It happens to the best of us

Even ninjas get tired

Enamored with enamel

Had a fun Girls Night Out at a local art store with these ladies.  I've gone there before to do actual canvas paintings & loved it, so I wanted to give their wine glass painting classes a try.  It was definitely a different experience working with enamel & it took me a LOT longer to figure it out, but it turned out being really fun. 

 This hummingbird one was my favorite of the two.  It took me so long that I just went with simple polka dots on the second one.  Still super fun!  I hope we can do it again sometime. 

Thanks for a great time, ladies!

Sashing Ceremony

 2013 Little Flowers Girls' Club

Excited for another year!

I love my Daddy.

1st grade fun

Teresa's garden

Easily the most impressive picture that Teresa has drawn yet!   That's a row of lettuce on the left, carrots on the bottom, forget-me-nots on the right, tomato plants in the middle, the caterpillar in the middle bottom, & the orange creatures are me, Sarah, & herself.  She's also getting pretty good at writing her name.  Her "s" is a little off, but the rest is coming along!

Marian Mass

Story time

 We start 'em young!

Bandit

 We love red peppers at our house.  Every year I try & fail to get a decent crop in our garden.  This year the plant was looking awesome!  Then...

 he happened.  This caterpillar ate through FIVE red peppers & bit holes in the rest of the green ones that hadn't turned yet.

At least he looked cool.  :)  Rebecca brought him to show to the 1st graders & they thought he was awesome!  They even wrote about him during journaling time & her teacher said she finally had to make them stop writing... that was the first time this year!  I guess I can grow good "show & tell" instead.

Learning

 Almost

 got it!

Problem, Bubba?

When Mommy says, "Put on your shoes & roll up your pants!", you should do it.

Family Night at the Pond

 Our annual gathering of all Darren's immediate family at the pond was wonderful!  We *amazingly* missed the storm & were able to enjoy our time outdoors.  Andrew caught his first bass out of the pond & it was a whopper!

 gotta have the hayrack ride  :)

 Since it was raining off & on, I hung back with the babes.  Alivia snoozed peacefully the whole time & Sarah just grinned away.

 All the big kids rode the paddleboat with Grandpa & the 4 wheeler with Daddy.  Teresa was absolutely giddy with excitement... giggling non-stop! 

Rebecca was only slightly interested in catching fish & fascinated with catching grasshoppers.  She had multiple cups to "house" them through the evening. 

Thanks for a wonderful time!

What a bear!

 We went out for the Cub Scout campout & ceremony to bring them up to the next level on a beautiful fall evening.

 We now have a bear cub!

 Teresa had a blast with her buddy Will 

Quality Time

Rebecca & Darren spent Saturday out at the convent for a Father Daughter Retreat.  ("It will be like my birthday!" Rebecca said.)  Sounds like it was a great time!  They had Mass with the Bishop, made graham cracker churches, sang songs, played lots of games, & enjoyed some quality time together.  So glad they were able to go & see all the sisters, too.  

Ready to run!

Ready to run!

Take our picture!

Our last year

We had our opening Mass & ice cream social for GodTeens.  Can't believe these guys are Seniors already!

Here's to a great last year!