For Today: One of Patrick's New Stunts

I know many of you wish you were out at the park in short sleeves. Well, believe it or not, we are trying to enjoy the short time we have before it becomes too hot and sunny to be out at the park with short sleeves! While doing that, Patrick learned to love his new way of going down the slide…

Have a great day!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: Thérèse, the Card Shark

Well, we taught T how to play Texas Hold 'em the other day. She enjoyed it very much and actually caught on quite well. 

As you can see… she at one point was holding onto a very significant lead!

I acted as her aid, when needed. I must say, she had a pretty good poker face!

Now dad and I have something fun to play with T when she wakes up before the boys on weekend afternoons! 

Love, Us.

A Video for Today: What We Do with Tough Oranges

You know those oranges that are just a bear to peel? The ones whose rinds just don't want to let go of the fruit. Well, I really don't like peeling those. My children insist that they want to eat them, however, so here we were with a bit of a dilemma. Luckily, we came up with a very fun and easy answer: Tenderize those rinds off of the fruit before peeling! I've actually done this for years just by rolling my oranges on the counter with significant pressure before peeling. That wasn't quite fun enough for the kids, though. So, we turned it into a game a orange-ball!

It works like a charm!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: A Visit to our Favorite Park

This past Saturday Joe and I woke up with the same thought: let's take a crazy-quick trip to our favorite place! Within a couple hours, after I had some clean training pants to pack, we were on our way to Las Cruces! As usual, we enjoyed some time at the AMAZING used book store there and got us some unhealthy eat-out lunch. Then, we headed over to the best spot in town…

We finished our unhealthy lunch and then the kids dashed off to have fun!

We couldn't stay super long, due to evening engagements back in El Paso. Patrick at first presented to be willing to leave… only to then make a dash for it when I turned my back!

Well, we caught him and tied him down, along with the few pounds of Unidad Park dirt he decided to bring home with him!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: Little Boy Hair Cuts

Well, the time for hair cuts had come and gone a LONG time ago (maybe around Thanksgiving!). It had gotten to the point where I could no longer even try to ignore the mop heads that were my sons.

Actually, we referred to this one as "Feather Head". On an average day there was a large blob of either smushed bananas or applesauce hidden somewhere within.

So… we finally busted out the clippers. 

Dave got the homemade fade...

And due to mom's sloppy snipping, Patrick ended up with the first Librandi kid high and tight! Thanks, dad, for the help!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: Our Geology Hike

As I've mentioned before, the kids are a part of a couple Catholic homeschool groups. This past Friday we had a field trip with the on-post group, which is studying various topics of science this year.  Our current topic is geology, so we went for a rock-viewing hike in McKelligan Canyon here in El Paso. The kids had more fun running after each other and goofing around than looking at rocks, but that is OK.

My two hikers (Patrick rode in my arms - it wasn't 1-year-old-safe terrain).

The group (this was the one moment that Patrick got out of my arms - he wanted more freedom than the photo allowed). 

The sun was so bright that I couldn't see who was in my view finder, so half of a participant was cut off in either attempt.

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Schooling Three!

Just recently Patrick has not been as content simply roaming the school room and messing with his toys during school. Whenever David climbs off of his chair to get in a new costume or read a book he climbs right on up like it is his turn for schooling. Well, yesterday this caused a tiff between him and David, so I brought my "teacher's chair" over to the desks to try and appease him. He climbed right on up and made himself at home. And then… for the first time that I've noticed, he started actively coloring! He actually took one crayon, didn't eat it, colored with it, put it back, took another, etc! He was really quite excited about joining the group! So, I guess I just lost my chair, but it sure is fun to school three now!

And check it out - it sure looks like Patrick is holding that crayon correctly, doesn't it! 

Love, Us.

For Today: The Librandi Archers!

Something put a bug in Joe recently - an archery bug. I'm not quite sure where it came from… these Librandis get bugs like this often. This bug, however, really got him going and resulted in quite the fun new things around our house: bows and arrows! 

FYI - all you need is a little thin PVC pipe, some strong cord, and a dowel. 

This is what the kids started with:

However, we then made the decision that we wanted our children to keep their eyes (and not break any neighbor's windows), so we added a foam ball to the end.

The Result:

David isn't quite as proficient as T, but he is getting the hang of it.

Plus, he LOVES the "costume" part of it. He thoroughly enjoys carrying the "quiver" and acting as the squire for dad and T.

Love, Us.

PS - We've got a new little miracle due to join us in September! Please keep him, her, or them in your prayers! 

A Video for Today: David's Theme Songs

For today, enjoy a quick video of one of David's many talents. He could actually do much better than this if I would have prepped him just a bit before taping… but I think it is pretty impressive considering he had no prep!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: Patrick's New Sleep Situations

A lot of new things have been taking place in Patrick's life as of late. A couple of these things involve his sleep. First of all, for a moment in time we thought we were going to have visitors here this past weekend. That didn't end up happening, but the visitors were going to include a 14 month old. I thought that I'd transition Patrick out of his crib in time to offer the crib to the visitors. So, even though the plans changed, I decided to go ahead with the Patrick plan. He has now been on his mattress on the floor for a few weeks now and is doing great!

Also, on a not so pleasant note, Patrick decided it was time to stop taking morning naps. So sad… but, I think I'll survive.

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: On the 10th Day of Christmas...

I had asked that gifts be secretly marked with their contents for the kiddos so that I could try to "match them up" so that kids opened linked presents on the same day. Well, wonderful Oma was kind and went along with the plan. So, I was able to group the gifts that became additions to our costume box on the same day (the 10th day of Christmas, if you are interested). It was a very joyous present opening that day - well, minus the bovine!

Our very own friendly neighborhood hero - Spiderman! FYI - David did quickly add a belt to the outfit, because…well… he just can't imagine a superhero without a belt!

Princess T!

And - the Bovine! Talk about cute!

Well, we had a lot of fun in the outfits that first day, but the fun definitely didn't stop there for David. He had that costume back on before breakfast the next morning! He now gets in and out of it at least three times a day. It has gained a secure spot in his superhero costume hourly rotation. FYI - the most recent addition to the rotation since Christmas: Indiana Jones!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: Some of our Christmas Enjoyment

Well, compared to the plethora of pictures that you've been seeing here from our two week trip to MN, I have taken much closer to zero pictures of us once we returned. Therefore, although today's pictures are of some of the joys that the kids have had as a result of their daily present openings, please know that it in no way covers all of their favorites - I just didn't take many pictures at all. But, for the good that it is worth, here are the shots I did snap.

Opah made walking blocks for T! I think ALL of us loved getting a try at these! So cool!

The Little People Farmyard (Thanks Aunt T!) was our big present on Day 1 - all the kids enjoyed it thoroughly, and they continue to every day.

David's big birthday present from Uncle Adam brought days of Christmas enjoyment! Quite the battles took place on our dining room table!

This was the kids' first real Lego set they have gotten, even though we have a tub full of Legos. Thérèse really enjoyed following the manual and did a GREAT job putting it together. David, meanwhile, was very content playing with the included Ninja Turtles and "bad guys". Thanks again, Aunt T!

We were so overwhelmed by the generosity of all of you! Christmas definitely isn't about the presents, but they sure helped the kids experience the joy of the holy days!

Love, Us.

For Today: Our 12 Days of Christmas

We tried something new this year. I hesitate to call it a new tradition, because that would mean that I would need to do it again in future years - and it was a bit more work. I hope we continue it, because it was awesome, but with the military lifestyle you never know what your situation will be like at any given time! We celebrated the "12 Days of Christmas". Now, it just so happened that this year it turned out perfectly, because Epiphany fell on the 12th day. However, in future years we may just celebrate until whenever Epiphany falls, whether it is 10 or 16 days. 

Our Christmas decor is extremely minimal… and I consequently LOVE IT! We have a teeny, tall, but narrow tree. Ornaments are from Joe's childhood, my childhood, along with current additions. Our stockings hang on the bookshelves. Our nativity is surrounded by candles on the dining room table… and that is it! Everything went up (in less than 15 minutes!) before midnight Mass the night we returned to Texas. It came down (in even less time) last Sunday evening. 

Our Christmas consisted of presents (small ones, but at least one for each bigger kid) under the tree each day, candy and movie daily, spending time with our new toys and goods, no school, and just relaxing and enjoying each other as much as possible. It was really great! It really helped us all, but especially the kids, recognize when Christmas ACTUALLY started and ended. So many times they would be greeted by an adult at the library, or wherever, with "Did you have a nice Christmas?". And they would quickly respond with an excited face, "It's still Christmas!". 

This picture gives a small glimpse of our Christmas. The kids are goofing around, the couch is facing the television for the daily movie (it is usually turned around against the wall except for Sundays), mom is sitting down and doing a puzzle (I don't sit all that much on a normal day), there are numerous messes around (not allowed on a normal day) and we have a toy collection growing in the living room of new Christmas gifts (blue box in the corner with barn in front of it - also NEVER allowed). It was a wonderful time!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: Wisconsin Puppies and Cousins

We were actually only in Wisconsin for a day and a half, but we squeezed in as much fun as we possibly could! For today, as the last pictures from our trip, I had to include these super cute ones of David getting to know Song better. David always takes his time warming up to dogs, especially really friendly ones like Song (and Roger), but they usually end up being his best play mates.

Lastly, we also had a bit of cousin time in Wisconsin! It was great to see these guys (and their wonderful parents in their new home!). They were our regular play mates a few years ago when we were living up there in lake county!

What a blessed trip! Wow! That took a REALLY long time to get through the trip in pictures! I guess we must have had a lot of fun!

Love, Us.

For Today: David's Second 4th Birthday Celebration

Well, for a boy with a December 21st birthday, who usually gets more of a forgotten birthday than most, it was a HUGE birthday year! He not only got an entire birthday procession and several birthday "cakes" to blow out in front of everyone at Cross Christmas, he also got a second celebration with Opah and Oma the next evening!

Now, for those of you who know David, you know he LOVES super heroes, and anyone who slightly resembles super heroes. In fact, he pretty much loves anyone who gets to wear a cool outfit and help save people in distress. Well, you will see in this video that a combination of gifts from Uncle Adam (the vehicle) and Oma and Opah (the figurines) atop David's birthday cake got him so excited that he had quite the time trying to focus on blowing out that last little candle. Saying that they hit the nail on the head with that cake-topper doesn't quite do it justice. I don't think he even noticed that it was on top of a cake, in fact. Oh, and the exclamation he makes in the middle of the song is "I got a Star War!"

Han Solo and Chewbacca in a Speeder?! Wowie!

Love, Us.

For Today: Sledding with Dad

I've already shared one of these pictures as my favorite from the whole trip, so you know that it was a good time. As I've mentioned, we were blessed to be up north right in the middle of two arctic freezes. We had PERFECT sledding and outside weather the entire time we were there. It was awesome! Every time the kids stepped out of the van they had to stomp in whatever snow was around them, no matter what type of clothes or shoes they were in. 

When we arrived at Oma and Opah's we had some time before supper, so we headed out for some sledding behind the tractor. As you will be able to see, a great time was had by ALL!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: Time at Opah and Oma's

Our last stop on our trip was a brief visit with Opah and Oma. Their home is always such a wonderful place to relax and catch up. It was also perfect winter weather (but more on that in a later post) while we were there, which was such a blessing. For today, however, just a gathering of "hanging out" pictures for you to enjoy. 

…it was such a great end to our trip!

Love, Us.