Joe's Birthday and EV's Feast Day

October 22nd found this girl celebrating her patron saint: Pope Saint John Paul!

She got a hand-made necklace from her sister and her very own bible!

Also, for a couple months every year I am two years older than my husband.

Then things get back to normal, and I'm only slightly his elder.

He had a great day with his favorite things:

Mass, Lasagna, Tiramisu, Ice Cream, Pinochle, and Us!

Love, Us.

Throw-Back Outfits, Trunk-or-Treats, and Quilting

I realized that T might finally decently fit into some outfits I had kept from my childhood. 

She enjoyed trying them on.

She said this one would be a great "Wendy nightgown" for the 

Peter Pan theme she was thinking of pulling off for Halloween.

She didn't quite know what to say about this one...

And she thought we could pull off a circus theme with this one!

But it was actually this one that inspired our Halloween theme.

Mid-October brought about the first of the Trunk-or-Treat events on post.

These Yoda ears that we got in the free thrift shop box in Missouri years ago 

sure have been amazing to create a toddler costume in a snap!

And T and I have started attending the quilting group at the Chapel every month.

We are learning quite a lot!

I am not officially joining (I have too many projects half-finished already), 

but T will definitely be a great addition to the group.

They make quilts for children in crisis situations.

Here are two that T is working on.

Love, Us.

Pumping Up Tires, Patrick's Birthday, and Cleaning out the Garden

Due to a nail in our front tire, T and D quickly became very efficient and pumping it up all by themselves in early October.

Patrick turned into a wonderful, rational 7-year-old magically on October 9th!

We love you, Patch...so much!

After using the simple felt banner that my sister, Nancy, made for EV's first birthday for each of T's feast days and birthdays ever since, I finally started making banners for my other kids!

T made frosting from scratch and used an icing set I've had since my single days 

and never used to frost the cupcakes!

Patrick requested a Treasure Hunt/Scavenger Hunt for his birthday.

We created clues for where throughout the house and yard his presents were hidden,

and he had a blast finding them and enjoying them one-by-one.

The first frost came a bit early this year, so the green tomatoes were brought in around October 10th.

Here is our amazingly expansive cherry tomato plant!

Love, Us.

Reading, Brithday Pics, and a Lost Tooth

After many years of thinking about it, I have finally started a Well Read Mom group!

I love it...both the ladies that have joined me and the selections.

Grandma requested kiddo pictures for her birthday gift.

Patrick lost a tooth.

And Hector turned 7 months!

This has become the official "Hector-versary" kiddos-on-the-couch picture.

Love, Us.

T's Feast Day with Hector

On T's Feast Day, Grandma requested Hector pictures (because I had failed on this blog).

We acquiesced.

Love, Us.

Outside Fun

The weather started to turn a bit chilly toward the end of September.

Just chilly enough to start the beautiful fall colors and make us get out another layer.

What beautiful days!

These two could easily be doubles for T and D eight years ago!




Well, if that isn't the cutest little bottle of milk I've ever seen!

The kids spent one morning creating a sort of rock foundation for the fire pit.

It turned out really nice!

Whoever was the first person to put cute animal features on little kid clothing: Brilliant!


Love, Us.