Happy birthday Hilary!

Many happy returns to my soul sister, a model of courage and fidelity who channels her sufferings to help others. When I think of the days and nights she spends tending to five children without the love and support of a husband, I'm overcome with admiration and awe (and overwhelming sadness at the injustice). The cooking and cleaning, the long nights of sickness, the dramas of adolescence, the never-ending teaching, modeling, chastising that parenting involves... this two-person job falls on her shoulders. She witnesses what it means to follow in Christ's footsteps along the via crucis with courage, trust and cheerfulness. A timely Lenten reflection from St. Faustina's diary: "My daughter, suffering will be a sign to you that I am with you (669)." Looking forward to celebrating with you!

Sorry, couldn't resist :)

School days

Mornings now start earlier for some... 

So excited to be a second grader!

Today is the second full day of school for the girls, and from what I observe, they're enjoying themselves. I expected them to come home yesterday and drop, given their inexperience with a full day of school away from home. To my surprise, they were full of energy and enthusiasm- no collapsing in a heap of existential tiredness for these girls. Frankie was singled out and rewarded on the first day for being an example of what it means to listen obediently to the teacher (no surprise there), and Teresa got a sticker for being a good listener (perhaps a little to my surprise :) ). We're already getting the daily dish of classroom drama (boys who won't behave, mainly), along with excited descriptions of Spanish and art classes, trips to the library, who they sat next to at lunch and who they played with at recess. I'm vicariously enjoying these early school days. Kindergarten and second grade do, after all, evoke happy memories for me, as hopefully they do for most of us? Here on the home-front, things are quiet and relaxed. When Rose takes a nap, David becomes my little buddy to rest, read and play. It seems we all couldn't be happier.

Goings on

Fourth of July party with the Queen of Apostles St. Joseph's Group. Our pastor is doing pin the tail on the donkey...what a good sport he is :)

David belongs to a family of girls, no way around it.  I couldn't stop laughing when they came upstairs from our coat closet like this.

It's been an eventful month. Dave has formally changed jobs from the organization he began working for right out of college to our local parish, of all places! We've become close to our pastor, Fr. Leopoldo Vives, since he and two other Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary arrived at Queen of Apostles last year, and since Dave organized a ministry for fathers in the parish called the St. Joseph's Group. Fr. Leopoldo asked Dave to help out interviewing candidates for a new job opportunity at the parish. Everyone involved in the interview process soon discerned that really Dave was the ideal candidate for the job. After some quick and intense discernment, Dave and I both came to see the job as very attractive on many levels: it would employ everything Dave had learned at YLF and business school, it would be an eight minute commute from our house, the salary and benefits are more than what we previously had, and the girls would be able to attend the parish school in the fall at no cost to us. It was dawning on us that this unforeseen job offer was God's answer to years of earnest prayer. No doubt this new job will present its own challenges and crosses, but all in all it looks like a beautiful fit for now!

In the meantime, Frankie and Teresa are excited about the prospect of school this fall, and I'm looking forward to a break from the pressure of homeschool for a season. We may very well return to homeschooling, which in theory I find preferable, but life the past year provided some significant obstacles to what I consider ideal execution.  Thank goodness Frankie is such a bright self-starter; I know she absorbed much despite our very basic curriculum. 

We've put moving on hold for now, since Dave's new commute is simply too good to be true, but we've still got our eye out for a neighborhood where car windows remain intact (we like to dream big around here). Two nights ago, for the second time in a year, someone bashed in a window of our minivan. Despite six years sprinkled with arrests, theft and vandalism, we've decided to stay on our street for another year or so (yeah, we're tough). Nonetheless, feel free to share any news of houses for sale in the Annandale area!

Cabin fever

It's cold outside, which makes for creative play indoors. So I wasn't entirely surprised to find every kitchen utensil spread on the kitchen floor ("we're organizing, Mom!"), nor was I surprised to find the girls had dressed Rose up as a fairy ballerina.  Remember this outfit, Aunts Missy and Melanie? We need to sign this girl up for a baby ballet class.

Look at that pointed toe!

Pool weather

This morning was hot and muggy, so we knew what to do this afternoon ...

Our little pink elephant on parade.

I fear getting a bathing suit on the little guy will be a challenge this summer. 

Christmas cookies

Chef Frankie with Sous Chef Teresa, not licking fingers of course! Giving it the old college try at least...

No dignity for babies

I came into the girls' room to retrieve Rose, expecting big girls to be in their beds. What I found...

....was this.

"Mom, she even has a bow and arrow!"

Rose the Hawaiian warrior princess? 

Summer days

We're hoping that by being near to the piano Rose will develop some sort of talent by osmosis.  The downside is that this room, needless to say, must remain locked to the general public (i.e. David) to discourage noisy delightful piano masterpieces while Rose sleeps.

 We're always late to enforce "tummy time" around here...which explains why each of our children has been bald on the back of the head probably longer than necessary.

I call this the juxtaposition of happiness (balloons) and uncertainty (Teresa). Only Teresa would wake up one morning (yesterday) and say with a scowl, "Why does it always have to be sunny? Go away sunshine." As an aside: Mom- does this remind you of a certain college performance involving balloons?

Frankie holds Rose quite often now. It's amazing how something somewhat verboten a month ago (holding Rose) has become acceptable- no doubt in large part because of F's maturity. You can tell Rose knows she's in able hands.

And the living's easy...

What's summer without breaking out the baby pool (Frankie wisely suggested we get an un-poppable version this year)...

 ...and some pictures from the garden. These roses actually smell as luscious as they look.

So please indulge me as I express how excited we are about our first successful pumpkin and tomato crops? Thanks Greenthumb Grandmommy for all those little plants with uncertain futures! We've finally found a side of the yard that likes vegetables. Here are just a few of our many future jack-o-lanterns, though these guys are looking like they'll be ready pre-Halloween... pumpkin pie and pumpkin butter, at least, are in order!

And of course another Rose post, sorry people. Pillow fight! Rose's first sleepover.

 "So, first we'll paint our nails, then we'll make s'mores, then Daddy's going to read us bedtime stories...."

"Um, Mommy...you there? I can't move. Help?"

Rose Update

 So she's a big, happy girl. Big. 

Her new thing is turning from her back to this position. She arches her back, kicks those michelin man legs furiously, and I can tell she's trying to get somewhere, anywhere... possibly onto her tummy. Sometimes she's crying when she does it, which is pretty cute. 

Looking a little unsure in big sister's care. 

 Ready with the camera, Mommy? Okay, watch me.

VOGUE.

Mommy...NOT happy with that last one.

Beach pictures to come shortly!

You knew it was coming...

...random pictures of flowers in the garden, that is. Like father like daughter, right Mom?

I have to share my satisfaction over these gorgeous blooms, sorry.

Easter has come to mean hydrangeas from Lola! This one's blue hue is other-worldly.

(sisterly snuggle thrown in there)

Have I ever mentioned how grateful we are for our screened-in back porch? Words are not enough. Teresa was eaten alive yesterday (this early!) when the pool was on the lawn so we got creative with its placement today. Thank you Pop pop and Grandmommy for a huge gift that keeps on giving.