A Picture for Today: T's Favorite Baby

As you all know, Thérèse loves her baby dolls. Well, she usually gets her baby dolls all ready in their Sunday best on Saturday night, so this past Sunday she decided to help get her favorite baby ready for Mass as well. He seems to enjoy the head massage very much.

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Patrick is Mobile!

I should have a video of this for you, but I don't. So, here are a few shots of Patrick destroying our school room during school yesterday. We had to get out the pack-n-play pretty quickly in order to retain sanity in the room. He is a mover and, I dare say, a bit like me as a toddler. My nickname was Mouse because I always seemed to know what would make the biggest mess and then would get into it. He seems to have the same gift...

Love, Us.

A Video for Today: Extreme Sours

Well, just to be fair, dad did win one contest over the long weekend...

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: A True Crossfit Family

Just a regular day in the Librandi garage...

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Our First Bowling Adventure

Since we were unable to take our out-of-town trip this weekend, as we had hoped, we at least had to do something out of the ordinary to celebrate the 4 days off. So, we went bowling! Mom won!

Love, Us.

Today, take time to remember those who paid for your freedoms with their lives.

A Picture for Today: Our Little Ninja

So, we have a habit of getting library movies and enjoying them on the weekend. Since Thérèse has been down with a high fever, we needed a few extra movies for the long weekend. Luckily, we ran across the old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films, so we have been enjoying those over the last days. David was very excited to add "ninja" to his costume repertoire.

David as a Ninja Turtle

 David as Master Splinter

Go, Ninja! Go, Ninja, Go!

Have a great Trinity Sunday!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: The Threat of Socks

So, we are currently battling that stage in almost every kid's life where they like to find small holes in which to stick their fingers, and, as a result of their curiosity, they realize that they have a perfectly sized hole on their face for such adventuring (aka - the nose). Well, our elder son (whose name we will withhold) has been having a real hard time kicking the bad habit, so we had to take action. Now, whenever we see his fingers "going north" we just remind him that we have the socks and tape at the ready on the kitchen table. After one long incarceration of this kind the other day, he seems to be doing at least a bit better. 

FYI: Our family trip has been postponed, awaiting kids' fevers to fully subside. Thérèse is feeling much better, but only because 101/102 seems immensely better than 103! 

Have a great weekend!

Love, Us.

A Photo for Today: Poor Little Thérèse

She couldn't sleep well last night, and she is not down for the count (AKA - watching the Sound of Music with her sewing and lots of fluids) with a high fever. Please pray that she is well soon, because we were hoping to take a fun family trip over the long weekend. There are lots of these feverish bugs going around, so this isn't surprising. Poor thing! She even did a full school day before realizing how high her fever was!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Fun with Water

We moved Patrick into 18 month clothes yesterday, and that was none too soon! He is a BIG BOY!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: A Little Cowpoke

Howdy from almost south of the border!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Playing Together

Watch out! There is a giant in the village!

Have a great day! 

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Elephants and St. Bernardine

We learned about elephants and St. Bernardine of Siena today. All three of us love elephants, and David took a particular liking to St. Bernardine when we read about him twice punching a man who wouldn't leave him alone and was trying to make him sin. You would have thought he wasn't listening to what I was reading, but once I read that he obviously perked up!

Homeschool - so far so good!

Love, Us.

Videos for Today: Fire Drills

FYI: The medicine ball is Patrick's stunt double. Enjoy!

This one was too big to upload directly, so you can see it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHBo1KBXPaU&feature=youtu.be

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Our Pentecost

Happy Feast of Pentecost!

We have had a wonderful Pentecost Sunday! We started it off by all wearing red to church - even Joe when he knew why I laid out the red polo! Yeah - he wanted to get a few years off of Purgatory, I guess. Then we had donuts and good conversation at hospitality after Mass. We came home for some good outside play, and then had some good family time with a movie and "Pentecost Pizza" (pepperoni tongues of fire!). We also had "Pentecost Punch" (7-Up with a frozen strawberry for ice) and finished off the afternoon with some red "Pentecost Smoothies". Life is good!

Love, Us.

Another Video for Today: Joe's Combatives Match

Of course, the moment I publish the other videos, Joe's match finally loads on Youtube. That is just how it goes, right? 

It was a very good match, going almost all 6 minutes. Joe was submitted by an arm bar right before time ran out, but he learned a ton. The video jumps around a bit, but it still gives you an idea of what it was like. These were the first rounds of the tournament, so there was not hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, kneeing, etc. allowed. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euB7HD10oao

I don't know how to make this a link, so I think you need to copy and paste it into a new window. Sorry!

Love, Us.

A Video for Today: Our Little T-Ballers!

I have been trying and trying to upload the video of Joe's combatives match, but with no luck. So, today you get the special treat of seeing the kiddos trying out their new t-ball set that dad created in the back yard with a couple PVC pipes! Enjoy!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: David's Daddy Haircut

These two pics were taken the same day - just using different settings on my camera, just FYI. It was very fitting that we did the haircut today, being the first 100 degree day of the year. Summer, here we come!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Enjoying a Rare Texas Puddle

These are actually from late-April, but I thought I'd share them today. Before the story, a quick update on the little and big men. Patrick seems to be feeling a bit better. His fever is a bit lower, and he has been sleeping more soundly. Also, Joe really enjoyed his first combatives tournament. Although he didn't win either of his rounds, he came out uninjured, having learned a lot, and didn't look like a rookie at all! It was REALLY fun to watch!

OK - now the photo story. So, the Camry desperately needed a wash, and I don't like spending money on things that you don't need to spend money on. Ergo, I was waiting and waiting for the extremely rare El Paso day with overcast skies and no wind (so we wouldn't be scorched or have the wash be without effect due to the car being immediately blasted with sand!). Well, the day came and the kids and I headed out and got it washed. As a result, there was a small, but significant for Texas, puddle on the parking pad. Dad wasn't home to be concerned about the mess, so I gave the thumbs up and the kids dove in! They went "swimming" and had a blast! They even got an early bath time before nap time out of the deal!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Poor Little Patrick

The little guy is sick. He has had a significant fever for over a day, and thus has been pretty lethargic. However, last night at bed time he seemed to finally be his normal self, so we were hopeful. But, the poor guy threw up all over his crib in the middle of the night. So... I thought I'd post a photo of one of his recent happier days today. Hopefully he looks like this energetic, healthy, cutie-pie soon. Thanks for the prayers!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: The Work Week Begins

A bit of breakfast bellied up to the bar to start the week off right.

Happy Monday! 

Love, Us.

For Today: Videos of My Most Precious Mother's Day Gifts

Enjoy!

Yeah, I know. Pretty much the best!

Happy Mother's Day!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Speaking of Family...

This is a couple weeks old, but here is a sweet picture from our time with Oma and Opah here in TX. We love you!

Yes, I (clarification, one of the small ones who like to have photo shoots once in a while) got the date stamp stuck on my photos for a while. It took some looking around, but I finally figured out to get it off again. 

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Welcome, Alida Lorraine!

Welcome to our new cousin/niece!

And Hayli - you are the most gorgeous brand new mom EVER! Congratulations! Why is Oregon so far away? Know that we are praying that these first precious weeks go well for both of you. We love you!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Early Summer Times

Just wanted to let you know that it is definitely summer here - and the beautiful part of summer. The part where you actually want to be at the park under the sun shade and outside under the tree. It isn't so hot that just the thought of opening up the window shades is unthinkable. Yes... it is another beautiful day in El Paso. Praise God!

And yes, the Batman cape is pretty much superglued to David's neck every moment it can be. Thank you, Pinterest, for the best 3 year old birthday gift EVER (and it was free, which makes it even better)!

Also - We are due to receive our first paternal cousin sometime in the next hours or so! We are praying that all goes well for Uncle Adam, Aunt Hayli, and Little Alida! Yay!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Patrick's First Solids = Food AND Camouflage

Since Patrick is teething along with trying out real food for the first time, he often wants to chew on the spoon frequently during a feeding. Well, as you may know, it is fairly difficult to have a new eater figure out how to get ALL the food off of the spoon, so the spoon he gets to chew on/fling around often has a decent amount of, in this instance, squash and chicken on it. Ergo... Patrick often looks like he is trying out a new sort of baby camouflage by the time he is full!

Check out those HUGE mits! Thanks, Grandpa Pat, for those!

He sure is a good eater, as well as a good mess maker, though!

On another quick note - as you can sort of see in these pictures, Patrick's eyes are still refusing to tell us what color they are going to be. They remain in that mysterious in-between color. Sometimes they look blue, sometimes brown. Hmmmm... we shall see.

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: School Has Started!

If I haven't told you yet, we have decided to school year-round. The basic plan is that we will school on every day that both dad works and we don't have other obligations. This just works better in the military lifestyle/schedule. So... we were going to start after Memorial Day, but Thérèse was getting REALLY tired of waiting, so we started on May 1, and it is going great! 

We are doing Seton Kindergarten as well as miscellaneous add-ons of our own, and T is LOVING it, as I knew she would!

Don't worry - David is SUPPOSED to be cutting up that book. It was a junk book and I realized that I need to pick up some old magazines for preschool projects!

Even Patrick has been getting in on the learning!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: The Result of a Good Movie

So... we watched The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe this afternoon. 

And immediately afterwards, there were three royalty - in full gear - running (one was just lying) around the house!

Thérèse was concerned that one member was missing, so by adding a crown to baby Lucy, Queen Lucy was quickly added to complete the royal quartet!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: The Result of Teething...

Not too much napping taking place in the crib...

... but mom and dad's arms seem to sooth the pain enough to get some zzzzzs.

(PS - I already have 2 little ones on the bottom to show for the whining!) - Patrick

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: T is for Tree!

Thérèse found a new love today: climbing trees!

We had a wonderful May Crowning Mass and ceremony today with Catholic Home Schoolers from all over El Paso. Our own Father Christopher right here on post (who Thérèse simply calls "The Father Who Loves Kids"!) was wonderful, as always, for the kids. And we followed the ceremony with a very nice picnic at a huge park near the chapel. Well, Thérèse saw that some other kids were climbing this tree, so as soon as she had finished her plate she was up there and didn't want to come down for the longest time, even when all of her normal buddies were over at the park. Sorry, Thérèse, but I think we live in the wrong climate for that love... pray that the Army gets us out the the desert if you want to be a daily climber on anything but rocks and mountains!

Hope you did something you love today!

Love, Us.