Birthday celebration

My sister & I enjoyed dinner out with our "old" nephews for Michael's birthday. 

So fun!

ZOO

What do you do when cousins are in town?
Go to the zoo, of course!

 Teresa LOVES Maria.  Everything she does is awesome. 

 Petting the flying squirrel

 Two of a kind

Such fun!  Glad we could go with you, cousins!  

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter! 
Rebecca started off the morning with a bang by finding her basket hidden in the bathtub right after waking up.

Sarah followed suit not long after when she crawled directly to hers hidden under the jumperoo.

 Teresa found hers in the ottoman.  She adores this light up Princes Sophia spinner!

 Andrew had a pretty extensive search before he found his hidden in our room in the old ottoman under some pillows. 

 After the initial diving in, we headed downstairs to find all the eggs that were hidden.  Lots of good ones!  The group favorite was one held up by darts on the dart board.

 Back upstairs for breakfast 

 Rebecca trying out her bubble spinner 

 After a beautiful, packed 10:30 Mass we were delighted to find our cousins waiting in back to say hi before they headed to Green Grandpa's.

 We ran home to change & headed over to my sister Cara's house where Red Grandma & Grandpa, Uncle Fr. Jon, & my sister Chris' families were all awaiting us. 

 We had way too much fun with these huge Easter eggs.

 

 Fabulous food & conversation with those I love. 

(Look at Dad's face!  Ha!)

 In between bursts of rain the littles had another egg hunt out back.

Most of the crew

Such a fun group!  Glad we could all be together.

Happy birthday, Mom!

 To celebrate my mama's 70th birthday, we had a girls' weekend in Omaha!  It was so fun to be with her, my sisters, & a couple of my nieces.  We started off the weekend on Friday night with Stations of the Cross at this gorgeous St. Peter's Church.  It was incredible!

 Uncle Fr. Jon generously drove Sarah & I to Omaha, so he was able to join us for the evening.  My Dad also brought Mom to town so he hung out on Friday night as well.  We were sorry to be missing Doug!

 We had a delicious dinner at Upstream Brewery.

 These little ladies did amazingly well, considering how much high chair, stroller, & carseat time they had to endure.  They were hilarious together & a constant source of snuggly entertainment.  We stayed at the Magnolia hotel which was beautiful.  Spent a good deal of time relaxing in this loft room... a little too much when we probably should have been in bed!

 My mom is a tea aficionado, so after a leisurely breakfast & some Old Market shopping we had proper tea on Saturday afternoon at the beautiful Crook Manor.  It was General Crook's 1860s home at Fort Omaha full of antiques & stories.  I think that Dad would have loved it, too!  I giggle now every time that I use a tea bag thinking how much it would disgust our Tea Guide Mona.  Goodness she knew a lot about tea.  She was a riot!

 Sarah enjoyed some of the egg salad sandwiches & sugar cookies.

 Lily was just too busy to sit down & enjoy her tea.  Lots to do, lots to do!

 We went back to relax at the hotel prior to Saturday evening Mass at St. Peter's.  Afterwards we had a delectable dinner at Vivace & way too late of a night laughing in the loft.  Chris brought a personality assessment that was a little too easy to predict in our group... found out I'm gold & blue.  No surprises there!

I didn't take any more photos (waiting on some goodies from my lovely sisters) but they wouldn't do the time justice anyway.  It was wonderful.  It was much needed.  It was such a gift to be together without a million monkeys running around like usual.  So thankful! 

Happy birthday, Mom!  Hope we can do it again next year!

Baby Cecilia Irene

 We were blest to attend my niece Cecilia Irene's baptism on Pentecost Sunday... she is so sweet!

 Can you spy the red booties on her feet for the occasion?  Come Holy Spirit!

 The cousins present

More realistic

Welcome to the family of God, Cecilia!



Meeting Cecilia

 We are pleased to announce the arrival of our new little niece Cecilia Irene!  She was born the morning of May 6th to proud parents Cara & Taylor.  She is welcomed by enthusiastic big brothers Jonathan & Nicholas.

We love her so much already.  Can't wait until she can meet HER new little cousin in about a month.  Congratulations!

Passing through

 We were so glad for a quick but special visit with my sister Denise & her family last week!  We met for Chinese at Hy-Vee & lots of time to chat. 

Cara:  "No.  Smile NICE, Jonny."

 Yep, that's better.  ;)

 I can't believe how much Julia grows up in-between visits.  I still look at her & expect to see my tiny little Goddaughter.

Teresa was the lucky one not to be at school & SO THRILLED to get to see her cousins.  She loves her Godmama Auntie Neece, too.