Mini-farming

When you have 6 boys and almost an acre of land, it's just natural to turn it into a mini farm. We had some hardwoods fall or taken down which created a great weekend project for the kids. 

Bill learned how to split wood from YouTube

Then he taught everyone big enough to hold an axe how

Others keep busy carrying in free pallets for storing firewood

We've also discovered that the crabapple tree I've been whining about for 2 years--because it's healthy and pretty but the fruit is inedible--is actually a pear tree! We now have 2 fruit bearing trees, including my birthday fig tree. 

Last week as we were clearing around our sunflower house, I found 2 volunteer tomato plants with green tomatoes. And the herb garden Thomas cleared and planted for me is thriving on neglect. That's my kind of gardening.

Happy Birthday, Cecilia!

At age 9, Cecilia:

*loves animals
*wants to train horses when she grows up
*shares a bedroom with 3 brothers
*enjoys AHG
*chose taquitos and Cold Stone chocolate ice cream cake for her birthday dinner

Confirmation!

As the twins prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation, the director of religious described this sacrament as stirring up the Holy Spirit in your soul the way that chocolate syrup is stirred up into milk. You could leave it at the bottom of the glass, or you can stir it up. Well, they've been stirred!!!!!

Thomas Matthew and his sponsor and godmother Michele

Anthony George and his sponsor and our dear friend Paula

We gave the twins some general guidelines for choosing a Confirmation sponsor: try to pick someone you will know for the rest of your life and someone with whom you are comfortable discussing your faith and asking for guidance. Pick a mentor. They did a great job choosing.

Michele, Thomas and Bishop Michael Burbidge

Paula, Anthony and Bishop Burbidge

I know that bishops aren't chosen for their photogenic qualities, but we appreciate how photogenic and patient our bishop is. We were at the back of the line, and he was just as gracious and funny as if he hadn't been standing in the same spot, fully vested, unfed, and smiling for hours.

Since everyone was looking extra beautiful, we also took some belated Easter pictures.

Bill, Anthony, Thomas, Rachel
(and back-wrapped baby for the extra long Confirmation Mass win!)

Update around our house

Last weekend AHG, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts
from our parish went camping at the Catholic Camporee.
All of our family came and had a great time climbing the
Alpine tower, doing a scavenger hunt and earning
the Fr. McGivney patch.

I thought to keep Dominic occupied with washing some dishes
like I had watched my friend do with her toddler a few days before.
Her son played happily for an hour while she and I had
tea and a chat. When I set up the chair near the sink for Dominic,
he immediately climbed up and in!

Now for something completely the same

Catholic Fun

Obviously, the announcement of the retirement of Benedict XVI came as a sad shock this morning. After Mass, my friends and I huddled in the rain talking it over and encouraging each other. Then my friend Alison came up with a brilliant plan: she is going to run a Lenten betting pool in which we pay in $5 to pick which continent the new pope will be from. Then, on St. Joseph's day we'll all meet for drinks and celebrate the winner. Gambling and drinking. I love being Catholic!

iTeam makes the paper

The boys' First Lego League team won the North Carolina state championship and made the local paper. They have been invited to compete in the North American Tournament at Legoland in California in May!

http://www.thepilot.com/news/2013/feb/01/county-team-takes-state-lego-crown/