A Little Holiday Baking

I jest, as I am known far and wide for my inability to bake…I can cook, haven't mastered baking yet.  These little works of art are created by my wonderful Czech friend Irene.  She works for days and days on them, and then we just devour them in no time.  I feel bad eating them, not so bad that I stop eating them, but bad none the less. She is so talented, and she makes many many tins of them to give as gifts, what a heart of service she has.

More Readings

Readings and Carols

The always beautiful readings and carols, with only a few yawns from the little ones.

Christmas Card Picture

I can't believe how happy everyone looks while having their Christmas picture taken, thank goodness in the final product they were actually smiling.  It was quite cold out there, hence the faces.

First snow

It is the last day of school before Christmas break. The boys didn't go because when I tried to drive out of my driveway, I slid uncontrolled all the way into the street.  I am such the snow wimp.

Birthday Still

My delightful friend Peggy made these cupcake potholders for me for my birthday. How lucky I am to have my birthday just keep going,and to have such a talented friend.

A Feast of Thanksgiving

We had a magnificent feast with friends, family and chosen family.  I got to use my new electric knife, so fancy!  It was all so fun and festive.  I love to watch the boys to men, they are always so happy to have people over and to have a big feast, then they get to eat leftovers, at least for a day or two.  Dad wanted a turkey sandwich today, only to find the platter empty, in the fridge, so he made a stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwich, it was actually quite delicious, but also, a little odd.

These onions won't make you cry!

Lady Liberty

One guess where dad is. I can't wait until we can all go with him sometime,although I'm sure it would involve flying.

Bellarmine Prep Homecoming

Andrew and his two dates for homecoming. They all look so handsome.

Shopping Day

Today is shopping aka make thirty trips from house to car day.  These days are so much easier when the boys to men are home. I wonder how long this bounty will last in the land of never ending hunger.  Just ignore the five pound bag of mini Reese's cups, I will have to hide those.

Treats For My Friends

I made lemon cheesecakes in a jar for some special birthdays at church. They are so fun, now I want to put everything in a jar, it's such a pain, but ends up being so cool.  I only left a few at home for my roommates, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth over the lack.

College Fair

We went college shopping today.  The brochures make them all look so wonderful, it makes me wish I had gone to college.  I will just have to live vicariously through the boys.

Miss Maggie Loves a Selfie

I Am Home

I got home last night after a fairly eventful travel day.  I am a very nervous/scared flyer, which I combat with many prayers, rosaries, and requests for prayer from everyone I know, and also by trying to never fly anywhere.  While I was waiting to board my direct flight to Seattle, sitting in the Tucson airport, there was a distressful announcement.  There had been a small plane crash (!) on the long runway, so we were going to have to take off from the short runway.  But our plane was too heavy to take off on such a short runway, so, we would have to leave most of our fuel, burn it fast,  land in Phoenix to re-fuel, and THEN take-off for Seattle.  I was seriously considering just calling my sister and telling her that I would be coming back to her house, and I would just try to fly home the next day, or maybe even drive home. I did not do that.  I bravely boarded the plane with everyone else, most of whom would be having difficulty making their connections in Seattle because of the delay.  We took off, the short runway didn't actually seem that short, then we landed in Phoenix, fueled up, and were on our way again.  The ride was really quite uneventful, thank God, the only interesting thing was the VERY drunk couple across the aisle from me who were having way too much fun, too much loud fun.
All ended well, I am home, and everyone seemed quite happy to see me!

Bat Girl

Clare makes a great Bat Girl

Maggie

Maggie getting her hair done moments before her school bus arrived.

It's almost over...sniff

The girls are off to school and I am off to Washington. I am excited to go home and sad to leave.

Therese and Clare's Night of Beauty

Ok,now I  realize how much I am missing by being the only girl in my house. There was also some interesting dealings with hair removal. The chocolate syrup was not related to any beauty treatments.

Happy happy!

Congrats to Therese and Stu!

My Birthday Arizona Trip

Delightful Phoebe,standing on a table so that she can leer into the kitchen.

A Varied Diet

Schnitzel likes a varied diet, which, in addition to shoes and sox, includes the occasional snack of electronics. Sometimes a Kindle is nice. And then, a little later, a little throwing up in my bed to round out the day.  So healthy.

Public Service Announcement

That's right folks, get your cars off the road and your children off the sidewalks,the twins are now licensed drivers. As soon as we get approved for the loan to pay the car insurance.

Sleepy Friends

Friends

They are getting better about being in close proximity to each other, and not turning it into a donnybrook.

Birthday Party and Presents!

My good friends came to celebrate my elderlyness.  An incredible party, given by incredible women.

Mom Is Old Now

Yikes, I am fifty years old, a half a century.  Not too long ago, I thought if someone was fifty, they practically had one foot in the grave. My perspective has certainly changed that feeling.

My Happy Jack

Jack has always been such a smiley boy.

Ewwww What Is It??

Apparently, if one has biscuits from the prehistoric era in the fridge,they will spontaneously combust.

Chocolate Anyone?

The beginning of the year at O'Dea, means one very important thing.  Let the candy sale begin! Every child has to sell 60 candy bars, so for us, that is 180 bars. It's hard to keep the boys from eating their own product.

Frosh Football Begins!

Our first game against Ballard.  A magnificent day.  We won, Jack had a great game and even recovered a fumble ...all while wearing TWO right shoes.  He was too nervous to tell the coaches that he couldn't find his left shoe.

The Victim

This is what happens when you leave a puppy at home with time on his hands/paws.

The Culprit

And this is what he looks like after exhausting himself, chewing a shoe.

O'Dea/Holy Names Freshman Picnic

We are at the freshman picnic for the second year in a row.  Somehow the twins managed to get out of it, by being at a conveniently scheduled sleepover. And dad already has had a bug crawling on him....stupid nature.

My Schnitzel

Not really. Ever since he got left in Washington while we went to Arizona, he is more in love with Dad now, and I am jealous.

New Do for Dad

Dad went to "Defcon", the annual hacker conference... and came back like this. I can't wait to see the reactions at church.

Belated Birthday Dinner for Jack

Thai peanut sesame noodles

Slow cooker mushrooms

Kalbi beef strips

Homemade chocolate cake with too much icing

It's that time of year again!.  We celebrated Jack's birthday on one of the few days that Ted was home between trips.  His dinner request was peanut noodles and chocolate cupcakes. I added the beef, and made a cake instead of cupcakes, just to change things up.  I made way too much icing, but then felt compelled to actually use it all.  He got a little mini-fridge for his room as his birthday present.  It was a good birthday, although some of us were left in an icing coma.  Now it's the time of year when I have three boys, all the same age.