A Tinker-Toy Arsenal

I'm sure our boys aren't the only ones. 

However, I was fairly impressed by their creativity.

Love, Us.

This Season's Catholic Craft

I have come to realize that Thérèse always has to have a craft going in order to be content.

While dad was away, she decided that she wanted to make some rosaries.

I suggested that she make some simple decade rosaries.

So, T and D took the idea and ran.

I had a whole ton of beads from old broken jewelry, 

and they created some beautiful rosaries with them!

Aren't they beautiful!?

Love, Us.

Some Fun While Dad Was Away

The last Sunday that Joe was gone, we spent the afternoon 

running around with good friends at the Museum.

The kids had a blast!

Love, Us.

A Messy Craft Time

I must really feel bad that these kiddos are father-less for these few weeks.

First, I gave into buying some pasta... and now this!

Who am I?

I don't do messy crafts!

Joe, please return soon. I think I am going insane!

What will be next?

A weekday movie for no reason?

Sandwiches for lunch?

Who knows what craziness may ensue?!

Love, Us.

A Morning Snuggle and Sicknesses

I have had some good morning snuggles while my primary snuggle mate is away.

Here are some quick pics from a morning a few days ago.

Patrick was excited and wanted to share that he had a canker sore "just like Dada". 

Buddy...you are doomed with him as your daddy!

You can also slightly see the wonderful pink eye 

that we have been dealing with while dad is away.

Well, speaking of sicknesses, I am feeling 

absolutely horrible with a bad head cold right now.

I have pretty much been in a coma since 2pm.

So...I have set the kids up to play and read to each other 

and put themselves to sleep.

I am going to bed. 

Yes. It is 6pm.

Hopefully I will feel significantly better at 6am, 

'cuz tomorrow includes running a Ladies' Group and 

attending two Speech Therapy sessions.

Yikes!

Love, Us.

Our "Play Zones"

Here are a couple of our favorite "Play Zones", as of late.

First, we just realized that the on-Post bowling alley has a wonderful secret:

Yeah... we will be returning their frequently to get some energy out during the rainy season!

Secondly, while dad is away, I have allowed the garage to look like this:

The kids love it, and they don't need quite as much winter clothing on, 

compared to outside, in order to spend several hours working their imaginations.

Love, Us.

A Brisk Walk/Nap to the Park

While trick-or-treating, we located a fun new park in our neighborhood.

So...on the first semi-clear day, we went to go check it out.

Evangeline decided she was perfectly snuggly for a mid-morning nap.

Oh... and it was a fun park!

Love, Us.

Sandwich Brigade...with Correct Math

The time had come again for us to bring our 

load of sandwiches to the Sandwich Brigade.

Last month we attempted to make 100 sandwiches.

I got 100 pieces of cheese, tons of pickle slices, 

100 pieces of ham, and 100 pieces of bread.

Yup... I forgot that sandwiches take two slices. 

Sorry. I don't make sandwiches that often.

This month, however, I did the math correctly!

As I've said previously, we LOVE the Sandwich Brigade!

I hope that we can always find a similar service 

wherever we find our family in the future.

Love, Us.

My Girls

For today, some updates on my two wonderful girls.

First... Thérèse.

Here she is telling her daddy (via picture) that he needs to 

make sure to get her some pictures of Korea.

Yes. She means business.

And here is Evangeline. 

She is getting sweeter...dropping the constant eagle scream, 

and doing the normal 1-year-old thing: getting in to absolutely everything.

Also, as a normal 1-year-old here at Castellum Librandi, she has started potty training!

T, and actually all of the boys, have been great helpers with her.

FYI: I am fully appreciating these long socks that 

E got handed down from her big sister.

They are prefect for keeping those chubby legs warm 

while also making frequent potty-sitting easy.

Aren't those legs just the cutest!?

And, finally, here are some awesome pics 

of the little beauty that I took yesterday.

Enjoy!

 

Love, Us.

Speech Therapy

Patch and Rome have started bi-weekly speech therapy.

If you ask them, it is super fun!

Hopefully, they will soon be able to tell you that more clearly. 

Love, Us.

This Year's Pumpkins

We set out to carve them, but we didn't quite get that done. 

So... we scooped out the insides, so as to enjoy some yummy pumpkin seeds

and then "decorated" the outsides with the help of some little neighborhood friends.

Pretty silly... but they had fun.

Love, Us.

New Favorite Things

I had mentioned that T saved up all of her "Librandi Bucks" since Day 1 

in order to cash them (300 of them!) in for her very own fancy screwdriver.

She never flinched in her determination to get her hands on that tool.

In fact, dad was a bit concerned that she wasn't actually getting something 

she really wanted, so he allowed her to browse amazon for over an hour, 

viewing all kinds of baby doll and crafty goodness. 

After it all, she placed that screwdriver in her basket and got it. 

She is very set on building a fort in the backyard. 

Now to just get some screws and lumber!

Here she is using her new favorite thing for the first time.

This is the beautiful crucifix that she just won on All Saints for her St. Philomena costume.

Another quick photo for today: 

I am beginning to see that Patrick has a lot of Sanguine in him.

He is now convinced and adamant that long t-shirts are not cool.

All t-shirts need to be either short or tucked in.

What a cutie!

Love, Us.

The First Snow in WA!

On Sunday morning after Mass the big fat flakes started to fall.

In fact, they were such big flakes that I had to snag a picture of 

Em's remaining "hair accessories" once I got her in her carseat.

And yes - her chest strap was raised up to the proper location before I drove away.

Once home, the kiddos quickly changed clothes and went out ASAP 

to get some fresh flakes for brunch!

Love, Us.

Our First Pic from Dad

He sent this from his layover in Anchorage.

Beautiful view!

We miss him and can't wait to see him soon.

Love, Us.

Some more E pics

Here is Evangeline trying out some of her new clothes.

I attempted to get a cute pic of her.

Success on the former.

The latter...

She was upset I took away her gun.

Success!

LOVE this sweetheart!

Love, Us.

Evangeline Turns One!

Our baby is one!

I attempted to get some cute one-year-old pics of here.

Unfortunately, her tongue is absolutely ridiculous!

So...they say eye color is set by one year. 

What is your vote? 

Blue? Green?

These were her main gifts from the family. 

She LOVES them.

T sewed her this purse/diaper bag, which she loves to wear around.

And here is the candle "blowing". 

She had a panCAKE cake.

Love, Us.