For Today: Memorial Day Smoothies

Along with our pretty lunch, we finished off Memorial Day evening with a special treat: Smoothies! 

As you can see, they were greatly enjoyed by ALL!

Love, Us.

For Today: Our Memorial Day Spread

Well, Joe claims that I am a decent cook, but once in a while it even LOOKS like I am! Memorial Day happened to be one of these days. Our meal was so pretty that I just had to take a picture to share! I must say it WAS yummy, as well! 

The meal was: "Stuffed Primal Burgers" and "Veggie Candy" (my very own recipes!) with Watermelon. Yum!

Memorial Day has NOTHING to do with the food, unlike what most of America thinks, but it did help us celebrate all those who have given themselves for our sakes. May God bless them.

Love, Us.

For Today: Thérèse's Masterpiece

T got her hands on one of my white boards the other day and went to work. For your viewing pleasure, here is her completed masterpiece, complete with baby Romeo in my arms!

And check out that super cute no-tooth smile!

Love, Us.

For Today: The Gap has Grown!

Well, T lost one front tooth on the way to Oregon, and we have been awaiting the falling-out of her second front tooth for quite some time. It finally let go, and she has that great top-front gap now! It is super cute, but totally impractical for eating whole fruit, which we do a lot around here! She is getting so big!

Love, Us.

For Today: Checking out the "Big Guns"

Think that the kids had lots of fun at Armed Forces Day? Well, they weren't done yet! 

The MPs also had a little booth where the kids could actually get their hands on some BIG GUNS!

 Don't be too alarmed, please. The Officer there (a good friend of ours, actually) went through the safety procedure with each kid and each gun before they were able to touch it. The kids really enjoyed it!

On a connected note, Dad will be finally able to take T to the range today to take the safety course and shoot her first .22! They are both very excited and have been waiting since her 6th birthday!

Love, Us.

For Today: Sweet Rides

Along with cool Army vehicles, there were also other "sweet rides" for the kids to try out at Armed Forces Day!

Ooohh! A Camero! Lookin' good, guys!

And… a fire truck!

Love, Us.

For Today: Armed Forces Day

It was Armed Forces Day last weekend. Joe was the official MC for the ceremony here at Fort Bliss, so we tagged along and enjoyed the morning. It was a beautiful day and they had free popcorn for the kids to be distracted with during he ceremony, so we had a great time!

After the official stuff, we headed on over to the COOL stuff! First the boys got to sit in a "big giant Army truck"! 

(Joe told me that would be the civilian-speak for it.)

Next… the tank!

The kids even got to check out a Chinook helicopter (again, sorry for the poor iPod pics)!

Love, Us.

For Today: May Crowning

Last Friday the Catholic Homeschoolers of El Paso got together on Fort Bliss and held a May Crowning. There was a great turn-out, and it was very beautiful! I apologize for the poor quality of the picture. My camera was dropped for the final time last week and is now no more. So… all I have is the iPod, and this is what you get indoors with a big crowd using an iPod, I guess! 

Love, Us.

For Today: Fun at the Fort

The Mother's Day Tea took place at "Old Fort Bliss" here on post. It is always fun to go there, because they have exhibits up for the kids to enjoy. Here are a few shots of the kids exploring after the Tea.

Uh oh! David found a sword to go with his horse! Watch out!

It was a beautiful day and lots of fun with my two sweet big kids!

Love, Us.

For Today: David Meets a "Real" Soldier

David loves soldiers, but he has always been a bit put off that they don't actually carry swords like soldiers SHOULD, according to him and his extensive research in the area of soldierly uniforms. Therefore, he was VERY excited, to say the least, when he was able to meet and talk with a REAL soldier at the Mother's Day Tea. He even got to hold his sword! Now that was a happy boy!

Love, Us.

For Today: Mother's Day Tea

Thérèse and I experienced the joy of the Mother's Day Tea here at Fort Bliss two years ago. Unfortunately, I was not organized enough last year to get us RSVP'd in time, but I successfully did again this year. Also, I had the great joy of bringing my little prince with as well! Before leaving the house, we had to convince David that he did still look like a Prince with "only" his tie, belt, and boots on. He was finally willing to forego his cape and sword after much discussion!

We had a splendid time, and if we are still around here next year will do our best to go again and enjoy the festivities!

Love, Us.

For Today: Our Little Army Boy is Better

These pictures aren't from today, but they show little Patrick in a happy and energetic state, which he hasn't been in since Sunday night. He went through a nasty flu over the last few days, and it finally looks like we are seeing the very last vestiges of it today. For the last day or so the only thing he was able to keep down was just a few spoonfuls of Grandma's applesauce mixed with just a bit of baby rice cereal. Poor guy! But, he's back on his feet, although not quite as energetic as the usual little guy, due to having nothing in his system. And, best of all, so far no one else is sick! Yay!

But, for today, Patrick sporting our Army boy cape that came about after our washer decided to eat one of the sleeves off of dad's PT shirt! I LOVE it, because the boys can just slip it over their heads, meaning I don't have to be continually tying it back on when it comes untied, like the other capes we have around here! 

Love, Us.

For Today: From Candy Tongues to Clone Wars

For today, just a quick shot to document a second main feature of our Easter season at the Librandi house: Movies! We aren't ones to sit down in front of entertainment on a regular day, so we sure take advantage of Easter! Specifically, Joe and the kids really got into Star Wars Clone Wars during the first couple weeks. They really enjoyed it!

Love, Us.

For Today: Easter Days

We don't take summer vacation here at the Escriva Catholic Academy (that is the name of our homeschool, just FYI). Instead, we take off the Christmas season and ALL (if we don't go crazy before then) of the Easter season. I never quite realized how long the Easter season is until this year. IT IS LONG! We are enjoying ourselves very much, though. I am getting a lot of little projects done, which I don't have time for during school days. The kids are getting good outside play time every day, as well as candy of some sort and a daily movie! Life is good!

Oh, and you know you can't pass up taking a picture of a blue candy tongue!

Love, Us.

PS - Say a prayer for little Patrick. He is really sick.

For Today: Texas Mud Monsters

When we got back from Oregon, the kids were obviously very inspired by all of the water we saw and particularly the waterfalls. They, therefore, decided that they needed to create our very own waterfall in our backyard. They immediately began digging out the necessary trench, and then one morning, while mom and Patrick were inside with the speech therapist, they filled it up with water and jumped in! The whole waterfall aspect didn't work, of course, but they still had great fun and got an extra bath before naps! 

They were definitely mud monsters!

Love, Us.

For Today: The Trip Home

Today will finally bring to an end our Oregon picture installments. 

For today: the Trip Home!

We made it to Salem in two long days on the way there, but we decided to relax on the way home and make it more like a continuation of the trip, instead of just "getting home as fast as possible". We are very glad we did. We were able to enjoy some very fun parks, relax at dinner times, and hang out in the evenings in our hotel rooms. Oh… and even sleep in until we woke up! It was very enjoyable, and a great end to the trip.

The kids got to experience their first Merry-go-Round (is that what they are called?). It is so hard to find these any more, because they actually are pretty dangerous! Daddy was careful-ish with them, though.

Well, T lost a tooth on the way TO Oregon, and on the way home she looked just a little silly because one of her top front teeth was being a bit stubborn about coming out… but not being stubborn about sticking out of her toothy grin!

We did find some pretty fabulous parks!

Patrick was AWESOME on the way home and only pooped his pants once - and it wasn't in the car! 

He timed it perfectly to be able to have a super wild time in the hotel bath!

The kids watched way too much Phineas and Ferb in the hotel before bedtime - it was basically kid heaven!

And after his bath, Patrick came and crashed mom and dad's party on the other side of the room!

The very last leg of the trip was during nap time, so this was what the kiddos looked like as we entered back into Texas. What cuties!

This brings to completion the Librandi family's first "real" road trip. I would have to rate it a complete success! 

Love, Us.