternoon! She was so relieved that it wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it might be.
My baby girl is growing up!

{funny} My dad was working in the area and happened to stop by just after it fell out! After she showed her grandpa her tooth, he asked if she had ever heard the story One Morning in Maine, a story he always read to my siblings and I when we were growing up. She hadn't so I pulled it off the shelf. Watching him read it to her was so special!
Hmmm... I wonder if that story has anything to do with her losing that tooth for a second time this evening...
She is really hoping we find it soon! :) We seem to be losing everything this week!

{this moment}

Photos © Marc Salvatore. Posted with permission.  
You can find my pictures from our 10th Annual All Souls Mass here. 

A Hockey Birthday

This year we celebrated Snuggles' 8th birthday with a Hockey themed party. He had been talking about wanting this party theme ever since he started playing hockey last fall with his older brothers, but of course I ended up not making any plans until the very last minute other than ordering a few birthday gifts and pulling out our copy of Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet. 

I knew I wanted to try and come up with a few new ideas, different from the last Hockey birthday party we had for Ranger's (previously Rascal) 8th Birthday.  All our boys have different favorite NHL teams - Captain loves the Penguins, Ranger the Capitals, and Snuggles' favorite team is the LA Kings so we focused on incorporating Silver and Black for our party decorations.  

After a trip to the craft store and a couple internet searches on Saturday morning (the day before his birthday!) along with lots of help from my husband and older children, it all came together! 

He was so excited when he woke up to discover his Hockey Jersey Birthday Cake, the Face-off Puck Cakes, the Stanley Cup Ice Cream Cones, and all the other treats and decorations we made for his special day.

Ranger made sure that the Capitals were still represented! 

Snuggles' birthday happened to fall on Father's Day this year! Some of my siblings happened to be in town for the weekend so we packed up all the party food and headed out to my parents home for a double celebration. It was such a fun day! 

.: Party Food and Decorations :. 

Face-Off Puck Cakes

Sports Drinks with homemade Hockey and LA Kings Labels

Sport-orade

Ranger whipped up a quick Lego Hockey Rink...

... and this awesome little LA Kings Zamboni! 

NHL Hockey Puck Party Favors - made with Ding Dongs, a little melted chocolate to secure the lollipop sticks, and a white candy decorating pen! 

Along with "Concession Stand" Hot Dogs and Hamburgers, potato salad, and watermelon, my mom made sure there was an amazing salad filled with AIP approved veggies that I could eat. 

Thank you, Mom! 

Stanley Cup Ice Cream Cones

Flying Pucks (Cookies & Cream) Ice Cream 

.: Party Games :. 

I had a couple games to play including NHL Spot it! and the NHL Bingo I created 7 years ago for one of our older boys' 8th birthday, but the biggest attraction at Grandma and Grandpa's house is always getting rides on the golf cart or Grandpa's quad.

.: Birthday Cake :.

.: Birthday Gifts :.

His birthday gifts included some little gifts from his siblings (I especially loved watching him open the bag of coins from his little sister. She was so excited to give them to him! And of course all the thank you hugs!), a water gun from Grandpa and Grandma, a fun airplane card and gift from his other grandparents, lots of little toys from Uncle Brian and Aunt Megan including this fun Air Hogs Rip Force Glider, a few lego sets, a LA Kings Goalie Minifigure, and a personalized Hockey backpack!

Happy 8th Birthday, Snuggles!