60 degrees in February? We swing.

A Beautiful Day in Cleveland

 

This and that

A bald eagle flew into our house a few nights ago. Thankfully the children were asleep. 

Dave got to be Ernest the Eagle, Queen of Apostles' mascot, during spirit week. That means he got to walk around the school and scare groups of kindergarteners and first graders. 

Wouldn't you scream if you turned a corner and ran into this?

One day Frankie and Teresa decided to reorganize their drawers. Teresa, our creative child, came up with a color-based system, instead of the traditional "shirts--pants--pjs" model. If you look in the drawers, you'll find exactly those colors. It makes putting her clothes away a little strange. 

Today Teresa approached me with this lunch order. She had asked everyone what they wanted and recorded it. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised to have it so neatly laid out! No finagling children about their lunch preferences. 

Aren't I a good, obliging mother.

The March and a trip

Hilary, Anna, Maria, Gracie, Julia, Jackson (taking the picture) with friends at Union Station gearing up for the March for Life.  You guys rock.

On their way! Pictures of the crowds are amazing- half a million people by many counts. Must have been exhilarating to be there! We supported the March in spirit this year- hoping one of these years soon to get out there with the littles.

The Mr. and Mrs. enjoying a chilly luncheon outdoors. 

I love it when I hear *silence*, walk quickly to see what everyone is up to, and find this.

Dave, Jeff and Lolo's view this weekend from an Orlando golf course. Lucky ducks!


Dave left this weekend, along with Jeff and Lolo, for a golf trip to Orlando. It came a good time in a way: after a crazy week of work preparing Queen of Apostles for the big groups coming through for the March for Life.  Even though they started out exhausted (Jeff taking a red-eye flight the night before with a dislocated thumb!), it sounds like it ended up being a relaxing trip. They came home with sunburns... a nice thing to see in the dead of winter! Grandmommy and Aunt Hilary came over to help me over the weekend, for which I'm so grateful...thank you both!!

Happy birthday Dave!

"Let me show you how not to eat a cupcake, kids."

He really liked his shirts...

Teresa wove and sewed a glasses case for Dave- all by herself!

Post-cupcake happy dance.

We had a birthday feast followed by yummy cupcakes (both recipes tweaked a little). It's hard to put to words how much we love and cherish Dave as husband and dad. He is our daily joy; we all look forward to his coming home. He infuses creative, fun energy into my literal-minded world, whether by setting all the clocks back an hour (to fool everyone into going to bed an hour early), playing "smile and scare" (a game dubbed by David Jr.- basically Dave hides in a dark place, the kids find him, scream and he chases them around the house), or concocting a delicious meal (Coq Au Vin being the latest).  And to brag on him a little, he's also very civic-minded, being a member of YLF's board, chairing various committees at our school and parish, and leading a father's ministry called the St. Joseph's Group. Recently he was asked to be on Bishop Loverde's pastoral council- a testament to his hard work. He balances all this with aplomb. We love you!

In honor of his birthday, some appropriate entertainment: Jim Gaffigan's 4 Kids.

(incidentally, I got him Dad Is Fat for his birthday- not as a passive-aggressive hint, but because it's hilarious)

A preview...

...of good things to come! Celebrating Dave's birthday a day early because of his work schedule. Party tonight at the Cook casa! Dave actually requested red velvet cupcakes. After contemplating the red food coloring container for a few moments, I made an executive decision and hopefully these will be just as good :)

Snow Day

Snow day for David and Rose, that is. We were shocked to find that school for Frankie and Teresa wasn't even delayed, much less cancelled! (We tend to be wimps about snow in this neck of the country) Here they are romping and waving "HI!" to passing cars. 

Whew! This took about 30 minutes to accomplish. Finally ready to roll.

"Can I take off my hat?"

It's a big, white world for a little fat.