Happy Birthday, James!

Although he has been in training for months, James is now officially 2. He said "No!", "I do it!", and "It's MINE!" several times each today.

Happy Birthday, Thomas and Anthony!

After opening a huge Playmobil Colosseum at their birthday breakfast, the boys disappeared to their room for hours. Just before lunch I caught them ransacking Cecilia's nativity set and asked how they liked their new toy. Their response:

"It's great, Mom! We're just getting some Christians to execute!"

Thomas at 9

Thomas loves to eat Tortellini with Pink Vodka Sauce, tostadas, and tomatoes which he planted in his square foot garden. If you offered him a blue shirt or a yellow one, he would choose yellow. At school he finds Math challenging, but he enjoys Geography and Science so much, he does them for fun. He also reads quite a bit, and Black Horses for the King and D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths are his favorites. In his free time, you will find him reading or playing at the park with Bobby or Justin or his brother Anthony.

Thomas' activities: Chess Club, Baseball, and Altar Serving. He chose to stop karate.

Heroes: St. Thomas the Apostle and Fr. Damien

With Dad Thomas likes to play catch, and with Mom he wants to cuddle and listen to stories and talk.

If Thomas were to play with someone besides Anthony, he would choose Maria. He potty trained Cecilia earlier this year, and he is teaching her to set the table, throw the trash, and feed the cat.

Anthony at 9

Anthony loves summer when there are plenty of watermelons to eat since they are his favorite food, and he is looking forward to eating fresh corn on the cob from his crop in the square foot garden.

Anthony is a diligent worker whether it is doing his chores, practicing piano, or working on math which he finds challenging. However, he would rather be reading D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths or learning about plants and how they grow.

After school, you can often find Anthony playing with Thomas, Bobby, or Katie outside. At home he prefers to be alone and read if Thomas is busy.

Anthony's heroes: St. Anthony of Padua, St. Anthony of Egypt, and St. Vincent de Paul

When he grows up, Anthony wants to be: "I don't know. Either a fire fighter, a priest, or a scuba diver. Those all sound like good options. Probably a priest."

Anthony's activities: chess club, baseball, and altar serving. He chose to stop doing karate. He was recently chosen to play in the White Oaks Challenge, a chess tournament, because of his high ranking.

Joseph's Journal

Holding you during a quiet moment yesterday, I was again awed by how quickly and completely I have come to love you. I always expect that more little people would divide what I have to give instead of increase it in a bountiful and new direction. And you, little love, have captured me--and all of us-- completely.

Chrysostom's Visit

Here are a few more cute pictures of Joseph:

While Chrysostom was here, he was invited on a walk by sporty-girl Cecilia. After the usual once around the block, she "let" him push her up the hills and back to the garage.

A quick goodbye hug from the newest nephew.

Our Newest Christian

My brother Fr. Chrysostom flew in from California today to baptize Joseph. He used an older form of the Baptism Rite which was absolutely beautiful. Here he is using a special baptismal stole as a part of the exorcism. By the time this part of the rite was done, Joseph had been thoroughly exorcised!






Some wild child is getting "the look" x2.

Our friend Deacon Dave was the proxy for Joseph's godparents, Gordon and Heather Talbot. Gordon is in Iraq with the Air Force, and Heather and the kids are in Alabama waiting for him to come home on leave any day now!

Here I am "getting churched" or receiving a special mother's blessing after having had a baby.

Our newest christian!

Joseph Damien

Joseph Damien May

April 7, 2008

9 pounds 9.5 oz

21 1/4"

Thank you for all the prayers! Labor was PERFECT, and we are both home and feeling great!

GOD IS GOOD!

41/35

Nope not my jeans size (that's closer to 46/29).

I'm 41 weeks pregnant and 35 years old today. :)

Read Alouds

Bill got home a half an hour before bedtime tonight, and he sat right down to read to the kids. From the next room I heard his response to the book Charles wanted from our gardening unit.

"Fairy houses? No way, Charles, we're reading....Drummer Hoff!"

Whether Report

For Thursday, April 3rd:

Mental forecast: Cheerful with chances of evening thunderstorms around the children's bedtime

Physical Conditions: Mostly comfortable but with periods of awkwardness and sciatica

Chances that we will be asked whether I've had the baby despite physical evidence to the contrary: 100%

Joke Pies

Happy April Fool's Day!