Airborne Memories

Tonight Joe will be bringing home a list of places where our little family may soon find ourselves transplanted.

Every location, thus far, has been a blessing and very unique in many ways.

Looking back on our pictures, I noticed one that fell through the "blog cracks".

It just happens to be of an experience that is very specific to where we were.

The kiddos and Joe had given me a morning alone to pack while they went to watch an airborne jump. 

Now that isn't something you can just see anywhere!

Only the Lord knows what awaits us next!

Love, Us. 

A Special Gift From T

Thérèse is a gift-giver. 

She loves to prepare and create special gifts for the people that she loves.

So... the morning before Aunt Nancy was coming, she decided to start a project for her.

She had no idea how much time it was actually going to take, but she stuck to it.

By taking advantage of every spare moment throughout the week, she finished just before they left.

What a beautiful work of love, T!

Thérèse particularly loved how the back looked like stained glass.

Love, Us.

Group Shots from the Week

We, of course, had plenty of cameras between us in order to catch several moments 

when all seven kids could fit in the viewfinder!

I even snagged a picture of all the beautiful ladies!

Again... it was such a great week!

Thanks, Mom and Nancy, for joining us!

Love, Us.

Cute Captured Moments

Here are some of the cuter pictures from the week.

What a bunch of great kiddos!

Love, Us.

Buddied-Up Cousins

As I mentioned yesterday, the kiddos got along so great throughout the week.

However, while everyone was pleasant with each other, some were particularly wonderful together.

T, as usual, loved opportunities to play with and help out the littles.

In particular, the loved some good girly time with Bernadette.

The one-year-olds were often found destroying things in unison.

David and Gus thoroughly enjoyed their time together and were rarely found apart.

Patrick had quality snuggle time with Grandma every day, often consisting of a ridiculously long "Jedi" book.

But, I'm sure all present would unanimously agree that these two win the contest for best buds.

They were so cute together! 

I think it worked well due to the combination of two things.
First, they are both very social beings, so they loved having someone to play with.

Secondly, they enjoy very different "themes" of play (guns vs. dolls), so there weren't squabbles over toys!

They were so sweet!

Love, Us.

Cousin Time

Today is our final day of a week with cousins here at the new place, and it has been very enjoyable!

In all honesty, it has been much more enjoyable than I was expecting.

With 5 kids being four or under, I foresaw many more fits and starts among the crowd.

They actually got along wonderfully!

Even the toddlers were decent at sharing toys, baby dolls, and strollers (well, good thing we had plenty of these)!

Love, Us.

A Springy Day

It went from snow ladies to mud pies in just a day or two here. 

In fact, it was so nice out that the kiddos were out until dark, just reappearing for snacks and meals!

They even put much time and thought into making me a beautiful mud pie,
complete with bird berries, rocks and mom's excess red pepper flakes... yum!

After that day, T was confused when I said there was a forecast of snow.

She thought that summer was coming!

Yup... she is not ready for a winter that goes and goes until Easter or later.

We will make sure to enjoy every bit of warmth that this see-sawing weather will give us, though!

Love, Us.

"Romeo, I am Your Mother!"

... so says mom to her little Darth Vader.

Oh, how this little one loves to wear costumes in order to get reactions from people!

Love, Us.

Our First Snowy Day

Soon after arriving, we had a first.

If I have done my calculating correctly (and my memory isn't failing me), 

it was our first snowy day "at home" in 5 years!

We have been blessed with Christmases in the Midwest with family,

so the white, feathery, cold substance falling from the sky didn't completely mystify the kiddos.

However, they were still very excited and took full advantage of the day... as you can see!

David, walking away after being on the losing end of a snowball fight with dad.

The kiddos' "Snow Lady"

Our new place. We finally have the rambler we've always said we wanted!

Love, Us.

HOME!

There was some unexpected and undesirable drama with us getting into our new place.

However, all is well, because we are now home!

Love, Us.

Christmas Camp

I was super bummed for a few days here. 

I thought I had lost all of the wonderful pictures that my sister, Ruth, had taken at Christmas Camp.

Saint Anthony was faithful once again, however, and I found them yesterday!

You will soon see why I was so bummed.

This year was a Christmas Camp for the record books: 

There were amazing rounds of Mafia, the kids all had a blast, and great conversations were had.

Thanks, Ruth, for the pictures!

Love, Us.