Birthday Fun

 Wednesday C turned 9! 

He unfortunately had to stay home from school because he was sick. Masks became optional and woosh a cold and stomach flu swept through the school like wildfire. Alas. 

His big present from us was a fish tank and a betta. We are not pet people. Well... we are not dog people. I like dogs, I just don't want a dog. Does that make sense? I would have a cat because they aren't as needy but Husband and C are allergic. But C has been longing for a pet for ages. So on Sunday we told him that for his birthday he was going to get a fish! Then we took him to the store to get the tank so we could have it all set up. 

Here it is all set up on Sunday, cycling and filtering and getting ready for a fish! He picked all the things and was very proud of his tank. 

Fast forward to Wednesday when we took him to get the fish. 

Meet Waldo. Two days in and he already looks WAY healthier. 5 gallons to swim in vs. a little cup will do that. 

My guy wanted a Nothing Bundt Cake with a Pinata on it. So... we got one. 

He had a very nice birthday! He was well loved. He got so many texts from school mates (via their parents) and his class sent a video to him. They also sent home a big card. And they even held off on saying his name on the announcements until he went back to school yesterday. 

This was him finding out the other present from Mom and Dad was that our family is going to see For King and Country. 

Now we are heading into the weekend and I am looking forward to it!! We have only 5 more days of school which is great too. 

Have a nice Memorial Day!

Happy Birthday to My Boy!

 

Oh my Goose,

9. 9 is halfway done, but I cannot dwell on that because where would that get us? This past year was full. Full of your joy. Full of your passion. You still feel your feelings bigger than those around you and that can be difficult sometimes. But watching you grow never gets old. You are my best snuggle friend forever and I am so thankful you are mine.

Your faith is so big and watching you learn about Jesus this year is probably my favorite. Not only did you rock first reconciliation but your first communion as well. I only teared up a little at the enormous occasion. To be there with you as you received Jesus for the first time felt really big to me. And you looked so stinkin’ handsome.

You still like things the way you like them. And you crave alone time more than most kids your age. I love watching your imagination. You can entertain yourself with just a few things. If I could bottle up that imagination I could make a fortune but you’re just you. What a gift it is to know you and love you.

This year as I transitioned to working you didn’t like it as much. You have never been a big fan of change and so it doesn’t surprise me that you would have feelings about this one. Never mind that Dad was home with you the whole time. This summer is bound to be an adventure as we navigate what that looks like.

Your first all day program, swim lessons, your first time going to sleep away camp. No matter what though I will be here rooting for you, praying for you and being your biggest fan.  Like I always say, Jesus loves you the most and then Mom right behind. That’s it. I am happy to take second place to Jesus but I still love you more than anyone on Earth. And today is your birthday.

It stinks that you are sick today and couldn’t celebrate in school. I know that was important to you. But I think you are enjoying being at home and playing on your birthday more than you’d let on. Besides, you can bring in those cosmic brownies tomorrow.

9 is bringing you big responsibility with your first pet today! I already love how you love your Betta fish that we haven't even gotten. You're going to be a good pet owner for sure! 

Happy Birthday C! I love you!!

Gotta sneak in a first thing in the morning birthday present! 

Weekend Recap

 Hello there Weekend Recap that doesn't involve any soccer at all! Look at me go! 

Once upon a time we joined the Y. And Husband is the best and has been taking the kids swimming every Saturday morning at 7:00 AM so that I can sleep in with a quiet house. (My kids are loud.) 

Only C has been waxing poetic about how I never go swimming with them so this weekend I did. True story, I was super grumpy about it at first. But we had a very nice time and it was good. 

Later on Saturday afternoon we tried Amazon Explore for the first time. Have you heard about it or seen it yet? This is NOT an ad, at all. Anyway, you can get a personal guided tour of a foreign place, or a cooking lesson from someone, go shopping etc. all from your house. It was very cool. 

We took a 50 minute tour of the Toucan Rescue Ranch in Costa Rice. We saw an otter, monkeys, toucan, owls, parrots and sloths! Including baby sloths! 

We actually learned a lot. Our tour guide was awesome and we loved seeing the animals. We hooked the computer up to the TV so we could all see well. It was very cool. And not that I'd be unwilling to go to Costa Rica, but this was a fun way of introducing a new place to my kids without a hefty price tag or a passport. 

Saturday continued with our first babysitter since OCTOBER and Husband and I went to see a show at the dinner theatre. It was difficult to review since there wasn't much plot but I really enjoyed a night out and I am so thankful for the opportunity. 

So this was mostly just Saturday... there was something fun yesterday that I can't talk about yet. But M bought herself her first toy ever with her own money. A Panda Polly Pocket. 

She wasn't feeling super great, you can tell by her eyes. In fact, us gals stayed home from Mass and watched online because I wanted her to rest, not get anyone sick and be able to go to school today. That plan worked out great, she's right as rain! 

We did car side pick up for her Polly Pocket, fyi. She was so excited. 

But we got a call about noon that C needed to be picked up. Apparently he has a sore throat. But he's resting and hopefully will be fine tomorrow. 

Anyway, more to come this week! Happy Monday!

May is flying by!

Where has May gone?? How has it been more than a week since I blogged? I have no excuses except there's really nothing interesting to write about. I had a meeting every single night last week. Which is CRAZY! I did not miss that during the shut down. If I wasn't so committed to the cause I was meeting about I would have shut it down. It's too much! 

Soccer wrapped up on Saturday in the rain. But it was the first and last weekend of gross so it was tolerable. M is already looking forward to next season. 

Husband has been extra stressed at work because one of his team left the company. So he's been doing her job, and his job and all the things. But the good news is that he hired someone new so after all the screenings and stuff she should start soon and he can breathe for a minute. 

C is just doing his C thing right now. School. Reading and playing. Life is good. His class hatched ducklings and he really enjoyed that. 

Only now, when he eats his favorite snack of trail mix, he tells me his cashews look like embryos. I mean, he's not wrong. But it does make me chuckle. 

It's been very rainy here, which has made it hot and humid. Seems too soon but it's always around this week we wind up turning the ac on. So... right on schedule. M made me this awesome rainbow for my desk. 

I have been trying so so hard to stay out of the drama the past few weeks. Masks or no? I don't want to be in the pro or anti mask camp. I want to follow the rules... but they're all so vague. It's frustrating. And when your state government says one thing, and the CDC says another, and your church says another entirely different thing... whiplash. 

I have been rocking my "Be Not Afraid" temp tattoo this week. Written in JPII's handwriting and it's been a great reminder all week. 

I really dig it. I ordered more so I can keep it going. 

Anyway, have a great weekend!

A Little Quick Post

 May is busy but so much fun. Plenty of goodness to go around. 

The kids took their flowers to school on Friday for May crowning. And it was so lovely. I am so very thankful that 2nd grade parents and 8th grade parents were invited to attend in person. 

I only cried a little. But mostly was so proud of the kids. Here's C's whole class looking holy and lovely. 

Spring is in full gear. And here is my work Groundhog to prove it. 

This little gal had her double-header soccer game weekend, and she rocked it! She scored 3 goals the first game and one in the second. That's amazing! Our team played so well. They were both total blowout and I lost track of the score, but it was good.

Mother's Day was low key, and included this gem in a card from Kindergarten. 

Other news from Kindergarten included this worksheet. When told to write a word that started in "PR" she picked prop. Kid of two theatre majors for sure. 

And now it's Tuesday. I hope you're having a good day! 

May May May

May is off to a rolling start. Do you have a month that is the busiest? For us it's certainly May. In a typical May we have 9 birthdays/holidays we recognize and celebrate. (Including Mother's Day.) This year we through in a first communion and this is all mixed in with the typical wrap up of the school year. 

M's soccer season is wrapping up quickly and I can't even believe it really. She really only has one practice left. Which seems nuts. 

Tomorrow is the May Crowing. I am excited, it's the first event ALL YEAR parents have been invited to. And even still, it's the 8th grade parents and 2nd  grade parents but I'll take it. 

Hopefully, I will check in again soon with other interesting tidbits of our happenings. Until then, enjoy May! 

A First Communion

 Honestly... my heart is just bursting with pride at how wonderful yesterday was. 

He was so ready to receive Jesus and the day did not disappoint. The Mass was lovely. Our community was there celebrating with us even if our pew itself wasn't very full. My C waved to the webcam on his way back to his seat, because he knew they were watching live. 

C took the time to open every single present with care. Reading every card, paging through every book. 

I am so stinking proud of C and I hope that his relationship with Jesus continues to grow and he never takes the miracle that is communion for granted.